The Spiritual Discipline of
Journaling
People journal for different reasons. There are
many different types of Journaling. I do so because it helps me on my
spiritual journey. It makes the journey more joyful, meaningful and
memorable. I have always marked my Bible and kept notes. Making notes
and writing has always been a vital part of my
devotional habit. I never called it journaling. I just found it to be
very helpful.
Recently, I started to use the Scriptures to pray.
It has revolutionized my prayer life - something that needed to have happened
for some time now. I find journaling helpful in processing my thoughts. It crystallize ideas.
It sharpens the imagination. It enhances the creativity. My approach is
unsophisticated: I
write down what I learn from the Scripture portion. I ask questions.
I write the answers I discover. I write down some
of my
prayers, desires, aspirations, goals, etc. These are some ideas of what
journaling is and means to me.
For you, it might mean something totally
different. I am told that there are no rules for journaling. Journaling is an
informal process of reflecting and recording your thoughts, etc. It stands in contradistinction to
academic, technical and other forms of writing. However, there are some ideas and suggestions
that can help to make the journey more pleasurable and profitable. These can
shorten the learning curve and increase your productivity in short order. Start where
you are, with with you have. Borrow some ideas! If you have to
steal some, steal the best!. Develop
your own personal inimitable style! I trust journaling will be a profitable
exerciser for you, as you discipline yourself in godliness
(1Tim 4:7-8). Learn it! Teach it!
Master it!
A journal is different from
a diary or a log, in that you don't have to write everything and you don't
even have to write everyday. Let me encourage you, however, to use your
journal everyday. Read it, reflect on the journey, remember the key lessons;
refine your thoughts, ideas, etc. It is an excellent idea to leave a margin
and some extra spaces on your pages. I write in the margins on the sides,
the top
and the bottom of the page. I usually leave the other side of the pages of my note book blank,
so that I may write more later. These pages don't remain blank for very long! I draw sketches, models, etc. I am a visual learner and
I love to develop models (I use a half-size spiral bound notebook with a
margin already drawn (I get these from the "Dollar Store"). Sometimes
when I am finished with a page it looks messy. The messier - the page,
the better and more precious it is to me, because it shows that I have
processed more; I have expanded and grown through what I have written.
Additionally, you may want to
leave a few blank pages in the front of your Notebook
for indexing purposes. A lot of the lessons I teach and sermons I preach
are from my personal devotions. At least they started there. I find it
liberating to teach and preach from the overflow of my personal walk with
God. Remember: There are NO
rules! and NO ONE has to see your journal, unless you choose to share
it.
It is private and personal but powerful. Go for it!
I am a fellow Pilgrim
Let me know how you are doing and what is working and what is not. We can learn from
each other!
Here is an Example and
Explanation of what I usually do:
-
Find a quiet and
comfortable place
-
Have your Bible, and writing
materials, such as a notebook, pens, colour pencils, etc.
-
Use a computer if you like.
I use one, but not all the time
-
Have whatever else you need -
music, hymnals, devotional books, biographies, etc.
-
Write
the Date and possible what's going on in your life
and around you. This will put things in context, when you review and
reflect at a later date.
-
Ask the Author to help
you
-
Tell you Heavenly Father how
you are feeling today. You can be honest with Him. He already knows.
You will feel better for telling Him. You tell Him for you, not Him.
-
Select a portion of
Scripture: Read, Study, Memorize, Meditate, Apply, etc.
-
Write down significant
lessons, reflections, promises, principles, prayers, etc.
-
Pray through the portion
of Scripture, applying it to your present situation
-
Use it to pray for others in your
life - spouse, children, friends, church, work, city, province, country and
world..
-
Practice
ACTS: Adoration,
Confession, Thanksgiving,
Supplication.
-
Pray for the people you
need to pray for today - Use a list to jog your memory.
-
Remember to pray for
other significant events/happenings and appointments of
the day or the near future.
-
Invite and allow the Lord to
walk with you throughout your day.
-
Watch Him work in your life
and the lives of those fro whom you pray!
-
Worship using
PAT- Praise,
Adoration, Thanksgiving
-
Write any final
thoughts, ideas, insight, etc.
-
Go in the strength of the One you
met with, even the One who met with you!
-
May it not be long before you
meet with Him again!
Here are Two Tools to help you get started:
Helpful Links on Journaling &
Writing
Check some of the following
web-sites. I have found these to be helpful. You will get more than enough ideas to start.
Let me know how you are doing.
Journaling Your Life and Heart - Charles Stanley
How to Develop a
Spiritual Journey
Writing the Journey:
http://www.writingthejourney.com/
Conversations Within:
http://www.journal-writing.com/
Inspired to Journal:
http://www.inspiredtojournal.com/articles.html
Creative Journaling:
http://www.creative-journal.com/
Journal Writing Pages:
http://www.kporterfield.com/journal/Journal_Index.html
Writer's
Resource Centre
