Do you consider the spiritual exercise of journaling to be a “girly thing,” or as something “only writers do?” Perhaps, you view it as a valuable exercise, but personally, you just can’t find the time for it. Or maybe you’ve asked yourself why so many Christian leaders, teachers, and counselors believe journaling is so worthwhile. 

Benefits Of Journaling

• Uses your mind in a fresh way.
• Gives another opportunity to pray, to hear from the Lord, and to learn Scripture.
• Documents your journey so you can see how far you’ve come.
• Brings Him glory by a detailed account of His work in your life.
• Serves as a record of God’s faithfulness in your family that future generations can continue after you’ve gone.
• Enables you to minister to and encourage others by sharing detailed accounts of your life lessons.
• Slows you down to receive rest from a hurried lifestyle.

Ideas For Productive Journaling

• Enjoy selecting journals that fit your personal tastes.
• There’s no “perfect way” to journal. Do what fits you. Ask the Lord to lead you to journal in a way that matches you and your relationship with Him.
• Guard against only journaling negative emotions, which may keep you in a victim’s mindset.
• Use your writing to connect God’s ways and His Word to your emotions rather than making your emotions the centerpiece of your journal.
• You can keep it short and even use bullet points, at least to start.
• Allow for flexibility when it comes to frequency.
• Documenting how God answers your prayers can be especially meaningful.
• Make journaling a task-oriented, productive exercise to change your heart to reflect His heart, and to guide you to be the hands and feet of Christ.
• Consider gifting a journal to a friend and inviting someone to sit somewhere together while you journal.
• If you don’t have time for handwritten journals, use a computer to store a written account of wisdom gained.
• At the end of the year, re-read what you’ve written while fully expecting to see His mercy, love, wisdom, and provision on every page, and to monitor the change that has occurred within you since you began journaling.  

It seemed good and desirable…to write an orderly account…so that you may know the full truth. (Lk. 1:1-4)