The practice of regular prayer can often feel difficult: it takes a commitment of time, energy, and undistracted focus. Yet it isn’t meant to be hard.
Just as we desire that our kids and loved ones come to us with the troubles and joys of their everyday lives, God longs for us to seek Him out and share our lives with Him.
Why would He want it to be difficult?
Are you looking for a simple way to shape your prayer time into something deeper and more intentional?
I want to introduce you to the rich practice of keeping a prayer journal.
My very first journal was a thick, cloth-covered book with a blue and white floral pattern. The empty pages invited me to share my deepest thoughts, and being thirteen at the time, I had many!
After becoming a Christian, especially after becoming a mother, my journal entries turned into written prayers to the Lord: “Dear Diary” became “Dear Father.”
I found myself sharing my day and my cares with Him as if I were writing a letter to my best friend. It made prayer feel so much more personable.
The Purpose of Prayer
As I grew in my faith, I learned that the purpose of prayer, according to Jesus himself in Matthew 6:7-13 HCSB, is for us to:
• Acknowledge God’s holiness
• Surrender to His sovereign will
• Ask Him to meet our needs for this day
• Ask for forgiveness of our sins
• Ask for protection against temptation and rescue from our enemy
We see elsewhere in Scripture that prayer is an opportunity for giving thanks to God (1 Thes 5:16-18) and for intercession for others (Jas 5:16).
Sometimes the physical act of prayer can be a hindrance. If you’re like me, sitting still in a comfy chair or even kneeling at the edge of your bed while praying can lead to heavy eyes, drowsy thoughts, and incoherent sentences.
Shooting up “arrow prayers,” those prayers we lift briefly to God as we go throughout our day, still count—but they can feel rushed or shallow.
Benefits of Prayer Journaling
1. Causes us to pray intentionally
Prayer journaling is an active, intentional way to pray. The mental and physical exertion required for writing (or typing) keeps us alert as our words and thoughts are laid before the Lord, as we praise His name, cast upon Him all our cares (1 Pt 5:7), and pray for those we love.
2. Helps us look forward by looking back
As we look back and re-read our entries, we are reminded how the Lord listened and responded to our prayers (Ps 105:5). This is a beautiful, helpful activity for days when we feel down, and it seems the evil one is winning. It strengthens our ability to trust Him for future scenarios that seem frightening or overwhelming. His faithfulness, steadfast love, and trustworthiness will shine through our personal record of His work.
3. Reminds us of our blessings
A journal is a great place to keep an ongoing count of our blessings. Multiple studies have shown the positive effect of gratitude on mental health. Recording and reflecting on what we are thankful for shifts our mind’s focus from what we lack to what we have. We can find comfort in the reminder of God’s goodness and provision.
4. Increases our vocabulary of praise
When we pair our journaling with reading the Bible, we discover an ever-expanding vocabulary of scriptural lament and praise. And the physical act of writing out Bible verses helps to embed the words into our memory. What a great way to hide His word in our hearts (Ps 119:11).
Getting Started
There are no hard and fast rules regarding prayer journaling. There is no requirement to write in the journal every day, of course, but once you start you may find yourself looking forward to it.
First, find a notebook that is pleasing to your eye and comfortable to write in. I prefer to use a spiral-bound so that it lays flat on the table or folds easily as I write on the next page.
If it’s easier or more comfortable for you to use your laptop or type on your desktop, then do it. The goal is to draw near to the Lord.
Have your Bible nearby. I often begin time with the Lord in His word; this is how He speaks to me. Maybe it’s just a chapter or two, but it’s my time to listen.
Then I date a fresh page in my journal and start with a verse that spoke to me from my reading, processing through it with the Lord as I write it out.
My journal is a safe place to ask questions, share the frustrations of my limited understanding, and praise Him for His ways that are much higher than mine (Is 55:8-9).
Sometimes this will fill only one page, sometimes several.
This time of reflection often leads to uninhibited confession as I stand in the light of God’s holiness; thankfully, I always come away knowing I am forgiven and loved (1 John 1:9).
I then include prayers, concerns, or joys regarding my people.
In recent years I have begun to create two bulleted lists each day. One is titled “Thankful,” where I can identify all my blessings, from the shimmering snow outside my window to God’s mercies that are new every morning (Lam 3:23).
The other is titled “Praying,” and here I list out all my concerns for my loved ones, my own life, and the world.
Whether I am cryptic or poetic, angry or gushing with praise, the journal is a safe place to write these feelings. Because God is a safe place for our feelings.
I often end my journaling time with more Scripture, maybe a psalm of praise, a few lines from a worship song, or even a question.
The benefits of prayer journaling are endless. As you develop a rhythm that works for you, you’ll find that besides incorporating all the points Jesus exemplified in the Lord’s prayer, you will come away knowing God better—and feeling known.
Though I have kept some form of a journal for over 40 years now, I have not written every day or even every year. However, writing out my prayers has helped me process my thoughts and track my spiritual growth. It has helped me recognize patterns of weakness, areas of sin, and areas of strength.
Most of all, it has shown me the great faithfulness of God, the blessings He has given me, and the strength of His sufficient grace.
May your journal help you discover the same.
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4:6-7 HCSB
An edited version of this article first appeared as a Saturday SOULfood email from Living By Design Ministries. Check out this wonderful ministry here.
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