Six Simple Tips To Improve Your Journaling Time

Throughout history mankind has kept a record of their moments in time. From the cave walls to the world wide web people keep a record of just about everything. In our own lives we keep personal records of our taxes, finances, and schedules. We make a note of grocery lists, to do lists, and if we’re really good we keep scrapbooks and meaningful letters and cards. But how often do we record our historic moments with God?

In Joshua 4 the Israelites are getting ready to cross over to their Promised Land. The Lord tells Joshua to gather 12 stones and place them on the shore. God was keeping a record of what was about to happen. He knew those stones would create a conversation between future generations about how He keeps His promises.

In our family we have a notebook called “Stones of Remembrance.” Its a booklet that holds all of the significant moments when God has encountered our family, but the real gems are on the lower shelf of my bookcase. Journals and journals of prayers answered and unanswered. Pages of declarations, praises, and laments. I always tell my children that one day when I am gone, they will only fight over two of my possessions… my Bibles and my journals. For both of them hold the historical moments of our family, and my personal walk with the Lord.

One would think journaling would be easy, but it’s not. Many people have a mental block when it comes to putting their moments with God down on paper. I understand, I used to be one of those people.

Here are six tips I have used to keep me successfully journaling for over 15 years.

1. Find a journal you can easily write in. Make sure it sets comfortably on the lap when curled up in a chair, or it lays completely flat when opened at the table.

2. Make sure you enjoy the cover. Sounds silly, but people will carry with them something they find pretty, and they’ll actually write in it more.

3. Find a to-die-for pen. It will cause you to write longer. There is nothing like having a smooth, glide-over-the-paper, ball point pen. Right now, I am personally enjoying an assortment of mechanical pencils.

4. Give yourself permission to write when necessary. Keep the journal with your Bible and write when inspired. Trying to commit to journaling every day can feel overwhelming.

5. Start by journaling your prayers as though you’re speaking out loud. Don’t overthink what you’re writing. Putting your prayers onto paper records that raw encounter. Eventually you’ll return to those words, and see how much you’ve grown in faith. And you’ll have proof of God answering your prayers.

6. Find a special spot and keep your supplies handy. It’s best to create a consistent space for time with God. Keep your Bible and journal there, along with a highlighter, some colored pencils, and that to-die-for pen. You might also want a cozy blanket, candle and anything else that keeps you sitting for awhile.

Sometimes my quiet time is only journaling, while others times I never open the notebook. I find when the Holy Spirit guides my journaling I don’t have to work at it in the least bit.

Happy Writing,

Leave a comment below with some of your journaling tips. I would love to see some photos of your journals, so join our Remade Community Group and post a picture. And I want to personally invite you to tomorrow’s #mentormonday at 3:00 PST in our closed community, where we will chat about some of the roadblocks to journaling, and I share how I set up my quiet time.  Next week we start a brand new series on hearing God’s voice.