Do You Find Spiritual Journaling Helpful?

Have you ever written down your prayers, or journaled an experience that you don’t want to forget?

I have found this process can be both revelatory and a way to process emotions, spiritual growth, and focus.

And while God’s will and way shall continue to unfold, I am filled with new resolve to heed the words of Paul in Ephesians 5, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v15-17, 20)

As a word girl, I continue to read some incredible books which I shall most certainly share in the days ahead. Today I wanted to mention that I also found it valuable to work through “Present Over Perfect Guided Journal” by Shauna Niequist. Allow me to share some of her “prompts” from the journal, so you can get an idea.

“A pastor of a fast-growing church was telling the story of how the church had exploded, how they couldn’t stop the growth, an inexplicable, unstoppable phenomenon. The other pastor, seasoned by experience, pushed gently, “You’ve built this, and it’s okay to say that. You’ve intentionally and strategically built a very large church.”  The young pastor insisted, “We had nothing to do with it.” “Well, not nothing,” said the older pastor. “You kept putting up chairs.”

Journal Prompt: We can get so caught up in pursuing our callings that we sometimes forget there is more than one way to steward that calling. We don’t have to pursue bigger and faster. We can take down some chairs… Where will you start?________________________________

S. Niequist

Honey, I took down a few chairs.

“I feel prouder of my smaller, simpler, quieter, more connected life than I ever did when all of life was screaming along. The love we’re all looking for isn’t found in the hustle. We can’t prove it or earn it or compete for it. We can only make space for it, listen for it, travel to the depths of our souls, where the very spirit of God has made His home – that’s where we’ll find it. My prayer for you is this: as you travel, you’ll feel how wildly loved you are and then show that love to everyone you encounter. There is so much life and peace and goodness in a slower, grace-soaked way of living.”

Shauna Niequist

As with any workbook or guided journal, it is only as valuable as the time and effort one puts into engaging with it. But perhaps you might find such a thing helpful.

May I also humbly submit to you that my own book “Soul Strong – 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life” is a very interactive journey through important areas of life which, if addressed through prayer and study, will help prepare you to hold strong in faith through every season of life. It is available in Paperback, Audible, Kindle, and AudioCD book.

Everyone journals differently. You don’t have to be a great writer and you don’t have to journal regularly. But processing through a pen may be a positive way to both dialogue with God and discover what’s going on inside yourself.

“Journaling is a way of paying attention to our lives — a way of knitting the vast ball of our experiences into something with shape that attests to the state of our soul. On the pages of a journal, in the privacy of a moment, we can take tentative steps into truth and scour our feelings, hurts, ideas and struggles before God. During times of transition, travel, loss, joy, illness and decision making, journaling can provide a way of processing the hopes, fears, longings, angers, and prayers of our heart.”

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook”

         May the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the friendship of the Holy Spirit  bring you comfort and strength, Lucinda