Alright, y’all. Time for a confession. I’m a novice at what I want to discuss today: using a prayer journal. I’ve been writing down prayers for, well, less than a week. But, I still want to share it with you, particularly what sold me on the idea.
If you don’t know, I’m kind of a big fan of writing. Not just writing for my blog, but writing letters, notes, that kind of thing.
There’s just something about receiving a heartfelt, handwritten letter or note. Maybe that’s make me a romantic? Fiiiine, whatever. But, just knowing someone took the time out of their day to write out a message to you speaks volumes. To me, it says, “You are worth more than the time it took me to write this for you.” I mean, some people get so busy (another confession: me, included) that it takes a great deal of effort to simply send a text message back to someone, much less finding paper, a pen, putting your phone down, and writing an actual letter.
I’ll stop that train before it pulls out of the station and arrives at a different destination entirely. Back to the original topic: prayer journals.
Write out your prayers
So, I got to thinking (sometimes, y’all, that’s dangerous for me to do), why not start writing letters, or my prayers, to God?
I stumbled across prayer journals some time ago… on Pinterest, most likely. And, since this is a confessional, I thought to myself, Yeah, no. That ain’t gonna work for me and kept right on scrolling. To say it took a long while to warm up to the idea was an understatement.
But, you know how it goes: You go to Michael’s and you’re just causally browsing, looking for nothing in particular through the seasonal section or the dollar bins when something pretty or shiny (or something pretty AND shiny) that you don’t really need catches your eye?
Yeahhh, that about sums up every shopping trip to Michael’s, EVER. Well, a few weeks ago, I spotted a pretty, monogrammed journal. And well, y’all, it was on sale. I don’t think I need to say what happened next.
After I got back to the car with my treasures, I wondered what I might use this journal for? The idea of prayer journal hit me in the back of the head.
Use a prayer journal
Why use a prayer journal? Well, it creates a special time for me to sit down, write a letter to God, and actually pray for situations and people. And not only does it give me space to just let it all out to God, but writing down my prayers in a book keeps a record of heaven-sent petitions.
Okay, alright. I’m sure there have been situations and needs in your life that you’ve prayed about and God answered in a mighty way. I’m sure those are prayers you won’t forget about and don’t necessarily need a written record. I mean, I definitely won’t forget the time the Great Mechanic fixed the electrical issue plaguing my car right at the bottom of my driveway. No issues since then either, praise the Lord. The big prayers can be (and should, if you’re a prayer journal kind of person) written down.
But, what about the little prayers, too?
You know, the Lord, help me find my keys that I lost yesterday. What is hidden will be found, and Lord, I need you to show me where they are hiding. Or the, Dear Lord, I’m in need of some modest clothes. Would you please let the Goodwill skirt racks overflow with skirts that are decent in length?
Those kinds of prayers. The ones that are significant in their own way, but not as big as something like Save my people, Lord. A prayer journal keeps a record of all prayers. Prayers for salvation. Prayers for others. Prayers for healing. Everything.
A prayer journal can be a record of blessings
In 1 Samuel 30, the scriptures say that David encouraged himself in the Lord. Now, y’all, I totally understand that David was about to face a battle, his wives were kidnapped, he was close to being stoned, and inquired of the Lord on what to do using the ephod. Not technically the same thing, but David remembered what the Lord had done for him and he had confidence the Lord would move for him, as He had done many times before.
But, think about it. If we have a written record of the prayers we’ve prayed with a note of when the Lord answered it, we can look back and see how the Lord has worked in our lives. And that’s a good thing. Because it gives us the faith and hope that He will move again. We, too, can encourage ourselves in the Lord.
What about you, friend? Do you use a prayer journal? Comment below and let me know!
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Thoughts?