One of my favorite types of prayer journals is one where I write down scriptures that speak to me as I’m reading. Then I often write out a prayer after the ones I feel led to pray about.
This type of journal has some good benefits.
- It can help you focus on what the scriptures are really saying, instead of just skimming over them.
- It can help you memorize scriptures
- You can use your journal as a reference when trying to find certain scriptures in the future (This can help you become more and more familiar with the scriptures)
- When you choose a scripture to pray about, it helps you become closer to the One who wrote the scripture
Here is an example of a scripture/prayer from one of my journals:
3-12-14: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9 Lord, perfect Your strength in my weakness which I give to You to use for Your glory, and as Paul said, “that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
In 2014, I also chose John 15:4 to be my verse for the year: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” I began to pray that God would show me how to abide in Him. Then I began to research vines, and the pruning and training of vines. I began to look up every verse I could find that talked about God being the vine, about us bearing fruit, or about abiding in Him. I wrote all of it in my journal. It was a journey that I desperately needed and my journal was my lifeline to the Lord. I can now go back and see the progress I made and the ways that God met my needs during that time and brought me ever-closer to Him.
I encourage you to keep your journal open beside you as your read your Bible. If a scripture speaks to you, simply write it down. Give the Lord a chance to draw you closer to Him through this practice. I think it will surprise you. His Word is powerful enough to speak something new to us on a daily basis. It’s even better when we can record those new discoveries!
Praying for you,
jamie
Also see previous blogs about prayer journals: Prayer Journaling 101 and Traditional Prayer Journal and Art Prayer Journals
considering the word 