Life Journaling – What You’ll Need
1. Bible – there are many translations – use one that is easy for you to understand
2. Pen or Pencil – some kind of writing utensil to underline in your Bible and to write in your journal. Some folks like to use a highlighter pen for highlighting scripture verses.
3. Reading Plan – a reading plan gives you the opportunity to fill yourself with the balance of His word. The Life Journals we carry have a great reading plan already in the front pages.
4. Journal – many people wonder why they need to journal – why can’t I just do the reading? Journaling helps get the word into you, by processing and writing what God is showing you.
5. Day Planner or scrap of paper – write down those things that inevitably come up to distract you from listening to God speak to you through His word.
Steps
- Look at the today’s date and find where to read.
- Be prepared to make your mark on your Bible – underline, circle, or highlight
- “Make your mark in your Bible so that your Bible can make its mark in you.”
- Some people aren’t sure what to mark or how to tell if God is speaking something to them; I suggest praying that God will help you to recognize what He is saying to you. This requires your full attention and devotion to the process. Sometimes I underline a word that catches my attention; other times I underline a whole section or somehow reference an entire chapter (I usually don’t underline a whole chapter – at least not in one reading.)
- Read.
- Start reading with your eyes and ears open to listen and see what God is saying to you
- Look for “Lessons to be Learned”, “Examples to be Followed”, Promises to be Enjoyed”, and Jesus to be Revealed.”
- Review, if necessary, what you read and decide what verse(s) you’re going to journal on.
- This is where some people really bog down in the process of journaling – they can’t decide – they want to journal on it all.
- In the beginning, start with just one verse to journal on and maybe later, you can add other verse combinations to journal.
- Make your entry into your journal – follow directions below
a. Scripture – Write it out – write in the reference and possibly write out the verse if it’s not too long (I don’t write out entire chapters.)
b. Observation – What’s happening and what are you seeing in this verse? Write out what you observe is happening – kind of like a report on what you see happening. Script it all out – resist the temptation to abbreviate.
c. Application – How does what you see happening particularly apply to you and your life? Script it all out – resist the temptation to abbreviate. When you look back at an entry, you want to be able to understand yourself, so be honest with writing it out and you’ll enjoy reading what God said to you later, when you go back and look at what He said a day, a week, a month or a year later.
d. Prayer – Write out your prayer by asking God to help you apply what He has revealed to you in your application portion of your journal entry.
6. Title your entry
7. Add your entry to your table of contents – you’ll be surprised to find that God will often provide opportunities to share and/or reference your journal entries in your day-to-day activities. Having a table of contents helps find your entries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to do this everyday? No. You don’t have to do it at all. If you want to grow in your relationship with God, you will need to spend time with Him and in His word.
What if I miss a day? Pick up on your Life Journaling by doing the reading for the day’s date it is when you read again. Don’t fall into the trap of attempting to “make up” days you miss. This should be a lifestyle that will allow you to, over time, read and digest God’s word.
What if I don’t understand what I am reading? You may need a translation that you understand better. It may help to journal on what you don’t understand. The Holy Spirit has a way of helping us understand when we make the effort to learn. So, if you feel that you have a translation that works for you, try journaling on what you don’t understand. You may find that God begins to clarify those issues as you wrestle with those things.
The Major Problem – not legalism but relationship
- Many people resist Life Journaling because of one reason – they feel like it’s something they have to do – therefore it is based on legalism. That thought process totally misses the point – my relationship with God is not based on “have to” but “get to.”
- If you think this is something you have to do, you will be resistant to it because your old man likes to rebel.
- On the other hand, if you do this because this is an opportunity to grow in your knowledge of who God is and how He can help you with the daily aspects of living, then you will enjoy it and maybe even look forward to it.
Final Thoughts and Scriptures
Ephesians 5:25-26 – the washing of water by the word – we need to have our lives washed by the word of God on a daily basis.
John 13:1-17 – the washing of the feet that have been soiled by walking in the world – we should be ready to wash one another’s feet with the word of God that He has spoken to us – husbands and wives – and the Body of Believers.
Amos 8:11 “ Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” – help end the famine… become a Christ follower who is dedicated to hearing God’s leading by being in the word.
Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. – Whether you’re a man or a woman, your way needs to be cleansed by the word of God.
Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. – God’s word, properly hidden in our hearts, is what keeps us from sinning.
Additional Resources
The following links provide online resources to help you Life Journal.
