Prayer Journaling
By Tori Harris
Prayer journaling is not often discussed. When brought up, it is generally recommended for you to try it, but not many instructions are given on how to do it. What exactly is prayer journaling? Different people do it different ways, but some common aspects of it are writing down people and things to pray for, writing out prayers, journaling about things relating to Christianity, and recording answered prayers. It is a way to stay organized, and make sure you are not forgetting something in your prayers.
Why should people try prayer journaling? It can help you get into a regular prayer routine. There are many Scriptures commanding Christians to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16; Colossians 4:2), and keeping a prayer journal can be very helpful for regularly going to our Father in prayer, and remembering what to pray about. If we are regularly and frequently praying, that will draw us closer to God, which is what Christians should always be wanting to do.
So maybe you have decided to give prayer journaling a try. But now what? You need to have a designated notebook. There are many prayer journaling apps available, but I personally prefer taking a break from the screen and writing in an actual notebook. I use my diary because I do both regular journaling and prayer journaling, so I like to keep it all in one place. Find whatever works best for you, and then set a time and place. Maybe you sit outside in the morning before it gets too hot, or maybe you do it in bed at night. Just find somewhere you will not be interrupted.
Here are some suggested things to write in your prayer journal:
List people and things to pray for.
Record when prayers are answered. This can help you appreciate prayer even more.
Write out prayers.
List your blessings, or things you are thankful for.
List or journal about things you need to improve, such as a certain sin you struggle with.
Write out Scriptures for specific topics or situations.
List people you know who are not Christians, and pray for opportunities to evangelize to them. This can help you remember our mission- to teach the lost (Matthew 28:19-20).
Everyone is different, so try different things and see what works for you. Prayer journaling is not for everyone, but for some it can be very helpful.