Learning the Discipline of Journaling

My friend Don Whitney, whose book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life is a great resource for this topic, has written these words: “More than almost any other discipline, journaling has a fascinating appeal with nearly all who hear about it.”[1] I do know many people who’ve heard from or read about spiritual giants journaling and have then decided to start this discipline—I just don’t know many who’ve started the process and kept it going.

In fact, I suppose it’s debatable if I should be the one writing this post, as I’ve struggled personally with this discipline over the years. That’s one reason why my Bible study practice I posted about a few weeks ago has been helpful to me. You might remember two components of my study process that have become a “journal” for me:

1.        I choose topics to study each year, and I highlight them each time I see them in the scriptures. Not only do I highlight the texts, but I also often write in the margin of my Bible what I’m learning, what steps I need to take, or what prayer I might pray.

2.        Every day, I write a short devotion about what I’ve read and what the Lord has taught me—and I send that devotion to others, asking them to pray for me in light of what I’m learning.

Through this process, I end each year with a highlighted, marked up Bible and a volume of devotions that show what I’ve learned through the year. It’s not quite a journal like Don Whitney describes in his book, but it is a daily record of my time with the Lord. My wife and I don’t have children, but I would look forward to leaving them my worn-out Bibles and my devotional collections if we did.

One of my pastoral heroes who is now with the Lord kept a much more extensive journal for more than 60 years of ministry. Every day, he wrote in a small notebook the date of the entry, the weather for the day, his events throughout the day, and his reflections at the end of the day. So thorough were his journals of ministry that a seminary library now holds those journals as markers of history.

Another pastoral hero has written a daily entry of his spiritual walk for almost as many years, noting his reading for the day, recording his prayer for the day, and putting in writing his commitments to the Lord. He tells me that his written prayers are often emotional and gripping—so much so that he keeps his journal to himself. In his case, the point of his journaling is deep reflection and conversation between himself and the Lord.

I cannot help but think that journaling has been one activity that has kept these brothers focused on the Lord. When you pause each day to reflect on God enough to write about Him and His work in your life, you can’t help but cling to Him a bit more. Meditation on Him should lead to greater motivation to serve Him.

If you’re not a journaler, here are some ways to get started.

1.        Find a method that works for you—and do something. My method I described above is quite different from those of my pastoral mentors, but it works for me. Your chosen method might be different than any of these, but that’s okay. I would rather you find a method that works, be consistent with it, and let the discipline grow. Even a sentence of reflection each day is better than no reflection at all.

2.        At a minimum, consider this simple method for journaling: at the end of every day, write 2-3 sentences about your walk with the Lord that day. Was it a good day? If so, why? Did you struggle? Why? Do you need to confess something? Do it. Do you wish you had done or said something differently? Write it down. It won’t take long to write a few thoughts, and you’ll be starting a record of the Lord’s work in your life. 

3.        Start a prayer journal that includes one prayer entry each day. In a good prayer journal, write out your prayer to God—don’t just list your prayer concerns for that day. I write a prayer based on my devotional each day, but I really focus on writing out a prayer when I’m most burdened about something. Somehow, my burden is lighter after I’ve given significant attention to writing my words and expressing them to God.

4.        As you grow, think about this five-step method for journaling based on your Bible study time. Somewhere, record these thoughts each day:

·      Date of your writing.  I would also include the geographic location of your writing (e.g., “home, Wake Forest”; or “hiking trip, Black Mountain,” etc.) just in case you’re wondering years from now.

·      What you read today. Just the Bible book and verses work here.

·      One thing you learned today or want to work on in following God today. The more specific you can be, the more likely it will lead to some kind of life change.

·      One step of obedience you will take today. Again, specificity makes this approach much more significant.

·      One thing you’re most praying for today. Writing down the topic will help you remember it and thus reinforce your burden over it.

5.        As a parent or grandparent, think about writing a simple paragraph about walking with God each day—but address it to your children or grandchildren. Write with their future in mind, trusting they will someday want to read your journal and walk in your footsteps. Give them a copy at an appropriate time as they grow up.

So, if you haven’t started journaling, I will say it again: do something!

[1] Donald S. Whitney,  Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Kindle Edition, loc. 2499).