Prayer Journal

Prayer journals have been part of Christian tradition for many centuries. This was a way for one generation to record their faith and pass the record on to future generations.

A huge benefit of keeping a prayer journal is the strengthening of our faith and our relationship with God. It adds focus to our prayer life. There is tremendous power in the written word. Often when we pray alone, our thoughts wander. The act of writing eliminates distractions. We stay focused! As we record our prayers and the subsequent insights and answers, we create a log of helpful information for future use. Going back and reviewing how prayers were answered, we receive renewed faith and hope. During difficult times, it is important and helpful to remind ourselves that God is always faithful. We will be amazed at the many answered prayers recorded in our prayer journal.

Without our prayer journal, answered prayers and blessings are sometimes overlooked or forgotten. As we review our journals, we also see how God has changed us. Sometimes an answered prayer turns out to be a change in us. It is not always our circumstances or other people that need to be changed; sometimes God works to change us! The prayer journal will make this crystal clear when we review our prayers and the subsequent insights and answers.

Keeping a prayer journal is very personal and there are numerous ideas on "how" it should be done. These are a few suggestions to get you started. As you move forward with your prayer journal, you will create a "how" that is your unique style.

First, you need to select a journal to write in. Find something that feels right for you. Do you prefer lined or unlined paper, what about the cover, should it be bound on the side, top or not at all? Maybe you just want a big fat spiral notebook.

When you start writing, be sure you date the entry. Leave space at the bottom of the page where you can record answers to prayers or make comments. Make a commitment to write in your prayer journal at a certain time each day. It will quickly become an important part of your daily routine. As you write in the journal, your prayer life strengthens and your personal relationship with God grows ever stronger.