How to use a Prayer Journal

Prayer journaling is a lost art, well journaling for that matter. Just as this world has been taken over by email, rather than snail mail, text messaging, rather than a good old fashion phone call, we are plagued with wanting things to be quick and easy. Too bad we can't email God, or can we? Well, the point is that we must take time to slow down and talk with Him, however we might choose to do it. But girls? Do you make time for talking to God, and more importantly listening to Him? If not, I encourage you to start, and this wonderful art of prayer journaling is a super way to make time to "sit at his feet" , and truly talk to and listen to our Lord and Savior. I owned my first prayer journal at the age of about 13. I'm not exactly sure why I started using one, I always loved to write in a diary or journal, and it was about this time in my life, that I was learning about what it meant to have a QUIET TIME, or Time alone with God. This became an important part of my everyday life as it should, and I began to write my thoughts, dreams, hopes and prayers down in a journal. My mom bought me a pretty one at the store and I began to write. To date, I have more journals than I can count. I recently bought a pretty zebra striped one from the dollar store, and it is almost half full already, if that gives you any clue of how many I go through. I tend to write large though.

Ok, so I know you're wondering, what do I write, how much do I have to write, all the common questions when we are asked to write something. Well, you write down your thoughts, your cares, your worries, your problems, your dreams, your hopes and even your prayers. I find it comforting, and meaningful to write down what I want to say to God. Ok, now I know the next question. How do I talk to God? Well, girls, you talk to Him just like you'd talk to your best friend. He is, just like he or she, dieing to hear from you about yoru day, so he's ready and willing to listen. Then, as you read your devotion and Bible Reading for the day, you begin to listen to what he's saying to you through what you are reading, through the circumstances in your life, and you write that as well.

I hope that you will begin this process today. Pick up a journal that you will be happy to carry around and write in and get that pen to paper! God Bless!

Many months ago I wrote a blog entry about Why I Journal. It received quite a few comments and many of them expressed an interest in journaling just didn't know where to start. So, I began the process of creating a tool that would help others to begin the hobby I so much enjoy, journaling.

As a result, I am happy to announce the official launch of Beauty by Design Ministries' 7 Day Journaling Ecourse. The 7 Day Journaling e Course will send you 7 days of emails that will teach you the simple steps to journaling success. At the end of the 7 days you will also be given the opportunity to purchase a 30 Day Journaling Guide to help you to continue on with your journaling journey.

I believe that prayer is the most powerful tool we have in our lives. Daily prayer, communication with God, can open up so much for us as Christians. After all, prayer is our hot line to talk to God, our Heavenly Father and Creator of All. What do you spend your prayer time praying for? Is it just a long laundry list of your wants and wishes or do you approach the throne of God with deep concerns and intercession for others. Who better to pray for daily than our children. Stormie Omaratian shares a powerful message with us in her book, The Power of a Praying Parent. I highly recommend this book and her others in this series, The Power of a Praying Wife and The Power of a Praying Husband to you for your reading pleasure. These books however are the type that I choose to study. Carefully reading over all the Scriptures, tips and advice, and taking them to heart, jotting notes in my prayer journal as I go so that I can remember them. I hope you will take the time to check this book out!