If you have followed my blog for a while you know I keep a journal. I find writing my thoughts, prayers, quotes I like, worries, and happenings ground me and give me a perspective to life. Keeping a journal is a priceless spiritual practice.
Each year at the end of one year and the joyous opening of the new year, I reread my journal, summarizing events, reflections and ongoing questions from the past, then prayerfully writing where I feel God is leading me in near future.
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.
–William Wordsworth
How often you write in a journal, doesn’t matter – daily, weekly, or only occasionally. But each time we write, we capture a moment in time and create a significant signpost for our journey.
I have tried various forms of journals and keep returning to a 5 by 7 inch, spiral bound journal found in book stores. What is new the past few years is I am cutting out more quotes, photos and using colorful pens for my entries.
Some people get very artistic and creative with their journal – sort of intimidating to my lack of drawing skill. Check out these web pages for some fun approaches to journaling here and here.
Keeping a spiritual journal isn’t difficult or that time consuming. It is taking the time to record your experience with God. It helps you pay attention to where he nudges you, smiles at you or even hides from you in your daily life. You will hear God more clearer and deeply when writing in a journal.
Writing in a journal can be powerful for healing and for discernment. It is less of a diary and more a written prayer.
The biggest question I get asked when speaking about the practice of keeping a journal is privacy. “Aren’t you afraid others will read what you wrote?”
I like to share a little poem I heard a number of years ago:
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
Please throw my journals in the lake.
Now seriously, don’t throw them in the lake. I am honest in what I put into the journals, knowing fully that my kids may and probably will read them someday. Sometimes I have been purposely vague in details – I know what incident I was referring to but others would not. The vast majority of time it is 100% vulnerable me.
I consider the journal a spiritual legacy for the next generations. I have my Aunt Anna’s journal and they are priceless for me. I wrote about her on earlier blog posts here and here. I fully intent to leave my many many journals to my kids and grandkids.
So if you are not a journal keeper I encourage you to consider it. If you have been in the past but been lax in writing lately, I hope you pick that pen and start again. If you write in one now, may the practice continue to bless you and others.
Do you write in a journal and if so, what has it taught you?
Hi Jean! Oh my gosh, that poem just got me! Hilarious!! But I actually feel like that.
I had some journals from a few years ago that I just threw out. I was scared to death that someone would read them. My journals tend to be a place where I just pour out my complaints, my blessings and my spiritual conversations. I think they are just for me.
But I know that’s not what everyone feels, and thank God for that. I have really loved reading the books of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa the Little Flower…the list goes on. I give them so much credit, as I give to you. I just don’t think I’m quite there yet. Or maybe never will be.
I have a post that just went up now, that was sparked by your last post. I do give you credit and a link to your blog. Thank you for your constant inspiration 🙂
Blessings,
Ceil
Jean,
I’m still mulling over how you went over your journals from last year…my return to keeping a journal has really helped me be more aware of God’s movements in my life…((hugs))
I have done the yearly review of my journals for more than 20 years. I highlight and repay about them. great insights come from them. It is one of my most fruitful spiritual practices. glad to see we both love this holy habit. love ya
Hi Jeanie. I used to keep a journal on paper, but since the blog came along, it has become my journal. I like that It’s all neatly stored in the internet world. It takes up less space. Great post! I’m visiting from SDG gathering.
Thanks for stopping by Michelle. glad to meet up with another journal writer. I agree with you about the blog. I have found some of my best journaling is in this space and have often copied what I are written here and put it into my journal so it is capture and not lost or separated from my journals. glad we connected!
My main journal is a three-ring notebook, the first pages of which are starting to yellow. That’s because I began in 1983 to record miracles and blessings. It’s not as detailed as Ann Voskamp’s 1000 gifts (no bubbles in the dishpan, no moonlight on the pillows), but does offer proof that God is at work in our lives OFTEN! I reached #1000 in 2014. Another journal is for tidbits and quotes that I have found especially meaningful in my reading. I also have a collection of personal psalms. I’m inspired by your idea to record my experiences with God–where he nudges me, smiles at me, or even hides from me in my daily life. Guess I’d better find another notebook. Actually, I received a journal as a gift. Its purpose has just been chosen!
Love that you have had a journal for so long. I think that is about the time I restarted consistently to journal again too. I have a few entries from earlier in life but with young kids didn’t have the time to really do it regularly. I love the idea of personal psalms. you must blog about that someday or maybe you have already I forgot. but what a neat idea. I am really into the Psalms this year blessing on our journal writing in the future.
Thank you for the blog post prompt, Jean. I don’t think I have written about personal psalm-writing. I’ll add that idea to my “seed” collection!
Well, Jean, if I thought we were on the same wavelength before, now I KNOW we are! My blog just out today is all about keeping a journal! I’ve been out and about most of the day and have not yet checked to see if you’ve visited yet; I know you will amazed by this God-incidence, too! Blessings!
Love finding another journal. You made me smile. will get to your blog and read it too. funny we wrote about the same thing at the same time. blessings to you too
Thanks for the encouragement to keep journaling. Most of my journaling is now in short snippets, but I’ve found even that to be valuable. Love the poem! 🙂 I’ll pass this along.
Lia, short snippets still work – you are capturing those moments. I found if I take at least once a week or to be honest twice month to write a little longer all those entries still add up by the end of year. glad you like the poem always makes me smile. bless you!