“Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.’” (Jeremiah 30:2 NKJV)
(Article taken from “Sunday Table: 52 Weekly Devotions”, pg. 17-20)
I remember sitting in class in the fourth grade; thinking writing was a waste of time. In elementary school, we were made to keep a journal. I confused journaling with keeping a diary, an activity that I had heard that girls, not boys, do. So, I never liked it as a kid.
They say confession is good for the soul. As I grew up, I admit that I tried and failed many times to keep a journal, especially in my young adult years. Like I suspect many of you may also have, I still have several journals in my possession where only a couple of the first pages have been written on, and many more that have no writing. In fact, if I had ten dollars for every journal I’ve purchased and not really used, I could probably buy myself a nice gift.
It was only later in my ministry years that I became more persistent in journaling. Now, with time, journaling has become an invaluable tool that helps me greatly in my walk of faith. Among many other things, it has become a tool that helps me process the goings-on of my heart and remember experiences I would otherwise forget.
In Psalm 103:2, the Psalmist challenges us not to forget all of God’s benefits. Journaling is one practical way we can do that. When I journal, I’m taking this challenge to heart and remembering God’s benefits by literally writing them down, whether it’s deeper theological reflections from Scripture or simple, heartfelt things like the benefit of time with family or the benefit of belonging to my church family; or the benefit of attending a recent event where I was encouraged, etc.
Journaling may not be for everyone. But I do wholeheartedly encourage everyone to try, at least for a month, not missing a single day. I believe most people will find it beneficial—yes, you too—if you can just make the time for it. It will also give your family and future generations something to read from your heart after you’re long gone. That’s priceless.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind while you make up your mind about journaling:
First, journaling gets easier the more you do it. The more you write, the better you write. Journaling even helps you communicate better outside of writing. On top of that, journaling also helps you discover what matters most to you as you communicate back and forth between your spirit and God’s Spirit, your heart and God’s heart, your mind and God’s thoughts.
Second, no one communicates like you do. No one will write or process quite like you will. So be yourself when you journal. Consider the Bible as an example. The 66 God-breathed books of our Bible are divided between at least 35 human authors, which means we get to learn about God while also enjoying the unique writing styles of a multitude of very different personalities. In a way, much of what’s written in Scripture is something like a Spirit-inspired journal of what has happened between God and his people in the past.
Third, always date and organize your journal. Dating your journal entries creates a kind of memory highway that stretches through time. Having such a highway enables you later on to take memory strolls that help you see and reflect on how God has blessed and moved in your life through the months and years. A digital journal will automatically date entries for you. In terms of organization, another perk to keeping a digital journal is the ability to quickly search and find keywords that help you retrieve comments about places and people scattered across many journal entries on your memory highway. For example, when I visit and preach at a church, I am sure to list the name of the church and the message I preached. Sometimes, I include the names of people I met as well.
Fourth, reserve your journal for the heart and the mind, not for the business and logistics of life. If you need to document certain things that happen in your life for more business-like purposes, I suggest recording such things outside your spiritual journal. Find an alternative place where you can write down—as Sgt. Joe Friday, in the 1960s TV drama Dragnet, would say—“just the facts, ma’am, just the facts.” Save your personal journal for your spirit and the Holy Spirit to share things together.
Finally, don’t overthink it, and don’t be legalistic towards yourself. Just like the clothes I wear may not represent everyone else’s style, I recognize that just because journaling works well for me, it may not be something that fits well with where you feel “you’re currently at” in life. That’s fine. No pressure. Consider this just a sincere invitation from a fellow journeyer and journaler to try out something that might just be helpful—as well as an honest encouragement that if you do decide to try journaling out, you should also try to keep it up for at least a month before quitting. Give it time to sink and settle in before you make up your mind about it.
Either way, journal or no journal, I believe you will enjoy this humble devotional book the Lord inspired my heart to write (but I will leave that for you to decide). Hopefully, each week, you will be encouraged, challenged, and invited to draw nearer to the Lord, encountering certain thoughts and words along the way that may feel just important enough to put to pen and paper. So, keep a pen and paper close by…just in case.
Most of all, I simply want to say thank you in advance. Thanks for taking this journey with me for the next 52 weeks. Through it, my prayer is that you see and remember God’s many benefits to you, for you, around you, and through you.
May God richly bless you as we journey (and possibly journal) together.
Daily Inspiration:
“A journal helps you face where you are, so you can get to where you need to be.” (David Jeremiah)
Weekly Challenge:
Each week, this devotional will include a practical challenge. Think of it as an invitation and encouragement to find ways you can live in the real world what is discussed in these pages.
Leaders’ Corner:
For all those who wish to glean from the world of leadership, the Leaders’ Corner section will include an additional challenge tailored to those serving in positions of ministry leadership. However, please bear in mind that the Leaders’ Corner is inclusive, not exclusive. All of us are leaders in some form or fashion since all of us have an influence on the lives of others in some form or fashion. That said, the Leaders’ Corner will often (if not always) feature a challenge that would be profitable to anyone’s life—regardless of what official title you may or may not go by.
Praying Scripture:
This section is self-explanatory. It includes a Scripture and a short prayer inspired by it. For this week, read and pray with me:
“Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.” (Psalm 102:18)
Lord, during these next 52 weeks, help me to write the things that will give you the most praise, if not on paper, then at least on my heart and mind. While traveling on this devotional journey, I pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire me with thoughts both in and beyond what I read that will help me each day. I pray this in Jesus’s name. Amen!