Journaling Prayer Activity
What for?
Journaling is a tool for reflecting on God's presence, guidance and nurture in daily comings and goings. Journals can be kept regularly or during time of transitions.*
What will you need?
Paper, writing utensil, other items are optional (stickers, colored pencils, clippings, photos, etc.)
How do you do it?
There is no right or wrong way to journal. Putting ink/lead to the paper is the hardest part.
You may think of the journal as a way to pray. What do you want to tell God about the day? Instead of worrying about spelling, grammar, or content, just be as genuine as you can. Be yourself, because after all, this journal is only for you and God.
More on understanding this:
Keeping a journal is a way to be aware of God's presence. By simply recording things you see, hear, taste, feel, and smell, you become aware of God's presence. Once we are aware of where God's presence has been in the past, it is more natural to think of the presence of God in the present, and will have hope for God's presence in the future.
Journaling can be fun, and can easily become a routine practice of yours. Whether or not you are artsy or a writer, journaling is a practice that is available to anyone who is aware. Journaling can be paragraphs, songs, poems, stories, reflections, or questions. They can also be images of your experience, drawings of your thoughts, and collages of keepsakes.
Reflections questions to help start your reflections may include: A beautiful moment, things that made you smile, your favorite thing about the day, your least favorite thing about the day, when you gave the most love today, when you gave the least love, what scared you, who are you thankful for, something you need to tell someone, how do you feel right this moment, who might you want to pray for, when was it easy to remember God today, when was it hard to remember God, what you did today, etc.
Travel journals can include: plane/train/bus tickets, business cards from places you have been, event/museum tickets, maps, food wrappers, brochures, an itinerary, magazine clippings, flower petals/leafs, peoples contact information, photos, drawings, packing list, list of restaurants, quotes from people on the trip, quotes you look up before the trip, names of people you meet, poems, A map to color in all the states/countries you visit, calendar, a pressed coin, and more!
If you are going on a road trip, or planning for a travel journal, here is a quick prayer to consider using before you leave to start your journal!
*Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us. InterVarsity Press. Downers Grove, IL (2015).
