Prayer Journalling

 

For some years I’ve kept a prayer journal.

Now that sounds very formal but, in fact, it’s just that I find it’s easier to concentrate if I have my regular conversations with God in writing. So the entries can be as formal as lists or as meandering as my distracted thought processes (although, writing helps keep me more on track). I do try to have some structure, which at the moment tends to be:

-          - Listing things I thank God for

-          - Noting quotes that stand out from my current devotional book

-          - Reflecting with Him on how I’m feeling

-          - Bringing concerns to Him

Over the New Year weekend, I decided to read back over 2021 to see if there were any particular themes or blessings. And this is what I learned:

1.      1. Definite answers to prayer. For example, in previous years, I had clung to and challenged God with His Biblical promise ‘I will restore the years the locusts have eaten’ for my youngest, who developed bipolar whilst at university. The illness took away so much but this summer, after five rather than three years, he graduated with a 2:1 and a prize for resilience!

2.     2.  And ongoing prayer requests, especially for my family’s health, but the answers so far give me confidence to keep going.

3.      3. How much wisdom and comfort I found in devotional books. Recital of Love by Keren Dibbens Wyatt has been a great source of both.

4.      4. My need for self care, especially sufficient sleep and how much it impacts my mood. God continues to be very patient and consistent in reminding me about this. And I continue to be a slow learner!

5.      5. How many times during prayer times I have been inspired for blog posts or writing ideas still to be developed.

6.      6. Following a structure is a useful discipline but sometimes it’s good to go with the flow. I found poems and descriptive pieces I’d forgotten I’d written.

7.      7. Unfinished books to go back to. I seem to have abandoned more books than ever this year. So I’m going to try to finish them before buying any new ones.

8.     8.  Perhaps most encouragingly, how much I’ve prayed over the year. Past journals have had a lot more gaps! I wonder if the simpler life that pandemic restrictions forced us into actually gave me the chance to develop a more regular routine?

It’s the first time I’ve formally reviewed a prayer journal over a whole year but I will do it again, maybe make it a New Year habit.

I’d encourage others to try praying this way too, if you don’t already. And if you do, have you reviewed it? What have you found?

We’re writers, so this is a natural way for us to express ourselves. And it can be another way to use our gift for God. I think it can be a form of worshipping Him.

It’s easy to think that ‘real’ writing is when it has an audience of some kind. My prayer journal made me realise Who the most important audience is.

Liz Manning fits writing around being an Occupational Therapist, BB captain, wife, and mum to two adults. Or perhaps it's the other way round. She blogs regularly at https://thestufflifeismadeofblog.wordpress.com/, has two WIPs and more ideas in the pipeline.