Friday Reflections: Prayer Journal

Splendidly drawn and vibrantly colored Prayer and Bible journals have recently become very popular.  Is it any wonder?  Some of the creations I've seen are simply stunning!  Unfortunately, while I do tend to have a flair for the dramatic, my drawing ability is somewhat lacking.

And when I say "somewhat lacking," I mean dolphins could probably draw a better stick figure holding a pen between their flippers than I could ever hope for.

Nevertheless, I was recently challenged and inspired to start a prayer journal of my own. So what is an artistically challenged girl to do? We KISS - Keep It Simple Sister!

I started with a simple spiral notebook and divided it into four sections: Praise, Confessions, Thanksgiving, and Requests (or Petitions).

Don't forget the coffee and devotion!

Praise

This is the very first stop on my Prayer Journal Journey.  Why? When we pray, we are entering His courts and so we enter with praise!  

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." ~Psalm 100:4

This is where I write a passage to focus and mediate on. Perhaps it came from my morning devotional, or Sunday's sermon, or a particular passage that God has pressed on my heart.  If you're really struggling for a verse, I find the Book of Psalm is a wonderful place to start.  

Confessions

Next up - confessions.  

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." ~ James 5:16

This might be a very specific sin that I am aware of - loosing my temper, gossiping about the neighbor, resenting obligations, believe me - the list is endless.  And if for whatever reason I cannot think - not enough coffee, lack of sleep - Martin Luther provides some great examples of how we are to interact with our neighbors that I routinely fall short on. Didn't literally STEAL anything from your neighbor today? Well, great!  But - what did you do to SERVE your neighbor so that he might prosper?  Oh, well, ummmm.........

Remember, this is YOUR journal. It's just you and God. Now is the time to get real and let it all out. Plus, there really is something to writing it down. It makes it real, puts a name to it.  

Somehow when I think to myself, "Perhaps I really shouldn't have yelled at my husband like that, but come on - how hard is it to put your laundry away?"  It doesn't sound so bad - almost justified. But when I SEE it written down - "Yelled at my husband," well, it just gives me a different perspective.

Thanksgivings

Right about now, you might be wondering exactly how Thanksgiving is different from Praise.

"Thank God that he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." ~1 Corinthians 15:57

Think back to your school days. Perhaps your teacher praised you for a particularly well written essay, or your coach for a perfectly executed block.  Later, your friend thanks you for giving him a ride home or letting her borrow your favorite sweater. That's a bit oversimplified but perhaps that helps illustrate my point a bit.

This is where I record my specific thanksgivings: Thank you for providing through my husband's new job; Thank you for bringing the children home safe from their weekend trip; Thank you for your amazing love and grace and the gift of eternal life.  

Requests or Petitions

The fourth and final stop on my Prayer Journal Journey is Requests.  This is where I conclude my time by bringing my petitions to God in prayer.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." ~Philippians 4:6

Sometimes my requests are specific: healing for a sick child, help withstanding a particular temptation, strength to face an oncoming battle.  Or, perhaps a bit more general: the courage to be more vocal about my faith, wisdom to make wise financial choices - you get the idea.

And that's all there is to it.  If you still need a little more color in your prayer life without channeling your inner Picasso, try using a different color for each section. For me, I find this simple method helps keep me focused during my prayer time, as my mind is endlessly restless and wondering.  

In the short time I've been using a Prayer Journal, I have also noticed a marked difference in my writing, my confessions and requests.  Slowly my focus has shifted from very specific, right here, right now to the bigger picture, the world outside of my little bubble.  Don't get me wrong. I still pray for my children, my husband, my family. I still bring specific people and situations before God as the needs arise. But by beginning in His word, focusing on what He already has done for me, God has provided a sense of calm well-being.  Yes - that meeting tomorrow is going to be a bear. But with His grace and mercy, I'll make it through - or I won't. And if I do not, well then God must have something much better in mind.  

What about you, dear reader? Is there a specific need weighing down your heart right now?  I challenge you to start a journal of your own. There's no right or wrong, the most important thing is to just sit down and talk with God. Perhaps you're hurt or angry - let Him know about it. Scared or worried? God is ready and waiting to help you with your burden. Or maybe your heart is just overflowing with joy! Wonderful! He would love to hear all about that!

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." ~Numbers 6:24-26