Have you been wanting to deepen your relationship with God?
You probably spend time going to church, maybe even Sunday School or a Bible study. Perhaps you pray every night, but you find that there’s still something missing in your life.
You’re longing for an actual relationship with God.
I get it. I was there just a few short years ago. That is until I started a prayer journal.
Today I’m going to help you start a prayer journal of your own! I’ll be sharing what I use and how I use it, as well as some oh-so-cute journals that you can use for inspiration.
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What a prayer journal will do for you
I’ve talked a lot over the last several years about my prayer journal and how important it is to me. And since it has completely changed my relationship with God, it’s no wonder I think everyone should be using one!
Sitting down to devote time just to God, reading the Bible and a devotional, and writing it all down in your journal every day will really teach you what it is that God has planned for your life.
It’s not something that can be taught by anyone, it’s something that God will show you as you sit quietly in His Presence.
He’ll show you how He wants you to live in the present with Him, and not worry about what tomorrow brings but rather showing you that you really can find peace in your life, no matter what your circumstances are.
How to get started with a prayer journal
There are an infinite number of prayer journals to choose from, and if you’re the creative type, man oh man, the possibilities are completely endless!
Before we get started, there’s one important thing I’d like you to keep in mind:
When it comes to your prayer journal, it’s not about how cute it is or how much time you’ve spent making it pretty. It’s about growing in your relationship with God, diving deeper and really getting to know Him (and yourself).
What do you write in a prayer journal?
So just what do you write in a prayer journal? Well, that’s easy…..anything you want! This is your journal, and it’s between you and Jesus.
Several years ago, I had no idea that anyone even kept a prayer journal. It was Minny, from the movie “The Help,” that introduced me to this new concept. (Great movie by the way!) When Minny told Skeeter that she wrote out her prayers every day, I honestly couldn’t figure out why someone would do that.
Be sure to check out my 15 Best Prayer Journals to Strengthen Your Prayer Life.
Fast forward several years and now I can’t imagine my life without it.
To give you a little kickstart, I’ll explain how I use mine.
- After I’ve read the day’s devotion, I write down everything that resonated with me.
- I then read the daily scriptures that go along with it and write down anything that stands out from the Bible.
- Lastly, I write out my prayers as if I’m sitting right across from Jesus having a wonderful chat with Him.
- I do add just a little pretty to my prayer journal by drawing the date at the top of the pages with some fun handwriting and borders, but that’s about all the “pretty” mine gets.
You know, just reading back through that list, it seems too simple to be as powerful as it is, but that’s the incredible benefit of a prayer journal!
I think we are constantly overcomplicating our lives, and all Jesus wants us to do is slow down and live in the present with Him. Simple as that!
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Prayer Journal Inspiration
It’s incredibly easy to get started using a prayer journal.
You can grab a spiral-bound or composition notebook that’s lying around the house. Simply open it and begin!
You can head to Target, Walmart, Staples, Office Depot…any of your favorite stores to find a cute prayer journal that best suits you.
One of my favorite places to buy a prayer journal is from the online shop, DaySpring. In fact, the picture below is one that has a leather cover with refillable inserts. (Update: Truth be told, the journal below hasn’t been one of my favorites. It’s a great concept, but I went through the refillable papers a little too quickly.)
I realize that everyone has different tastes, so I scoured the internet to find a little more inspiration for you!
- Praying the Promises of the Cross by Arabah Joy – get it for FREE here.
- I love how Christie from Sparkles of Sunshine puts her prayer journal together, and she has some free printables to help you get started.
- The Illustrated Faith Kits from DaySpring are another great place to find prayer journals and inspiration for them.
- If you’re a scrapbooker, you’re going to love Laura Rahel’s prayer journal.
- Jen over at Grace in Color has a prayer journal workshop to help you create your first prayer journal in a day.
What to look for in a prayer journal
There are a few things I would recommend when looking for your first prayer journal.
- Heavier Weighted Paper: Depending on what pen you like to use, it can be difficult to read as they may bleed through. (Like in regular notebook.)
- Index – This is one thing that I make sure all my journals have. You’ll love having an index so you can refer back to different topics when you find yourself needing some inspiration and encouragement. (If you find a journal you love that doesn’t include an index, simply use the first page or two as your index.)
- Scripture – It’s great to have a specific place to write some of your favorite scriptures so you can locate them easily. (Again, if your journal does not have this, designate a specific page just for this purpose.)
Wrapping Up
So there you have it! Some prayer journal ideas for you to try.
The important thing to remember is that it doesn’t really matter what type of prayer journal you use, just start using one!
I believe with all my heart that once you do, it’ll change your life! You’ll learn to focus on the many blessings Jesus has given you, start to find joy no matter what your circumstances are, and learn to stand on His promises for you each and every day.
If you’re starting a prayer journal for the first time, comment below and tell me what you think!
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. I’m truly honored to have you here.
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Until next time, my friend……
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Learning how to put our complete trust in God isn’t easy. We say we trust God, but what we really mean is that we trust Him for what we want, when we want it. At Footprints of Inspiration we uncover who you are and why you were created; how to walk in healing through forgiveness; and how to go before the Lord with confidence. Through this journey, you’ll discover that it truly is possible to experience peace, even in the hardest times in your life.
Tammy Rotzoll is the founder and owner of Footprints of Inspiration and podcast host at A Faithful God Podcast (which can be found on your favorite podcast player). She lives in Virginia with her husband and together they’re learning how to navigate their fun, new adventure as empty nesters.
Join Tammy and the FOI community and discover the freedom that comes from saying, “Heck yeah, God! I’m all in!”
Such an in-depth resource! I have started a prayer journal before but failed to be consistent with it. I plan on giving it another try using some of the tips you mentioned above. I also like the idea of being able to flip through and look back at some of the amazing things God has done in your life.
Hi Shanique! Thank you for stopping by the blog and taking time to reach out. A prayer journal has completely changed my time with God and really helped me remember scripture better. It’s also been a huge tool in deepening my relationship with God. I pray that your journal will help to deepen your relationship as well!
I love love love this! Prayer journals are so useful!
Thank you Tammy for explaining what a prayer journal is. I’ve heard of them before and never realized that technically I’ve already started one. Couple years ago I started to keep a journal specifically to jot down the divine dreams I’d been having. And strange encounters and any thoughts or “coincidences” that I felt to be God lead. Never thought to write out my prayers. I’d also seen the movie “The Help” great movie 🙂
I think that now that I understand this better I think I’ll use my journal a little more. Thanks Again!
That’s great, Jaime! It truly is amazing when you write everything down and, especially your prayers. It has really changed my life. I’m excited for you to dig even deeper with your journal! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog and taking time to reach out!
Hi there,
Many thanks for your help. I’m only starting a prayer journal today for the first time. I’m totally grateful for your help.
I’ll keep you posted too on how it goes.
God bless you.
Esther, thank you so much for stopping by the blog and taking the time to reach out. I am over the moon excited for you. Having a prayer journal has completely changed my life and I know it will do the same for you. Stick with it, even if you miss a day here or there – make sure you get back at it. I’ve always known God, will until I started my prayer journal, I had never had a relationship with Him. I will keep you in my prayers, and yes, definitely keep me posted! Thanks again, for reaching out!