Prayer journaling is my favorite way to pray. It helps me process things in my life and often inspires me in new ways. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to prayer journaling. You can begin by simply writing about your day and things that are on your mind. You can write about mundane things and big things. God delights in hearing all of your thoughts, just like a mother delights in hearing about her child's school day. If you need help in how to begin prayer journaling, here are a few reflection prompts to get you started.
1. Make a gratitude list: List everything you are grateful for. Try to move beyond the basics (like family and friends) and think of things like having enough money to buy groceries for dinner.
2. Pray for guidance and direction in your life: do you have a big decision to make about something happening in your life? Tell God about it and ask for help. Not sure what to do next? Pose the question to God.
3. Pour out your heart to God: tell God everything that's on your mind like you would a good friend over coffee.
4. Pick a verse of scripture: Pick a simple verse from the day's readings or something you've heard before. Write it in your journal to begin. Then write about what comes up for you around it. Let it be a stream of consciousness.
5. Draw or write out a map of your spiritual journey so far: this might take more than one sitting, but it can be a beautiful way to see how God has worked in your life over time.
6. Jot down people you have had in your heart to pray for: List out 10 people you want to pray for, and specific prayers for each of them.
7. Make a list of everything you are worrying about: and then ask God to care for your worries as you let them go.
Journal, $19.99
The perfect journal for prayer. It has a hard cover and a light grid for writing and drawing.
