[In these times of unrest, let us take time to pause and to encourage contemplation. One way to do that is with the practice of keeping a prayer journal. Today we welcome Janet LaBlanc as a guest writer on the blog.]
Every January, resolutions or the setting of goals are made for the new year. Some of those goals may be to pray more or read the Bible from cover to cover. With any goal a plan needs to be in place. A prayer journal can help achieve spiritual goals.
There is a difference between a diary and a journal. In a diary, daily activities or observations are recorded. In a journal, thoughts, feelings and prayers are recorded. A diary records facts. A journal records reactions to facts. The purpose of a Christian prayer journal is to help one grow closer to Christ. Mediation on Scripture, prayer for others, prayers of gratitude or prayers responding to current events, letters to God, notes from a sermon/homily; all of this and more can be entered in a prayer journal.
People often ask others for prayer. Those asked tend to say, “Yes, I’ll pray for you”, and than forget about it. Having a specified space in your journal for such a prayer list is always helpful.
Another term for a prayer journal is a war binder. This concept was inspired by the movie War Room. In this movie, Miss Clara had a prayer closet which she called her war room, and this is where she engaged in spiritual warfare. Her prayer lists as well as her written prayers covered her walls. This movie inspired others to create a prayer space in their homes. Many who couldn’t create a prayer space began putting their prayers in a binder. Some use a standard three ring binder and others a binder designed for planners. Binders are then arranged by different sections. Travelers' notebooks, hardbound journals, disc planners, composition books, and a standard one subject notebook may all serve as materials for prayer journals/war binders. Both black and colored pens may be used. Some will embellish their journals with stickers or washi tape (decorative tape). Personally, I cut out illustrations from the church bulletin and glue them into my prayer journal. When our parish bulletin had the prayer of the week, I also glued that prayer into my journal. It can be as simple or as fancy as you want to make it. However, a notebook and a pen are the only necessary items in keeping a prayer journal.
Answering the question of the week printed in the church bulletin is one way to get started in keeping a prayer journal. Reading the daily Mass readings printed in our church bulletin can be a great springboard for a Bible study. A prayer journal can also be used to reflect on daily Scriptures. Using this method, one will have read and reflected on most of the Bible in three years. Both Dr. Scott Hahn and Bishop Robert Barron each provide Gospel reflections. It cost nothing to be on their email lists. Their words of wisdom can also be a source of contemplation for entry in one's prayer journal.
Keeping a prayer list of friends and family and praying for their daily intentions is another way of adding to a prayer journal. Our parish bulletin lists names of those who need prayer. Those names can be added as well. Since it is important to pray for the souls in purgatory, our deceased loved ones can also be included and finally, additional prayer material can be found in the daily reading of obituaries.
Devotionals, books on saints, books explaining Scripture or Church teaching are all sources of material for reflection in a prayer journal. Anything you want to put in their prayer journal is acceptable – it’s your journal! These are suggested examples and not everything listed needs to be in your prayer journal.
The benefits of keeping a journal may differ from person to person. A common outcome of a prayer journal is the ability to see one's own spiritual growth and how God has answered our prayers. There is a saying, “Let go and let God.” Expressing one's thoughts, feelings, pain, and hurts can help one to let go and allows God to move in each aspect of our lives. Writing our prayers helps us to stay focused in our conversations with the Heavenly Father. God can also use them as a tool to communicate with us.
In the movie 'I Can Only Imagine', Bart Millard noticed he wrote the words, “I can only imagine” many times throughout his journals. According to the movie, after reading his journal entries years after he wrote them, Mr. Millard was inspired to write 'I Can Only Imagine.' This song would eventually become a hit song for the Christian band 'MercyMe' on the Christian and pop charts.
To reiterate, there is no wrong way to keep a prayer journal. To summarize, all one needs is a notebook and a pen. All or some of the above suggestions can help one keep spiritual goals. In so doing, we then enable The Holy Spirit to communicate to us through our prayer journals.
Janet LeBlanc has a bachelor's degree in philosophy and English from Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine. While in college, she began keeping a journal and has pursued journaling ever since. Since 2011, Miss LeBlanc has been a Consecrated Virgin, which is the oldest form of consecrated life in the Roman Catholic Church. She enjoys scrap booking, movies, and traveling. Information and ideas on keeping a journal and paper planner are posted on her Instagram page: janets.journal.universe
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