I am a lazy journal writer. I begin to write, then start to daydream.  A teacher in high school accepted doodles and drawings in  our journals–it saved me! When I am going through devastating times, the pages flow, all of my feelings just pour out of me.  When I am happy and fulfilled–who has time to for this?!!!

My answer to that is a prayer journal. Prayer journals are easy and so beneficial.  I started mine as an exercise for one of my small groups years ago. These journals give you time to review good and hard times, and time to talk to God.  It is interesting to review old journals and see how God has answered your prayers.  He sometimes does it in the most unexpected ways!

1. Find a journal that you like.  Personally, I like ones that have scripture on the page. It gives me something to focus on as I write. Walmart, Walgreens and the Dollar Store have inexpensive journals. My present journal came from Family Christian.
   

   Example of Prayer Journal from Family Christian

   

   This one is from Walmart and similar to the one that I use.

2. Decide the time of day that works for you to write. It really depends on your schedule and your personal time clock. Find a time with no interruptions and little background noise, so that you are able to concentrate on the prayers.  God may whisper to you and place other prayers on your heart as you write in the journal.I like to start my day with my prayer journal. It just starts the day off right.  I write down all those things that have floated through my mind as I was waking up.  I address any issues I see coming up through the day.
3. My rule in my prayer journal is that I start each day with something I am grateful for — a prayer fulfilled, a beautiful day, my family, I kept my mouth shut during a meeting or a beautiful song.  After I thank God for something in my life, then, I continue on with other prayers.
4. What do you put in your prayer journal?  Is this slowing you down?  Here are some suggestions.
   • Consider what areas you need to lift to God. Let’s face it…He already knows what is happening, but there are times you need to quiet everything down to talk to Him and listen.
   • Have you told anyone you would pray for them?  This is your chance to do just that with a written document.
   • Is there a scripture that has captured your thoughts?  Read through it or just write it down.  Explain why it is meaningful.  For example, one that has been on my heart lately is–
   • “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:3-6
   • This scripture has been on my thoughts and highlighted in many of my entries over the last few weeks due to some challenges in this life.  But isn’t it a beautiful passage in general?!
5.      Look at what you have written and lift it to God.

And you are done!  Sometimes my entries are two lines and sometimes they are two pages.  What I love about this format of a prayer journal is that it makes me stop and think about what is good in my life.  It is not just a journal asking God for everything, but it is also a journal that thanks Him.  We should always be praising Him.

Make sure that you occasionally go back and review to see what prayers are answered.  My favorite pray answered is my husband.  I asked for years for a good man.  One day after we married, I found a couple old prayer journals and there were the prayers, that described my husband exactly.  God is good!