For some time now I have been keeping a prayer journal. Watch the video above to find out why it has been so helpful to me.
Creating your own prayer journal is easy – all you need is a notebook similar to what you might use for a diary and something to write with. Of course, you can use colored pens, etc. if you want to get fancy and add art or other stylish touches to your journal. The most important element of a good prayer journal, however, is you and your relationship with God!
Of course, the idea goes back centuries. Many saints kept diaries of journals of their spiritual lives, including St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
Seeing God at work
Recently, Aleteia contributor Cecilia Pigg wrote about her own pray journaling experience:
I started keeping a prayer journal when I was 13 and have started and stopped many others over the years. At first, I used a journal to stay focused when my mind wandered at adoration. I would sit and write what I wanted to say -- a sort of monologue with God.
After a few years went by, I started looking back through my old journal entries. I realized how clearly I could see God working in my life through this written record. Situations I had agonized over had been resolved. Specific prayers I had written down had been answered. The way I wrote and prayed had changed, but I was also able to see the desires that had stayed the same over the years — prayers that I continued to have that revealed places I had room to grow.
If you need more motivation or inspiration to create your own journal, I suggest you read Cecila’s full article. She has a lot of great practical advice and ideas.