A Page from my Journal

posted by Erin Davis on 01/15/09 | Twitter: @ErinGraffiti
Category: Faith; ; 18 comments

I don’t know about you, but I am inspired to read the Bible more faithfully when I hear others share about the specific lessons God is teaching them during personal quiet time. With that in mind, I’ve decided to give you access to my journal.

As part of my regular devotional time, I journal about what I am reading and what the Lord is teaching me. It’s a very private place that I’m not prone to letting others take a peek at. But as I look back through my journal pages, I can see the immeasurable impact of God’s Word on my heart and circumstances. As we endeavor to love God’s Word more together, I want to share that private place with you.

For the past several months I’ve been studying what I call “the forgotten books.” That is, those books in the Bible that I’ve never read before. Even though I’ve been a Christian for more than a decade I recently examined the Bible’s table of contents and noticed that there were 15 books that I had never read. I realized that it was impossible for me to claim to know the Word of God when there was so much of it I hadn’t read.

Most recently, I’ve been studying the book of Joel. Here’s what I wrote in my journal during my quiet time on January 7th.

“ The Lord thunders at the head of his army, his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command” Joel 2:11.

“ Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate. Slow to anger and abounding in love and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing” Joel 2:12-14.

Lord, too often I rend my garments—my outside, my behavior, my habits, my media intake…without ever turning my heart toward you. Teach me how to turn my heart toward you so that I can receive your blessing.


As you can see, my journaling process is fairly simple. I just jot down Scriptures that are particularly meaningful. I also write out my prayers to God. Some days I write a lot. Some days I just scribble down a sentence or two. But there are always benefits. Writing verses down helps me understand them better and commit them to memory more easily. Journaling my response to Scripture and my prayers to God helps give me clarity and provides me a record so that I can look back and see how God’s hand has moved in my life. This simple practice has made a big impact on my personal quiet time (for more devotional tips click here).

So, how about you? What has God been teaching you through his Word lately? What do you do to make sure that Scripture is being sealed into your heart?

Comments

HEY, GIRLS! We love hearing from you, but feel limited in the ways we can help. For one thing, we’re not trained counselors. If you’re seeking counsel, we encourage you to talk to your pastor or a godly woman in your life as they’ll know more details and can provide you with ongoing accountability and help. Also, the following comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Revive Our Hearts. We reserve the right to remove comments which might be unhelpful, unsuitable, or inappropriate.

    Rachel
    Thanks for sharing! :)
    on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 10:54 am
    That's really awesome that you shared part of your personal time with the Lord with us. :) It's definitely interesting and encouraging to read how God is working in your life! I usually do my daily reading in the morning, and since I am homeschooled I tend to get up real quick and run downstairs so I don't miss an online class or if it's late and I didn't start my work. Which in turn makes me forget to read my Bible. Because of this I got a piece of paper and wrote 'Read Your Bible' on it and put it in the middle of my bedroom door. Recently, someone I know gave me a Bible verse and it meant a lot to me so I wrote it down and put it on my door next to the paper. Now I currently have two verses and the paper on my door. I hope to fill my door with meaningful and important verses that really help me. And I'm not going to just search for a whole bunch - I wanted to find them just by reading my Bible everyday and finding them for myself! :) Although I have a hard time sticking to writing in Journals, I thought about getting a new one and trying again. Thanks again for sharing with us! :)
    Audrey
    Wow!!!!
    on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 11:12 pm
    You know its always way interesting to hear about God stuff cuz it always gives me like severe chills and im always afraid that people will mock me for shareing my experiences with God but when i do my youth pastor is usually the one who i go to but she is always like "wow audrey thats great" and im starting to be confortable with the whole shareing my personal experiences with God and one time we were all praying in youth one night and i felt this pain in my foot well i started walking up to the stage and i had no idea what to do until my youth pastor handed me the mic and it was something that God wanted me to say and it was for a spcific person and they were searching for something but the only way they will find what they are searching for is in the Lord. All of that came to me like right when my youth pastorhanded that mic. and that is just God useing me to minister to someone else...... God is so good
    CJ
    Re:
    on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 11:46 pm
    I do the same thing, Rachel! Except my verses are on my mirror. I'm starting to keep a journal of what they mean to me, and how they've helped me, too. One of the verses I found recently was Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you." It's amazing how much more peaceful I've felt since I found and believed it. I know, I've been told before that He knows what's best for me, but it seemed like it was that time that it really clicked.
    Steph
    Background
    on Friday, January 16, 2009 at 9:47 am
    Hey, that was a really neat idea to share that with us. How encouraging. One thing that I do to help myself memorize and meditate on Scripture is I put a verse as the background on my computer. I am on the computer a lot for school and such, and everytime I see the verse, I say it or read it. I find that within 3 or 4 days without hardly any effort at all I have it memorized! It's really helpful.

    God bless!
    Steph
    Re: Rachel
    on Friday, January 16, 2009 at 10:13 am
    Wow! I struggle with the exact same thing!!!! I am homeschooled as well, and it's hard for me to do devotions in the morning. I'm so glad I'm not alone!
    Vicky
    I Love It!
    on Friday, January 16, 2009 at 11:48 am
    I'm really likeing this website! It's the first time I've ever been on it and it seems like a really great thing. I think I'm gonna try to get some of my friends to get on it. Ok now listen to this. I go to a public school and at times it can be very hard to stay committed to the Lord. Well in my English class there is a Christian girl and we are laways talking about God and then we got into the whole God coming down taking everyone Christian up to heaven with him. Well a couple girls were listening in and they began asking questions. One of them said they had read the Revelation which really surprised me. She actually knew some things about the Bible. and I asked her to come to youth group with me this Sunday and she is probably going to. I just wanted to share that with some people. Anyway I would like it if you Christian girls out there would pray for these people. Maybe I can actually bring them to Christ and they will accept him. Well Thanx for the idea on the journal I think I'm going to start one as soon as I get off of here! PRAY! <3 :)
    Audrey
    RE: VICKY
    on Friday, January 16, 2009 at 8:45 pm
    Im new to the website too vicky and i will defanatly pray and i would reccomend you reading your bible and seeking God on how to minister to these girls and by the way do you listen to AIR1 radio??????
    Rachel
    Re: Steph
    on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 1:09 pm
    Awh, of course you're not alone. :) I used to read at night actually, but I think reading at night was a bad idea for me because then I'd go to bed and wouldn't really remember everything I read. But then if I read in the morning, and it's the first thing I do, then I remember and I can ponder on what I read for the rest of the day and maybe even apply it. It is hard to read in the morning sometimes though. Especially when I first get up, it's like noo... I don't wanna do anything... i'm too tired... i'll do it later! But then usually I just forget. It takes a certain amount of discipline but it helps to pray about it. :) God cares and he'll listen, just ask him to help you stay more focused and to help you stay faithful! Things will work out!
    Maria Scotts
    help?
    on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 9:25 pm
    Hi, I know this is kinda off the subject, but I need some advise. My sister has some friends that she met over the internet, she went to meet them Last week, after knowing them 4 about 6 months. well now they are cumming up here. I don't really mind, but my sis talks non stop about them, and now I am starting to HATE the fact that they are cumming, and not like them ether. I think I feel sorta replaced b/c me and my sis were good friends. I don't want to not like these people, Jesus say's that we ought to be loving. I want to open my arms up to them, but I feel so pressured. Can any one help me to look at this differently?
    Thanks ~Maria
    brianna abbott
    wow ,,,,,,,,,,
    on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 7:34 pm
    i realy like this website this is very cool ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, =)
    Vicky
    Re:Audrey
    on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 11:28 am
    No I've never heard of that station. What's it called Air 1 radio. Oh and thanks for the advice I think I might try it out.
    AJ
    journaling
    on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 9:40 pm
    I have a way of thinking about meaningful verses, too. I have started writing my verses on notecards and taping them to my notebooks and stuff for school. It really helps me during the day to look at those verses and feel encouraged, and I've also had a few people comment on the verses on my books. It seems to work well for me, and maybe some of you will find encouragement from this, too. :-)
    Joy
    Re: journaling
    on Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 5:09 pm
    Hey, that's a really neat idea, AJ! I think I'll try that. I really like this site! :)
    Sissa
    advice
    on Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 6:35 pm
    Hey, this isnt probaly the where im supposed to write for advice, but oh well. i need help, has anyone ever heard of talking in tongues? being gifted by the holy spirit? well my cousin got back from israel and started talking in tongues and was very much gifted by God. I know this is all supposed to be a wonderful and glorious thing, but does that mean im supposed to want it to? cause' the whole kinda scares me and to ask something like that from God feels like a sin. I mean, could you imagine praying to Jesus and God and asking them to give you power?? the whole thing is very confusing to me and i could really use some advice and thoughts on it.
    Thanks, Sissa
    horsegirl91
    verses
    on Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 9:16 pm
    I started journaling when I went through LYWB. Since I've finished the book, I don't do it every day, but it has established a good habit. Also what I did with verses was write out the verses from the book (conquering lies with truth) on post-it notes and put them up on the wall next to my bed. I also put the pull out sheet of verses from the book above my bed. It is really awesome to be able to identify something I'm feeling and having a specific truth and verse to combat it with.
    teacup
    just live for the lord
    on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 1:47 am
    ok first i don't know if it is to late to answer your questun miria but i have to say i want thourgh kinnda the same ting when my sis got a boy friend and i asked god to help me and he did. you are still there for your sis and she knows that she is just way excited. sissa i have to say i don't belive in toungs but a lot of poeple do. i belive they were only a tool for the erly church and don't worry if it is not god's spirritual gift he gave you you don't need to want to have it. i have the spiritual gift of evangelisun but not teaching. i have troulble teaching poeple who already know god. so i just use my spiritual gift. and i have also been kippeng a jornal. it has been very helpfull as just a daly letter to god. i have been having a hard time latly and have had to put my full trust in god to get me through it has been eminsly helpful. a verse i love is psalm 34:18.
    the lord is near the broken hearted; and he saves thoughs with a contrite spirit.
    Steph
    RE: Sissa (Talking in Tongues)
    on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 7:11 am
    Hi Sissa. I too get confused about that sometimes. My dad can speak in tongues, and sometimes I wonder if I should want to too. It happens when you're filled with the Holy Spirit... maybe try praying about it. Ask God about it. Maybe He'll show you some answers. =) Sorry I wasn't much help.

    If anyone else thinks they know the answer to this, I would be interested too!
    Vicky
    RE:Maria
    on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 4:15 pm
    Hey Maria I am an older sister. I have a younger brother of the age of 10 and a younger sister at the age of 7. Since my sister and I are not really in the same age group me being 13 and her 7 it might be differnet than your problem, but when we're both older and can connect better I would want my sister to tell me if she feels she is being replaced. I don't know if that is any help to you, but I do know that's what I would want my sis to do. GOOD LUCK! :-)

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