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Do you have a prayer journal? I know the idea doesn’t appeal to everyone, but it has so enriched my prayer life that I want to encourage you to try it.

I love to write, so of course I loved the idea of writing out my thoughts to God. But you don’t have to write much, if writing’s not your thing. If you are more artistic than I am, you can draw pictures. You can use whatever medium you want to color them, or even cut things out and glue them to the page to create a collage.

You’re not limited to prose when you write, either. Maybe you like to write poems — my sister-in-law loved to write haikus. Maybe you are musical and like to write songs. My point is that the journal is yours and should be as individual as you are.

They say that prayer is talking to God — a journal is just another way of doing that. Like writing a letter to him. I tell him my concerns and requests, and make notes on that day’s Bible reading. Sometimes I try to put myself in the place of whoever that day’s story is about and imagine how I would have reacted. (I have to say that if I was strolling in my garden and a serpent suddenly started talking to me, I wouldn’t stop for a casual chat — I’d rush to find Adam and yell, “You’ve got to come see this! It’s a talking snake!”) (And yes, I wrote this in my journal — I’m sure God was laughing along with me.)

One advantage of a journal is that your thoughts are captured on paper and you can go back and revisit them. And you’ll come to realize that this is not a one-sided conversation. Hebrews 4:12 says that “the word of God is alive and active.” Shortly after I write a question in my journal, an answer will pop up in that day’s reading. Or I’ll review some of my prayer requests and realize how many of them have been answered.

So another important component of a prayer journal is praise and thanks. We love it when someone notices when we’ve done something good, and I’m sure God feels the same way. One thing I am reminded of often in my Bible reading is that we should never take God’s blessings for granted. I’m especially aware of that right now as I’m reading about what happened when the Israelites did that.

This is all to lead up to telling you about the idea I had a few weeks ago that has added a new dimension to my journaling. After I finish commenting on the day’s reading, I write, HOW THIS APPLIES TO ME. And ponder the answer and write it down. This can be a humbling thing to consider, because it often reveals something I am failing to do or could do better. (Hebrews 4:12 also says the word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword.) But it helps me keep in mind that every word in the Bible is something that God wrote, and the message wasn’t just for the Israelites — it is meant for me, personally. Peter wrote that “prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21) Men wrote down the words — but the words came direct from God. And his words are as alive and active today as when they were first written.

Even if we don’t keep a journal, it’s a thought we should have in mind every time we read our Bible. What are you saying to me here, God? How does this apply to me? What is it you want me to learn? Considering these questions makes my Bible reading not just something to check off of a daily “to do” list — it makes it an interactive experience. I hope you are willing to give it a try.