The Advantage of Keeping a Journal

Numbers 33:1 - 2 NKJV

(1) These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.

(2) Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points:

How can a journal be an aid to your spiritual growth and life?

Keeping a journal will be a written record of your Christian life.

Many people (such as myself) keep a journal because it can be a powerful aid both now and in the future.

Other thoughts about keeping a journal

· the bible is full of personal journals and we are still benefiting from those writings today!

· a personal journal will allow you to track your progress as a Christian

· a personal journal can be a way for your past self to warn your present self about situations you have been through.

· a personal journal is a way of continuously celebrating spiritual wins.

In the same way that the bible seems timeless and personally referenced throughout a Christian’s lifetime; a journal may also be YOUR personal reference throughout YOUR lifetime. A journal is a way for you to review past mistakes and successes.

A journal allows you to review your personal feelings and how your spiritual growth has carried you through difficult times. A journal isn't a blog that is shared with the world but it is a personal guide for the present you learning from the past you. An effective journal should be truthful and entries should be a very real picture of your spiritual life which will include your struggles, hurt, and times that you have both been blessed and also forgiven.

There are many things that you can include in your personal journal that many journal keepers may not add.

Have a specific page (or pages) for blessing reminders. As you go throughout your days (and life) you are reminded about the many blessings that you have received from God. In my personal journal I have simple things such as the gift of music in my life to the day that I was saved and baptized. We are blessed everyday in some way. Recording these blessings is a way of reminding us of the love that both God and His son Jesus have for us.

Record both prayers and answered prayers. There are times that I actually write my prayers and desires in my journal. I have been amazed when I go back through the years to realize how many of my prayers have actually been answered. There are many prayers that I have forgotten, that I have written and have been answered years later. I usually put a cross next to the original prayer to signify that the particular prayer has been answered. My journal is now full of those crosses. You may even choose to place a date next to the day that your prayer was answered.

There are some very important things suggested that you should do when keeping a journal.

(1) Date Each Entry

Dating each entry will give you a timeline of your spiritual growth and help you find important dates and events in your life.

(2) Include Guiding Scriptures

As you are going through your Christian life, there will be biblical scriptures that jump out at you at various times. These scriptures touch your heart because the Holy Spirit probably provided them especially for you.

John 14:25-26 NKJV
(25) "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. (26)But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He (the Holy Spirit) will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
- Jesus Christ –

One day you will leave this earth (spiritually and mortally) and your journal with all the other of your possessions will be left behind.
That being said you must be o.k. with your writings being read by someone. On one hand you will be gone and no one can confront you about what was found inside your journal. On the other hand what you have written in your journal can impact the reader (or readers) positively or negatively. There are some journals that were willed (legally left) to chosen family members or friends to be protected or even published. You should carefully consider what should happen to your journal in case you die or are left incapacitated in some way.

Naming names and other personal information that is found in your journal may or may not be necessary. There are times in the bible where the bible writer did not name names. There are times in the bible where the bible writer named everyone involved. If you are conflicted about naming a name (or names) or mentioning specifics about events then you should take the time to pray about what you are about to document. The Holy Spirit can guide you (like it did with many of the bible writers) on the exact words to use and /or what information to keep in or leave out of your personal journal.

In the end we always want to glorify God and NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY FROM JESUS CHRIST. Knowing that our journal may be read should make us consider any spiritual repercussions that may happen when we are gone. The last thing that we would want to do is cause anyone to even consider turning away from accepting Christ by what is written in our journals. While we can be truthful and honest we must also be accurate and merciful. Jesus said to love our enemies and this includes what is written in our journals.
In the end we want to have the same heart as our heavenly Father Yahweh God who desires that everyone be saved.
1st Timothy 2:3 -4 NKJV
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
(4) who desires all men (and women) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Final Thoughts

Keeping a journal is a way to map out a path on your spiritual journey with God. A journal can use past steps to help direct the present and future steps of your lifelong Christian walk. Use your journal as another tool to navigate through both difficult times and to re-celebrate success!

The Advantage of Keeping a Journal

Other thoughts about keeping a journal

Some Important Things To Do When Journaling

(1) Date Each Entry

(2) Include Guiding Scriptures

Other Important Things To Consider About Personal Journaling

Final Thoughts

The Advantage of Keeping a Journal

Other thoughts about keeping a journal

Some Important Things To Do When Journaling

(1) Date Each Entry

(2) Include Guiding Scriptures

Other Important Things To Consider About Personal Journaling

Final Thoughts

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