Yesterday I shared a list of 7 Books that Will Encourage you to Pray More. Do you remember what was book #7 was? It is a book written by you. This not a published book but what that you use day in and day out. It is your prayer journal. I am going to share my prayer journal with you over the next few weeks to give you ideas on how you can write your own. As we begin this, here are 3 things you need to include in a prayer journal.

I have had some form of a prayer journal for over 30 years. Long before you could search for this on Pinterest or see videos on YouTube about how to create a prayer journal. I have a prayer journal. My parents each had one and it was from their example that I learned to create a prayer journal. My dad included photos in his. I don’t have my journals from those years. I think it was too many international moves. In a box of important papers, I have some index cards that I used about in 1998 with requests for myself. As I look back on those requests, I see the way God has answered prayers, given me wisdom, directed my steps, provided for me, and so many other things. I am thankful to have those prayer journal pages.

Things you Need to Include in a Prayer Journal

A Place to Reflect

Your prayer journal should be a place to reflect. Write what God is teaching you about himself, yourself, the world we live in and other things that help you grow in your love for God and those around you. Reflection requires us we sit and “Be still.” Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The “be still here is so we will know God. Take time in your prayer journal to be still and reflect on God.

Take time to reflect on yourself. How is God speaking to you? What is God asking you to do? How is your heart? Are there sins that you need to confess? In your reflection about yourself go to God, confess your sin knowing that he will forgive.

Our reflection should also include looking at the world around us. We are commanded to love our neighbor. How are we interacting with our neighbors? Are there areas that God is calling us to love more?

What makes this reflection section different from a journal? I think this reflection needs to be pointing us to God in prayer. It is asking God to show us who he is and then taking those things back to him in prayer.

Your prayer journal is a place for your reflections.

A Place to Remember

We quickly forget things. We get caught up in life and forget the blessings that God has given us. One phrase that is repeated over and over in the Old Testament especially is “Remember the Lord your God.” God knows that we forget and so he commands us to remember. How do we keep that command? One way is to have a place where we are writing things we need to remember about God, who he is, what he has done, how he is working, and many other things.

As the Israelites arrived in the promised land, the LORD commanded Joshua to create a memorial. It was a pile of stones one stone for each of the tribes. It was there so when they saw it they could remember how God rescued them and brought them out of Egypt. (Joshua 4:1-10)

Just as the Israelites needed to remember, so today we need to remember. One of the things you need to include in your prayer journal is a place to remember. Remember all that God has done in your life and in those around you.

A Place to Record

We need to record our requests, our intercessions, and the answers to prayer. Your prayer journal is just the place to record these so you know where they are and don’t have pieces of paper all over the place or have no memory what you specific requests you were praying.

I have found that the recording of these things helps me to stay focused on prayer. My mind doesn’t wander as much when I am recording or reviewing what I have written as requests.

When I write my requests in my journal, it also means I am slowing down. It takes a bit longer to write and so I pause and pray, pondering what God is saying.

A place to record is one of the things that you need to include in your prayer journal. As I share my prayer journal, I will give you some ideas of things to record.

Creating Your Prayer Journal

First of all, this is your book and this is not a book that will be finished, perfected, or published. This is a book for you and to be used. So create one that you want to use.

Decide on the size and kind of book you want. You might want something that you can add pages and move things around so either a ring binder or a disc binder. You might be happy to use a spiral or sewn notebook. This is really about what works for you. I have a ring binder that is 8″ x 9″ which is a nice size to put with my Bible.

Now that you have a notebook, begin using it. Don’t feel like it has to all be set up before you can use it.

Begin Reflecting, Remembering, and Recording, these are things to include in your prayer journal.

 

Do you currently have a prayer journal? Tell me about it in the comments.

Do you want to create a prayer journal? What would help you do that, tell me in the comments?