The Back Story
Just a little over two years ago, I had a new baby. As I sat for hours and hours while holding her I read a lot of books. One day as I was reading, a book that happened to be on prayer, I felt this unspoken whisper, a prompt in my heart “make a prayer journal”.
I knew without a doubt that prompting was from God, but I instantly questioned it and doubted it. Why would I need to make a prayer journal? There were already so many out there, infact I had been using a prayer journal for a couple years. That prayer journal was what had aided very strongly in my healing process from anxiety and depression. As I pondered this continual nudge to make a prayer journal I finally decided to give it a try.
And just like that I sat at my computer with a 3 month old on my lap and a 3 year old bouncing around my feet. By God’s grace and direction I designed and created the perfect prayer journal for my personal needs. It poured not from me, but from the Holy Spirit. I look back on that design and production process and I am in awe. It was not of my strength or ability, it was God working through me. It was such a beautiful experience.
A month later 100 prayer journals sat in my living room. I could barely contain my excitement. Over a few months I was out of them and needed to order more. The beginning of this year I got another shipment of a spiral bound, hard cover, and slightly improved version of the original journal. As much fun as the design process has been, this journal has been so much more to me, it has totally transformed my prayer life. Let me explain how.
From Prayer Weakling to Prayer Warrior
Now, I don’t like to classify myself as a prayer warrior. I still have so much more to learn and grow in, however, from where I was to where I am today, it feels that way. I have always prayed my whole life, but up until about 4 years ago when I started prayer journaling, I daydreamed more than I prayed. Prayer was more of a checklist type thing in my Christian walk, not a deep intentional meeting with God. I didn’t know how much I was missing. Since prayer journaling, here are a few things that have really grown me in my prayer life (the Hello Jesus Prayer Journal incorporates these):
- You don’t have to be a “journaler” to keep a prayer journal: I don’t write in my prayer journal everyday. And when I do write in it, it is mainly bullet point prayers that I elaborate on when I pray. One of the biggest reasons I love my prayer journal is that it allows me to quickly jot down a prayer I want to pray so I never feel overwhelmed by all there is to pray for. I always know I will remember a prayer because it is written down in my journal.
- Different sections for different topics: I have once heard the question–if all your prayers were answered today, would your world be changed or would the world be changed? It always stuck with me because most likely my world only would be changed, yikes! By being able to organize prayers by topics I can easily pray for people I don’t know (or wouldn’t have thought of) as well as pray for things going on in the world that I may not remember easily. Praying by topics make the impersonal somehow personal and urgent! It brings order to my chaotic thoughts.
- Praying the names of God. When we start our prayers with our worries, fears, or requests we tend to forget who God is. When we start our prayer by adoration of who God is (this is different from thankfulness for what He does), we get our mindset in a right frame of mind knowing He has got this. He is in-control!
- You can pray long term for things that may easily get lost in the day to day life prayers. There was a prayer I half heartedly wrote down about a year and a half ago. I felt I needed it, but I really didn’t know just how much I needed it. If I didn’t have a prayer journal, I know without a doubt that I would never have prayed that prayer that long. It most likely would have gotten forgotten about quickly. God has used the prayer to uncover so many layers of spiritual weeds I didn’t even know I had!
- You have “proof” that God is sanctifying and changing you. As I look back on prayers that have been answered I can clearly see how God is growing me. When satan comes knocking at my door trying to tell me I fail too much and am worthless, I can say no, God is clearly changing me. I can’t do life without Him and I need Him everyday, but I am not a worthless person because of my mistakes.
Prayer journaling has truly gradually changed my life. I absolutely love prayer now, it is deep and intentional. I still do struggle being as deep and intentional on the days I don’t have my prayer journal in the morning, but with my prayer journal in hand, (compared to what I was) I feel like a prayer warrior. It is only through God’s grace that I was lead to prayer journaling and then designing a prayer journal, to Him goes all the glory. I share my story with you as a testimony of what God can do through prayer journaling.
If you want to give it a try this week (November 11-17) the prayer journals are on sale for $10 off! Use code prayerjournal10 at checkout! These journals will easily last you 1-3 years depending on how much you write. I am still currently using the journal I started on in October 2017. Click here to order yours today and see how prayer journaling can transform your prayer life!
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