Inspirational Journaling

You may ask yourself, "Why Journal?" Journaling is a way to explore your thoughts, to keep a record of things you want to remember, to go back in time to see where you have been, what you have done, and what improvements you can make in the future. Journaling also helps you see what changes have taken place in your life.

Journaling can be therapeutic! It can be helpful in sticking to a commitment or a plan. It can help you track your progress in loosing weight, or in finding healing for some ailment or disease. Journaling can be a way of venting your feelings, doing it on paper so you do not vent to someone else than be sorry for it later.

But probably the most important reason for journaling is to express your thoughts and emotions on paper, having a document of things to remember and look back on, and having a way of comparing what was then and what is now, seeing how you can better yourself, and how you can get a grasp on who you are and what you want to become. I have found numerous benefits from keeping a journal and I believe you will benefit too.

a. It can be Therapeutic:

Writing down our feelings and emotions can relieve stress. It can help us see our response to a given situation. Often seeing the situation in black and white better enables us to analyze how a situation might have been handled in a better way to bring about the right solution. It helps us keep in mind that the trials and difficulties we encounter on our pathway in life are stepping stones, or as a special friend once said, "Our Trials are a Golden Opportunity for Growth".

b. It can be a Source of Healing:

It is amazing how healing can come about when we understand the cause of our problems. Writing the problem in a journal opens our understanding, so as to bring about the healing process by helping us see the problem from a little different perspective, and helping us develop a more positive attitude toward the problem we are dealing with.

c. It can be a Positive Source of Inner Growth:

Seeing the problem on paper is like seeing it from someone else's point of view; it helps to more objectively process the issue and search for an answer to the problem. It's as if you were trying to find a solution to help a friend in need. Also, having written it down on paper makes it easier to pray about it, as we often forget, and then lose sight of finding the solutions we need. We can pray about it, and then record the answer beside it when it comes. Searching and praying about the problem helps our inner growth as we come humbly before the Throne of Grace seeking God's wisdom, and finding answers.

Here are some suggestions for Journals you may want to consider:

a. A Journal of Gratitude:

Making a list of things we are thankful for can inspire us to see more of the good around us, helping us focus more on those things we can be grateful for. As we make our list, we may want to give details about things that have inwardly stirred us to say 'thank you' from the heart. As an example we might say, "I am thankful for my computer because it affords me the opportunity to connect with other people, keep in touch with my family and friends, research any given topic, and share my thoughts and feelings with others". Or we might say, "I am grateful for my grandchildren because they bring me joy in life and fill my heart with love and appreciation". Expressing our gratitude and then noting the reason for your thankfulness will give us a sense of comfort and peace.

b. A Journal of Benefits:

Keeping a journal of God's benefits is one way of remembering His goodness and loving kindness. Without His hand of mercy we could not be blessed. His blessings rain down on the whole human race, and we should remember that 'all good things come from above.' Journaling is a special way of expressing our gratitude to our Heavenly Father for all He has done for us.

c. A Journal of Prayer & Praise:

Keeping a journal of our prayer requests can be a source of encouragement. Praising God for answered prayers even before they are answered can strengthen our faith and trust in the God of the Universe where nothing is impossible. As we journal our prayer requests, it is good to write down the day, the date, and the time of our request, and who and what we are praying for, and adding a scripture promise, leaving a place to jot down the answer when it comes, along with the date it was answered, and how it was answered can be a source of strength.

Journaling in this way can be a major source of encouragement when we see how God has answered our prayers. It can be a test of trial to strengthen our faith, teaching us to trust more fully in Him, waiting for the fulfillment of His promise, or asking Him to show us an answer. It can also help in accepting the answer He gives even when it does not meet our expectations.

d. A Journal of prayer requests for others:

There is something awesome about praying an intercessory prayer for someone else. It not only helps the person we pray for, but it helps us individually to develop a deeper love and appreciation for that person, thus making our prayers more earnest and sincere.

Write down the person's name, and then beside it write down the prayer request for that person. Add a Scripture promise, and a place to record when that prayer was answered. Record how you feel about that person and ask yourself how you would feel if your were in his/her shoes. Pray for that person as if you were the one carrying the burden and needed help from God to lift that burden from your shoulders.

We may even want to pray for person's we see as our enemies. Writing down why we feel the way we do about them, and then asking ourself how we can make that person our friend instead of our enemy, keeping in mind that there may be nothing we can do to change the way that person feels towards us, but we can change the way we feel about that person. What goes on inside of us will also make a difference in our health and our perspective on life. And just for the record, stress, hatred, anger, anxiety, frustration are a greater cause of disease than any other cause.

e. A Journal of Blessings:

Reading God's word helps us see how God responded to things in Bible times. Having a daily devotion re-patterns the way we think and transforms the spirit of the mind, encouraging us to respond to situations the way Jesus did, peacefully, quietly, and with calm assurance.

Keeping a journal of God's blessings helps us remember the blessings, and the very important lessons we can learn from them. Journaling encourages us to look deeper into how God speaks to us, to gain insights that will help and encourage others, and to have a deeper appreciation for our Heavenly Father and how much He loves us.

f. A Journal of Bible Promises:

As you read through the Bible, take time to jot down the promises or Scriptures that are most meaningful to you. Allow God to speak to you through His promises. You can paraphrase them in your own words to make the promise more personal. Choose those promises that apply to you personally, and then claim them as you talk to God about your personal needs. When you hear God speaking to you, you will want to write it down, and then see how you can apply it.

g. A Nature Journal:

Keeping a nature journal can be very rewarding. In nature we see the handiwork of God, and grasp a sense of His power and what an awesome God we have the privilege of knowing.

Go out into nature. Observe what is gong on. Whether you are in the woods, on the road in front of your house, on your porch, deck, or patio, or in your back yard, pay attention to what is going on around you. Spend as much time as possible out in nature.

In keeping a nature journal you can record what you see, smell, hear, feel, what type of day it is - sunny, balmy, windy, hot, cool, overcast, etc. Write about your feelings, your sense of wonderment. Draw a picture! It does not have to be perfect. Just draw it. Add a bit of fern or a leaf from a favorite tree, or a picture you took. Perhaps you found a bird feather you can identify and add to your journal. Add anything that will help you remember that particular day and moment and how it stirred your senses. Jot down what inspired you about this experience, and how you felt about it. You may want to gather little tidbits of memorabilia to help you remember this particular day.

h. A Journal of Scripture Verses:

Make a journal of all the Bible scriptures on a particular topic. For instance you may want to gather all the scripture verses on praise, or rejoicing, or you may want to make a collection of verses that talk about peace, grace, prayer, abiding, thanksgiving, or some other topic. When I started putting my scripture journal together on different topics in the Bible, I found it to be very encouraging to go back through them and read what God has to say about a certain topic, and now when I want to go back and read the verses on mercy, I have them all in one place and it gives me much food for thought, and more to ponder and pray about. It inspires me in my daily walk in life.

i. A Journal of Famous Quotes and meaningful thoughts:

So often as I am reading a book I run across a thought or quote that inspires me to deeper thought and meaning, and I want to write it down so I can remember it. I find that many of these thoughts encourage me to want to do something better with my life. When I can go back later and

re-read and meditate on these thoughts, I try to see how they can be applied to my life and help me be a better person.

Jot down the thought or quote, the title of the book, (or the reference where you found the quote), the page number, and the author. Soon you will have a book of great ideas to internalize or share with others.

j. A Gardening Journal:

If you are into gardening, you will want to keep a journal on gardening. You can keep a journal on just facts such as what you planted where and when, and what prospered and what did not; but think of how fun it would be to journal your personal feelings about the plant, when it was a tiny shoot fresh out of the ground, or how you felt about it when it was in full bloom. Think about how you can make a better atmosphere for your garden plants in the future, and what the effect of that atmosphere will be on the other plants in your garden.

In your journal you may want to describe the kind of companionship two plants have with one another. Or when you saw a particular seed begin to sprout you may want to write how you felt about it. You may want to ask yourself about the diversity in your garden, and how you can improve that diversity to make a better atmosphere for all your plants. And then, what about diversity in your personal life. How can growing a diverse garden help make your life and surroundings better and more diverse!

I find working in my garden to be very therapeutic. It gives me a sense of calm and peace I don't find elsewhere. I can talk to my plants, and though I know some people laugh at this idea, I think it is good to talk to your plants! Not only does it help the plants to have a positive environment, but it helps you mentally and emotionally to talk to them about positive things. Don't laugh! It has been scientifically proven that plants need a positive atmosphere to thrive, and when you think seriously about it, so do you. Whether your plants can hear you or not, the positive way you express yourself generates an atmosphere that is beneficial to both you and your plants. The aura you carry with you into the garden will make a difference in how well the plants grow and thrive. Do your best to keep a negative atmosphere out of your garden. (As a side note: I have also found the garden to be a an excellent place to release all the negative feelings and energy that have built up inside of me! This seems to happen when I spend time gathering all the positive and beautiful thoughts and things that surround me into my soul.)

Write down in your journal how your plants respond to positive stimuli, and how does this affect you when working in your garden. Care for your garden with love and appreciation. This will help you in ways you never thought possible.

I love the poem that says:

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

There are so many ideas for journaling: A random journal for everyday experiences; An exercise journal to chart your progress; An eating journal to help you stay on track with your diet; A journal on your goals and the best way to achieve them; A vacation journal to remember the special moments or things said and done that you might otherwise forget while you were traveling; An ideas journal to jot down ideas that can be used later for things you want to do or dreams you want to fulfill, and there is so much more.

You may want to keep a journal of your letters to God. In writing those letters, and then comparing them with what you write to God at a later time can help you see how they have changed, and how have you changed, or what changes still need to be made.

Most of all you want to keep a collection of thoughts and feelings that move you the most, that inspire you to move forward, to discover your hopes and dreams, to change the habits and character traits that hold you back from becoming the person God created you to be.

Someone once said "A good journal is like a roadmap, a golden thread through the labyrinth of one's own personal past."

Journaling is a way of becoming more aware and in tune with your life, improving your happiness and sense of peace.

I would recommend doing some research on journaling on the internet or through books on the subject. There is a lot of good information and great ideas to be had just for the asking. Find what is useful to your needs, and begin today by jotting down these helpful tips, tools and ideas. You will find ideas on how to journal, why journal, when and where to journal, the kind of journals available, and the list goes on.

Keep in mind as your research this topic, there is not just one set of rules for journaling. There are many different ideas on the subject, so find whatever inspires and benefits you, and go for it.

My prayer is that you will be richly blessed as you begin your journey in Journaling.