Keeping a Prayer Journal

In light of my last post, I found this information to be quite useful. There are all types of ways to journal but if you are spiritual, you may find yourself keeping a prayer journal. The prayer journal can serve many purposes such as highlighting the valley and mountaintop experiences or may track the way God has chosen to answer your prayers. If you want to keep a prayer journal but have no idea where to begin, this information may help you. Let me know what you think.

Organizing a Prayer Journal

Set a Pattern
•Decide how and when you will use your prayer journal. Do you require the discipline of writing in it at a fixed time in a regular place? Or do you prefer the freedom of carrying it with you so you can use it whenever? The key element is purposefulness.
Record Praise and Intercession
•Keep two running lists: thank you notes to God and requests to bring before Him. While the requests may come easier, balance is the focus.
•Leave space for answers and write them in. This can inspire gratitude for some items and perseverance for others.•Track petitions and praises for those for whom you pray regularly. You will see more clearly how God is using your prayers in their lives and avoid the dangers of spiritual narcissism.
Include Personal Worship
•Reserve a special page for permanent prayer items. "Lord, give me the perfect love of 1 Corinthians 13" can't be fully answered in this lifetime, but is the sort of prayer God uses to transform you and draw you closer to Himself. Likewise, "Father, thank You for Your great mercy and salvation" is a praise that will never end, and fulfills the high purpose of giving glory to God.
•Write out prayers. This need not stifle the Spirit's spontaneous leading. Many saints of the past, from King David to A.W. Tozer, have invested significant time and energy in recording their prayers. These are not public liturgies, but personal psalms from you to God.
•Meditate over Bible passages on prayer. Or the prayers of individuals such as Mary, Nehemiah, Hannah, Paul, and Christ Himself. Copy down verses and jot down thoughts that impact you.
Store Treasures
•Collect prayer "gems." If a sermon expands your understanding of prayer, note the helpful points. If a quotation says it as you've never thought of it before, copy it down.
•Keep a list of prayer techniques that will break you out of ruts. These might be anything from "Pray for those suffering every time I hear a siren" to "Try a different prayer posture."
Incorporate "Stones of Remembrance"
•Look back to look forward. Prepare your heart for prayer by reviewing the previous day's or week's journal entries. Or devote a special time to talk to God about your recent prayer life—reminding you of what needs prayer and His greatness in hearing you.
•Mark signposts. Several times a year, set aside one or more journal pages for reflections on the impact of prayer in your Christian experience. How has God used prayer in your life? How has prayer deepened your walk with God?
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Copyright October 27, 2009 by Pamela Cole Thorpe