The Spiritual Impact of Journaling

This morning, I finished a journal. It’s always bittersweet to write the last page of a journal. For the past year and a half, my journal has felt like a familiar friend, a place where I return to have conversations, process feelings and savor sweet memories. Of course, I’ve got a brand new journal waiting, but it will take some time to get acquainted.

Journaling isn’t for everyone. The Lord created each of us with different personalities and temperaments, and I don’t expect that what helps me fully flourish, will help everyone. But I have seen some impactful spiritual benefits of journaling in my personal life, and I thought it would be beneficial to share.

How I Approach Journaling

Before I dive into the benefits, I thought it might be helpful to share how I personally approach journaling.

First, I’m pretty picky about the type of journal I use. For the past few years, I’ve used a softback black Moleskin, and absolutely love it!

Some people like to work through a journaling prompt or go through a specific set of questions. There’s certainly a place for that, but that’s not how I personally approach journaling. My approach is almost more like a stream of consciousness. I’ll usually start off by journaling the events of my day, and that will lead to how I’m feeling about certain things. I’ll often write out quotes or Scripture that I’m enjoying, meditating upon, and want to remember. If I’m working through a particularly challenging problem, or set of emotions, I’ll usually end that entry with a prayer, asking the Lord to give me trust, wisdom, and strength. Typically, I’ll journal three or four times a week. Some entries are just a few sentences, while others are several pages long, but this regular practice is extremely helpful for my heart.

Spiritual Benefits of Journaling:

Journaling is an act of remembrance.

In the pages, I collect the stories, feelings, and events of my life and process them. I’m able to look back and remember –

• Remember the Lord’s faithfulness
• Remember the Lord’s kindness
• Remember that I am loved and cherished
• Remember that I’m not alone, forgotten or forsaken

I’m prone to forgetfulness, and prone to question God’s faithfulness to me. When I’m tempted to question God, I go back and remember the Lord’s character, and how He’s been intimately involved in every detail of my life.

This quote from Charles Spurgeon captures this sentiment well.

“The phrase “till now” is like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years of seventy, and still “till now the Lord has helped us.” Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, “till now the Lord has helped us.”

Journaling is an act of becoming.

I’m not who I once was – praise God! I can look back and see the many ways I’ve grown and changed. Journaling forces me to slow down, and give time and thought to the type of woman I want to become. I pause and ponder the ways I want to structure my life, love others deeply and glorify the Lord. I shared these words recently, but they were born from the pages of my journal about the type of woman I want to become.

I want to focus more on who I’m becoming, more than on what I’m accomplishing. It’s all too easy for me to whip up a list of goals and set about trying to accomplish them. I want to be a woman who loves Jesus deeper. I want to mine the Bible for treasures and truths and hide them in my heart. I want to give the gift of my presence and my attention. I can’t love people, truly love well when I’m rushed, hurried, stressed or exhausted. I want a life that’s deeper, more intentional and less rushed.

Hopefully, this has inspired you to pick up a journal and use it as an instrument of flourishing.