Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” Ephesians 4:31 NLT
“But now you also put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.” Colossians 3:8, 19 NASB
“that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,” Ephesians 4:22 NASB
“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,” 1 Peter 2:1 NASB
“Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” Joshua 4:6-7, 23-24 NASB
Journaling is a way to reflect on God’s Faithfulness.
All of my journals are priceless keepsakes and much more like memorial stones that last forever.
I get to look back to where I was and see how God has transformed my life over the course of time.
He is good all the time.
His Word renews my mind every day, strengthens my heart in moments of distress and has transformed my life over the past decade alone!
“Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5 NASB There are miracles taking place in our ordinary lives every day.
We just need to stop, breathe, reflect and journal. The Lord will do the rest!
An opportunity to reflect on our lives in the midst of busyness,
An opportunity to reflect on God’s Truth,
An opportunity to align our lives to His precepts,
An opportunity to discover unconfessed sin(s),
An opportunity to discover negative emotion(s) including anger, bitterness, jealousy or envy, hurts, and disappointment,
An opportunity to count today’s blessings,
An opportunity to guard our hearts from negative emotion(s) including unforgiveness and hatred,
An opportunity to submit our petitions to the Lord,
An opportunity to pray for others,
An opportunity to write down your key points from the Pastor’s sermon,
An opportunity to reflect back and apply what was learned at a conference or bible study,
An opportunity to write Scriptures and explore different Bible versions to grow deeper in our walk with the Lord,
An opportunity to write God’s Word to memorize and hide His Truth in our hearts eternally,
An opportunity to establish and maintain an on-going dialogue with our Creator,
An opportunity to listen attentively when taking notes in the additional lined pages of the journal,
An opportunity to appreciate how faithful God is in our everyday lives,
An opportunity to gain insights and fresh perspective on a given challenge,
An opportunity to reflect on learned lessons,
An opportunity to seek for God’s wisdom and direction,
An opportunity to witness God’s answers to prayers
An opportunity to take notes from your favorite commentaries.
Note, there is no right or wrong way to journal, I would encourage for you to do it. You will grow closer to God and His Word will guard your heart. Everyday stressful or challenging circumstances can lead to worries, anxieties or distress. If we take the time to cast our cares onto the Lord, He will give us rest and peace as soon as we rely on Him for comfort.
Do you find yourself too busy for God’s Word? You are not the only one. Life gets ‘crazy busy’ and we are juggling too many expectations, demands and/or unfortunate circumstances.
It happened to me in the past; I was inconsistent in reading and journaling His Word.
I have learned to be intentional over the course of my life. I now have a favorite time and place where I read God’s Word. I truly delight in reflecting and inscribing His Word at Sunrise every day.
At times, when life happens and gets too hectic, I schedule it!
Tips:
Step One: Review your calendar the night before and schedule time to read and journal God’s Word,
Step Two: If you do not have time the next day, then prioritize your daily activities and carve time for God’s Word. Make it a priority.
Step Three: Rise Up and Journal,
Join the FB accountability group today, search for “The Bible Reading Journal Series”, answer all three questions and enjoy the journey.
Every time I sit down to journal, I pray for the Lord to open my eyes so I may see His commands, and promises He has for me (Psalm 119:18).
Moments of reflection provide clarity, direction, wisdom and most importantly these thoughtful moments will establish and maintain an intimate relationship with the Lord.
When I engage in Bible journaling, I keep the process simple and consistent.
Do you have a preferred time to sit at the feet of Jesus without distractions? Do you take time to write down your thoughts or observations when reading God’s Word?
My favorite time to read Bible passages is at Sunrise although I focus on His Word during work breaks, after work and at bedtime. If I am driving to the office or an appointment, I take the opportunity to worship with music, and establish communication with the Lord by prayer.
The opportunity to sit in my couch comfortably and read God’s Truth quietly is priceless.
I typically have a set of gel pens and highlighters available to me at all times so I may inscribe a verse or two, read the selected verses in different versions, and highlight key precepts or promises. Once I write down the key observations of the selected verse(s), I then pray over them so I may apply His Truth today!
Life gets in the way and it can get quite hectic. How do I typically handle distractions? When I read the Bible, I maintain a small pad next to the journal in case I’ve got distracting thoughts; things to do, appointments to be made or people to call in the week. I write these down immediately so it would not interfere with my time with the Lord. It alleviates some of the distress when I am focusing on God’s Word and calms my anxious heart as I proceed with today’s Bible readings.
There are many available methods in the market to show us ‘how to’ mark our Bible passages. But, I choose the one that is going to help me remember and hide His Truth in my heart forever.
After a couple of weeks of journaling, I reflect and re-read all of the lessons learned, blessings and answers to prayers. The most exhilarating moment for me is when I reflect back and witness how God has been faithful, forgiven, compassionate and has shown up in the midst of confusion, chaos, turmoil or grief.
My daily journal is definitely a keepsake!
Let me highlight some of the most recent reflections from the daily journal.
Lord,
Our Faith is growing abundantly (2 Thess 1:3) one day at a time. How comforting is to know the Lord is with us at all times (Zephaniah 3:17) and our Faith grows when we acknowledge His presence in the midst of our life happenings. He is our wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:1-7). He is God, our everlasting ROCK (Isaiah 26:3-4). The Lord has begun ‘good work’ in our lives (Philippians 1:6); when we ask for direction, He will direct our steps. He chose us and loves us (1 Thess 4). His love endures (1 Chronicles 16:34). We are His beloved daughters indeed. Seek His face (1 Chronicles 16:11). The Lord wants for us to press ON and move forward (Phil 3 13-14), stand firm (2 Thess 2:15), rejoice in the Lord and be grateful (Phil 4:4-5). Let us be thankful in all of our circumstances (1 Thess 5:16-18). God protects us from evil (2 Thess 3:3). Let us please God, not men (1 Thess 2:4) when taking actions or making life-altering decisions. Rejoice in our labor whether it is at work, community, Church or at home (Eccl 5:19). Maintain integrity (Psalm 119:1).
Help us be a Light, His Love (Luke 8:16) so others may see Jesus in us always. Share the Great News to all in this dark world.
Journaling a Bible verse or two! 