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Hi I’m Tim. I’m the Youth Pastor at Citywest Church. In this blog post I thought I’d share my experience for my first few weeks of journalling. For the past 2 months I have journeying through journaling what God has been speaking to me about from reading the Bible. I’ve done lots of different ways over reading the bible over the past decade like reading the bible in a year, and reading week or fortnightly long devotionals from the YouVersion Bible App. Journalling is similar but also different. Similar in that it’s like a REAP or SOAP. It is different from reading someone else’s devotional though. 

I’m loving hearing God’s word in my life over the past 2 months. It makes me think of this passage in Psalm 1.

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How life giving is it when God speaks! When God speaks, my life expands both in the present and for the future. I am full of life from hearing God’s word.

Here are some thoughts from my experience.

Set the time right for each day

Our days can be so packed full of different appointments and jobs that it’s easy to forget the important things. I have found that if I don’t set the time each day to spend it journalling then I will forget.

My journaling time begins with reading over my first coffee of the day. I’ll see what sticks out to me, create a note and highlight the verses in my YouVersion bible app, and pray about why it might be standing out. I can do this each day because I have a coffee pretty much as one of the first things I do each day. Samuel is usually eating his breakfast at the same time. 

Set a time and keep the time. Even on weekends. 

Be Holy Spirit Prepared

Honestly, I have struggled with bible reading for many years. The big question I often have when reading the bible is “What do I read next?” I can get caught up in this question many times a month, or throughout the whole year.

At the start of my journalling time, I asked God what I should read, and I felt prompted to read 1 Timothy, and as finished, I felt to continue going to 2 Timothy and Titus. I finished Titus, I asked God what to read next. I am now reading Hebrews. I love being directed by the Holy Spirit on what to read next. Because I didn’t start at a nature starting point like the start of the year, I have kept seeking God around what to read next. I’m going at God’s pace, reading it with his direction.

Maybe being prepared for you is seeking God at the end/start of the year and asking what you need to read for the year. Maybe it’s pausing and asking what to read next. 

It’s easy to stagnate in your journalling experience but God wants to speak to you. Follow his voice in what to read next.

Find someone to share it with

How do I keep myself on track when it feels like just another thing to do. I get excited because I get to share God’s word with others. So I find opportunities to share what God has been saying to me. 

At first I had thoughts like “what if I get this wildly wrong?”. But I realised that the people who I shared with had heaps of understanding and grace. We shared and listened to each other’s journal. I was encouraged by others in their journey of journalling but also encouraged to keep going in mine. I wasn’t that wildly off.

Find people who you can share your journal with. Jumping into a Bible Connect Group is going to be the best way to do that!

Remember God’s grace

My last thought from this is simply that God loves you and has abounding grace for you. We don’t journal to earn God’s grace, but from God’s grace we build our relationship with him. We have been saved not by what we have done but from faith in Jesus. This is a truth we have to deeply hold as we build our relationship with Jesus.

Remember God’s grace, especially on days you miss journalling on.