Do you journal your prayers? Write your prayers down as letters to God?
Prayer journaling – writing letters to God – is a powerful way to pray and keep a record of your prayers so you can see where God has been at work in your life.
If you’re not sure how to get started with a prayer journal or just looking for fresh inspiration, be sure to try some of these 10 simple prayer journal ideas.
Importance of Writing Letters to God
It was a small, rectangular wooden box that caught his attention as we were cleaning out the closet. That heart-wrenching job you have to do after a loved one dies. Sorting through clothes, shoes, and intimate keepsakes with all the tender memories each item recalls. Yet, it was this box I’d never noticed before that caused new tears to well up in my dad’s eyes.
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He said it was full of letters. Love letters between the two of them sent while he was off at his first year of college and she was back home finishing high school. Letters she’d saved for nearly 50 years.
There’s just something about the written word. I have my own collection of letters from my mother that I treasure – both the hand-written ones and the ones she typed when her handwriting began to deteriorate. I love seeing her words to me; words she took the time to write.
What letters do you keep? Do you keep your letters with God? We may not receive letters from God in the mail, but we can record our conversations. Prayer journaling is a way to record our discussions with God and can take a variety of forms.
What is a Prayer Journal?
Prayer journals can have a variety of formats. Some people love the organization of a binder with templates and sections, structured with different prayers and activities for each day, each week.
For me, I prefer something less structured to allow my daily time with God to take different shapes each day. I use a blank notebook – actually a sketch notebook (I like the thicker paper) and a collection of markers, pens and pencils.
10 Simple Prayer Journal Ideas
No matter how you like to structure your prayer journal, you can use these 10 simple prayer journal ideas as inspiration to start your own prayer journal today!
1) Write a letter to God
A good start for a prayer journal is to just start writing out your prayers. Instead of just recording your day or thoughts as you would in a personal journal, write it as a letter to God.
Open with a name for God and then pour out your heart to him. Talk about the challenges in your day, your questions, your fears, your needs.
Some days words flow out my fingers faster than my mind can process and I am more free to share my heart with God through my writing. By keeping my prayers in a journal, I can also see how my prayers are changing and growing over time; even look back and see how God has been at work answering my prayers.
Be sure to date your entries. It can be powerful to look at your journal entries over time and see how God’s been at work in your life and how your prayers have changed.
2) Keep track of prayer requests
How often do you tell a friend you’ll pray for them – and then forget to do so? I try to stop down immediately and pray for them – but it’s also helpful to keep a record of prayer requests and continue to pray for them.
Create a page (or more) in your prayer journal to keep track of prayer requests. Sometimes I’ll simply record a name and other times I’ll write down something about the prayer need. As I pray, I’ll pull out my list and pray for the names I’ve written down. If a prayer has been answered, I’ll note that, too, and praise God for His great goodness.
3) Record God’s words to you
As you pray or read scripture, God may place words on your heart. Maybe a Bible verse jumped off the page at you. I have a friend who calls these a “flashing neon Bible verse.” Or, maybe it’s words or a picture you get while in prayer. Even a specific nudge you feel as you go through your day. God speaks to us in all kinds of ways, all through the day.
Keep track of these in your journal. Write down what you think God is trying to tell you. Look back over your journal and see what themes emerge. These messages from God are the most precious words I treasure in my heart and I don’t want to forget or miss what He’s telling me.
Maybe even write His words in a different color in your journal. One color for your thoughts and prayers, with another color for God’s responses.
4) Pray through a verse
I often start my prayer journaling with a verse. Some days I’ll just write out the verse, maybe doodle or draw around it, and just pray over it, allowing God’s words to soak deeply into my heart.
Other times, I’ll journal notes about the verse, what it means to me, what it’s telling me about God. Then, I’ll write out a prayer from there.
I love this record of the verses that have been speaking and ministering to my heart through each season.
5) Pray through quotes or notes from a study
I also use my prayer journal to work through notes or quotes from devotionals, studies, and books. When I come across a chapter or quote that tugs at my heart, I’ll write it in my prayer journal. I may make some notes about how it’s speaking to me or what I’m learning. Then, I’ll spend time in prayer on it.
6) Doodle or draw your prayers
I love using an unlined sketch book for my prayer journal so I can doodle or draw as I feel prompted. I’m not much of an artist, but I can doodle.
You can do this in a variety of ways – use a bible verse, use names for God, use promises from God, or names of people you’re praying for.
I’ll start by writing out a name of someone I’m praying for, as an example, and then doodle or draw around their name as I lift them in up in prayer. Then, I’ll write out the next name and do the same.
7) Write a gratitude prayer
Some days we just need to focus on gratitude – especially when we start to feel anxious or worn down, or feel ourselves becoming too focused on our own concerns.
So, in your prayer journal, fill a page with all the blessings in your life. Don’t stop until you’ve filled the page. Spend your prayer time in gratitude to God.
8) Write prayers for others
Take time to write out prayers for the people on your prayer list. Consider finding a scripture verse for each one and use it in your prayer.
This is a great way to spend time lifting each person up to God. You may even think about writing out that prayer on a notecard or email and sending it to the person you prayed for.
9) Start with a question
What questions do you have for God that are weighing on your heart? Write one down at the top of the page and use that as the base for your conversation with him.
Journal about your question and write out all the things about it that are on your heart. Then journal a prayer to God about it. Close with some time in silence, listening for God’s response.
10) Examine your day
Examine your day with the Examen prayer. Spend some time reflecting over your day. Record 3 highlights of the day – things you did or said that best reflected Jesus. Then, record 3 areas for growth – things you did or said that weren’t great.
Pray through those and ask Jesus to shine a light on where you need to improve and what changes you need to make tomorrow. Write down what you want to do different tomorrow, what you hear Jesus whispering into your heart.
If prayers are our conversations with God, then journaling prayer is like writing Him love notes.
Find a journal today and get started.
Mark the moments along your spiritual journey in a prayer journal. Record your struggles, questions, doubts, epiphanies, joys, answered prayers, and spiritual growth.
PRAY DEEP CHALLENGE: Write a letter to God today in your journal. Talk about your biggest question, deepest need, most urgent request. Or, simply write about your uncertainties and doubts. As you go through the Pray Deep series, journal about each type of prayer you try. Write out your prayers, journal your experiences, note anything you hear from God.
Resources:
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This post is part of the “Pray Deep” series. For more information on the series, click HERE.
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pkstew2 says
Kathryn, I love this post encouraging me to keep a prayer journal. I keep saying I’m going to do it and haven’t yet. Thanks for being so generous in sharing a prayer printable too. I look forward to reading more of your posts. #coffeeforyourheart – Have a great day, Kim Stewart
//www.kimstewartinspired.com
Kathryn says
It’s taken me a long time to pick up this habit and I’m still not consistent – but I’m loving the process of writing my prayers, writing out verses I pray that speak to me, and keeping notes of answered prayers or steps on my discernment journey. Go get a notebook and start today 🙂
Stephanie says
I love this idea. I have journaled and I keep two thankful journals. I love to pray, but have never had a prayer journal. This sounds like a wonderful idea. I’m going to consider how to begin this practice. Thank you!
Kathryn says
Love the idea of a thankful journal, too! I’ve been using my prayer journal lately to write out prayers and scripture – and to journal my prayer experience (what thoughts God is placing on my heart).
Mimi says
Thank you for sharing your thought. I started to journal my prayer requests since 2011 and I’m loving it. I’m not consistence as I wanted to be but I’ll hope to get better. This enables me to see how God answers our prayers and helps me to praise and glorify Him every time I go back and read my prayer requests. It also helps me to testimony for others. Now I encourage others to do the same. God always answers our prayers in his time.
God bless you.
Kathryn says
I’m just getting started with a prayer journal, but can see how wonderful it can be over time. Wish I could be a more consistent journaler in general, but trying… Great to hear your feedback on this and that it’s been meaningful for you!
Dawn Boyer says
Once again, I find so much encouragement with your words, Kathryn, and camaraderie. I do keep a prayer journal (I make a lot of them to share on my blog/website), but I have also really loved having prayer cards that I keep track of prayers and prayer requests for others on. Paul Miller’s book, ‘The Praying Life’, was the first time I read/learned about that record keeping art and I have LOVED utilizing it.
A friend has a journal she has sectioned to have prayer requests on pages for people, like the card idea above and she writes the dates she prayed and the dates she saw the answer. It is a handy (clutter free) way of keeping track of His handiwork. 🙂
Praying you are blessed!
Dawn
Kathryn says
love these ideas for a prayer journal. I’m just getting started with mine – and still deciding how I want to use it. Love having prayer cards, though, to keep up with prayer requests, have prayers at the ready and keep ideas of different ways to pray. Most of my prayer time is in the early morning, so need to be organized to get going at that hour. 🙂
Brandi Clevinger says
My mother in law has a prayer journal and last summer was the first time I’ve heard of such a journal. Now that I know what it is, I think it’s a great way to remind us of how great His love is for us! He is amazing and we often times lose focus of that in our worldly problems.
I found your post at A Little R&R linky party.
Kathryn says
I’d never really thought of keeping track of prayers, but love the idea of keeping notes of how He’s answering our prayers and what He’s placing on our hearts. Wish I’d been doing this all along, but at least I can start now.
Donna Reidland says
Kathryn, I’m a firm believer in prayer journals. I just seem to settle down and focus better. It’s not the only way I pray, but the most consistent. Thanks for sharing. I visited from Mom’s Morning Coffee. Blessings!
Kathryn says
I’ve loved the act of writing out my prayers. It helps to focus me – and I can see the progression in my prayers.
Wilma Jones says
What a wonderful idea! I have never heard of keeping a prayer journal before, but it sounds like a good way to see real progress in your faith life. Thanks for the info.
//www.LivingHappierAfter.com
Michelle says
These are such good ideas, thanks! Going to try to start doing this
Cheri says
visiting (and now following) from Sat Soiree linky…I pray all day long, one thing or another. I just never feel that God is listening. Maybe if I write it down…. Thanks
firsttimetravel says
I found your post via #SITSBlogging. I keep a prayer journal, too, although I am not able to really do it daily. I write down the Bible passage that struck me for that day and then I write a letter to God as my way of reflection. I am glad to read your post as it reminds me not to miss out on my prayers. Thank you!
HerWeightLossDiary (@HoneybeeGB) says
I love the idea of prayer journal. It might help you to stay focused in what you’re praying for. I have started a prayer journal recently but not consistent. I’m really going to develop a consistent habit of prayer journal and that way I’ll stay dedicated to doing devotions!
Kathryn says
I’m not very consistent either, but love when I do use it – and really love getting to look back and see the progression and ways God has answered prayers. One of my goals is also to get more consistent at this.
Karmel says
I don’t know how or if I will see the answer to this so can someone please email me at [email protected]
Please. Thank you.
I want to know if in your prayer journals if you include your actual prayers and names and circumstances or just bible verses and personal intimate thoughts and prayers with God? I’m struggling wondering if I should or shouldn’t write certain things down and it is causing me to be at a stand still.
Kathryn says
Your prayer journal can include what you’re comfortable putting on paper. If you have concerns about privacy and others reading your journal, then I’d be more abbreviated and not include specifics that would upset you or others if read by someone else. If privacy isn’t an issue and you’re not concerned about someone getting into your prayer journal, then write what feels right to your heart.
I often think best in words, so I love to write out my prayers and put words to what’s on my heart, so my prayer journal includes my intimate thoughts, concerns, fears – my conversations with God. Or, I may journal to work out some direction or how a scripture is speaking to me.
I do often track my prayer request list in my journal, but I’ll just write enough to be a reminder. Maybe just first names (or you could do initials). Sometimes just some key words to remind me what I’m praying about, rather than detailing out someone else’s concerns in my journal.
What I do love about writing out my prayers is that I can go back later and see where I’ve come. It helps to give you that perspective on your faith journey and to see more clearly how God’s at work in your life.
My suggestion: Grab a journal and just start. Maybe use Psalm 25 as a starting point. Read the Psalm, then write it out in your own words – use lines from the Psalm, but personalize it with your name. Expand in areas where you feel called to pray.
ARIJE TAIWO LUCKY says
In fact you have highlighted a key point where I consider not important but now you make it compulsory. Although, it difficult to adopt but nothing comes easy. Henceforth before anything, I must outline my prayer point in my journal to consider the importance.