How to Start a Prayer Journal

I love going back through my old prayer journals from high school and college.

When I went to bed at night, I’d take my spiral bound journal and write down my prayers. Looking back, some of my “problems” seem so small now, but it’s truly inspiring to realize how many of those written-down prayers have been answered.

Maybe writing down your prayers, or praying in general, just isn’t easy for you.

I get it. When I try to pray without writing in my journal (i.e. – just praying silently in my head), I lose focus really easily and am never able to keep my mind on track.

However, I’ve found that for me personally, prayer journaling is the key! Writing keeps me on my train of thought and has helped me create a more dedicated practice of prayer.

If you’ve thought about prayer journaling, I’d love to help you start!

First, you need a journal.

You could either buy a blank journal or use an actual prayer journal.

This year, instead of a normal journal, I purchased an actual prayer journal to see if I liked it better. I had heard about Val Marie Paper’s prayer journals for a few years, but didn’t decide to make the investment until this year. It’s nice because the pages have “categories” of prayer that I don’t honestly always pray about during my prayer time (categories like praying for our country or community). I’m looking forward to using it! And it comes in such pretty colors…

You can usually find some type of prayer journal at Christian bookstores, too, if you want to go that route.

If you’re using a normal journal though, that’s great too!

Honestly that’s been my favorite option for years. I love going to the bookstore or heading online at the beginning of the year to pick out something really pretty or inspirational– something I know I’ll enjoy writing in.

Now that you’ve got a journal…

Looking at those blank pages, if you’re feeling like you don’t know where to start, try this:

Write down ADORATION, CONFESSION, THANKSGIVING, SUPPLICATION at the top of your page or beginning of the journal.

This is a kind of guide to help you when you don’t know what to pray about. Adoration is giving God praise for what he’s done and who he is. Confession is honestly dealing with things you’ve done wrong. Thanksgiving is being grateful for what you have in your life and in the world around you. Supplication is asking for your needs.

Now, give yourself 10 minutes of uninterrupted time.

I like writing pretty much in “steam of consciousness,” meaning that I just write down whatever comes to me without trying to make it eloquent or necessarily make sense. And my handwriting is 100% messy. Sometimes I look back and can’t even decipher what I wrote. For me, writing the prayers down is more about keeping my mind focused that recording something perfectly.