Why Journal?

When I first arrived in Korea I started a daily journal on my computer.  At least once a week for my quiet time I would type up journal entries for each day of the past week.  My Journal 2006 document is 249 pages of single spaced 12 point font journal entries.  Seems excessive, right?  Perhaps, but recently I was led to read through it all again bit by bit.  As I read I was blessed by so many sweet stories of interacting with the kids and it also made me remember where I’ve come from as an inexperienced, English-speaking American to now a missionary of seven years in Korea.  And what stood out to me the most were the spiritual lessons I had to learn that year.  Some of those spiritual lessons I had actually forgotten over the years and had to relearn.  If I had just reflected and read through my journal, I wouldn’t have had to go through those things again.  Last, something else that blessed me from rereading the journal were the prophetic words, dreams, and stirrings that I had written about that year.  Reading them again refreshed my heart and strengthened my faith to keep going.

Journaling is indeed Biblical.  God commanded different prophets to write down the words He gave to them and they also wrote down their dreams as well.  A lot of the Bible is actually journal entries from Moses and other scribes, priests, and kings.  So often throughout Scripture God commands us to not forget what He has done in our lives.  I don’t think people need to be as excessive as I was in 2006 in their journaling.  But I strongly believe people need to periodically take time to reflect, at least once a month, in what God has been doing in their lives.

At the beginning of 2013 I was a bit discouraged as I reflected on 2012.  I felt like I hadn’t accomplished much and that there hadn’t been much fruit.  But then I felt prompted to go through my 2012 journal and to highlight things God had done throughout the year.  And I was overwhelmed by all He had done!  My attitude then shifted from discouraged to blessed and excited for the new year.  I’m so thankful I had journaled!

I want to encourage you to take up journaling.  Aim for once a week, or at least once a month.  Write about what God has done and what you are thankful for.  Write about what God has been stirring in your heart and teaching you.  Write down any dreams, visions, or prophetic words you may have received.  You won’t regret doing this!

Habakkuk 2:2 – And the Lord answered me, “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets…”

God bless!