& ! $ The art of Journaling

Definition: A Journal is a record or account of various things of importance in our lives.

Introduction

While organising my thoughts on this subject , I decided to ask and answer the following questions.

• Why should we journal?
• What kinds of records could we include in our Journals?
• How can we keep our records?
• When can we Journal?

The practice of journaling is not commanded in scripture ,however it is definitely modeled; from Moses in the first five books to the apostle John in Revelations, the Bible is full of records of events and God's dealings with men. Also many great men women of God over the centuries have practiced this discipline. Among whom are Jim Elliot, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Hannah Whithall to name a few. Below are a few of the benefits which could cause us to aspire to this discipline.

In this verse the Lord spoke to Moses asking him to write an account for a memorial. We all have a fascination for history, where did we come from? how did we get to where we are today? Obviously one of the benefits of having written records of historical events is that it enables us to avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that our fore runners fell into. Also as we examine their records we might be able to find sources of strength and things to emulate. By journaling we could be providing vital historical information future generations.

Ps 90:12 So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts to wisdom.

I find from time to time I sit down and make a list of goals and priorities that the Lord will have me pursue , many times I walk away from my list and because I did not have a system for monitoring my progress , I was unable to determine whether or not I was walking toward my goals nd eventualy abandoned them all together. For example if I decide to memorize one verse of scripture per week, or encourage at least one person a day, journaling will give me an opportunity to evaluate my progress.

Ps 105:5 Remember his wonderful works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Ps 106:7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked [him] at the sea, [even] at the Red sea.

A few years ago during a ladies meeting at church, I was asked to share the testimony of God's blessing to my Family through the hospitality of the saints. It was a big eye opener. Uptil this time I had grumbled and complained about being so far away from home, with no support from family, having to raise my kids alone, the Lord bore patiently with me. As I sat down with pen and paper to recount the times when he had used His saints to minister to my family, I wept with brokenness. How could I have forgotten thy goodness O Lord? A record of the Lord's goodness to us becomes a tower of refuge in times of trouble, as we look back we can say, surely if the Lord has taken care of us up till now, he is able to see us through till our Journey's end.

In Ex 16 :33 , God told the Israelites to save 3 quarts of Manna as a tangible reminder of His constant care, our Journal can become our 3quarts of Manna if we dillegently cultivate this disipline.

Deut 17:18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites.

I found it interesting that the Lord commanded that every King of Israel should write for himself a copy of the Law, why not just read, could it be because writing compels us to give more serious thought to that which we are reading? In "Secret strength" A journal by Joni Eareckson Tada, she says "If you're like me, many of the thoughts, insights and impressions the Lord shows you in His word or through His people, tend to slip through your fingers if you don't take time to get them down on paper."

Writing down the highlights of our meditations during our quiet time makes those impressions stay with us much longer, also it fixes these insights on our minds such that we can find them ready to use later in conversation, counseling, encouraging and witnessing as we are commanded in 1pe 3:15

Ps 102:18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD

Another reason why we would find journaling profitable , is that it can be effective in teaching the things of God to our children and transmit our faith into the future, as we are commanded in Deut.6:4-7. Our journals, if well preserved, Lord willing , will outlive us by far. How wonderful to be able to speak to our children and grandchildren and future generations through our writings.

Gordon Mac Donald-

"I anticipate that someday our children will read through some of these journals, and if I can post-humously affirm them for things I see in their growing lives today, it will be a treasure for them." & Read from "Spiritual disciples for the Christian life" Page 202

2Co 1:3 ¶ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

This verse tells us that one of the reasons that God lets us go through difficult times is so that we may use the lessons He has taught us and the comfort He has given us to encourage people who go through similar situations. A journal is a good way to keep track of our struggles and the ways in which God gives us victory making it easy for us to share it with others.

Most of us will testify to having received strength from the Journals of David as recorded in the Book of Psalms. By keeping a record of his struggles, fears , joys and prayers, David gives us the privilege of entering into his experiences, atimes lending us words with which to express our otherwise confused feelings. How much poorer we would all be if the book of Psalms had not been written. I doubt that David wrote those words with the intention that they be published and printed all over the world, yet the Lord has used them greatly to bless many generations of people, so that David, even though dead, yet speaks.

! What

! How

The following are merely suggestions, do not give up until you find a system that works well for you.

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Use whatever works best for you.

! When

Since one of the purposes of Journaling is to aid us in our spiritual walk with the Lord, it should be done preferably daily, we should however not be discouraged if for some reason, we are unable to do it daily, try to be as regularly as possible. Journaling once a week, or even once a month , is better than not journaling at all. On making it a habit, Gordon Mac Donald says "Journaling becomes a habit for most people if they will stick to it for the better part of a year, most people quit too quickly, never achieve the habit pattern, and that is unfortunate"

! Joint Journaling

My husband Dele and I stumbled on this concept a few years ago, and now we are hooked. It simply involves writing notes to each other regularly in a notebook instead of pieces of paper, hence we have a record of our correspondence to each other, It has worked so well for us that we are planning to begin doing the same with our children when they learn to write.

Tool for conflict resolution

Reminder of each others thoughtfulness

Provides good old dose of laughter

References:

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian life by Donald Whitney

Ordering your private world by Gordon Mac Donald

Discipline -The glad surrender by Elizabeth Elliot

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