Thank God...for my prayer journal.

I'm a writer.

I love when words flow from my fingertips, and I feel like my mind works better when it is putting together the romance that is words.

Sometimes when I talk aloud to the Lord, I get distracted. By the radio. By the things I need to be doing. By that noise I just heard. By so many things.

I've found that, for me, the best way for me to pour out my heart consistently in prayer is by writing my thoughts, my words, my thanks, my requests. And I do this in a variety of ways.

I have a prayer journal on the computer that I write in a few times a month. I write in it at the beginning of each month - to bless the month, pray for the events of the coming month, and bask in the fact that God is already there. He sees. He knows. He's there. And I write in it periodically throughout the month when I just want to bask in awe or pour out a burden.

I also have a daily notebook that I write in alongside my daily devotion. This is where I reflect to God. I thank Him specifically for that day. I share my feelings and thoughts. And I write my requests for that day.

The really cool thing is that every time I go to God, I can also see where we've been together. How He's been so faithful. How I've grown. How prayers have been answered and are being answered and which prayers still need to be faithfully brought to Him.

I encourage you to start a prayer journal. If you aren't a writer, then simply make a list of daily requests and praises as you pray aloud. Really, God wants you to come to Him completely - whether it's through spoken word or written word.

But it's really cool to write it down. See the journey. See your God work in amazing ways.

Pray big.

I realize I write about my relationship with God a lot. And I have to take a moment to say that yes, I write about it a lot. It's important to me. And it's important to me that I do my best to let Him speak through me to others. It's my voice of ministry.

But I want you to know that I'm not a great Christian. Sometimes I question Him. I debate with Him. I am confused by Him. I don't know Him like I should. I don't feel Him like I should. I don't read His Word like I should.

And I don't talk to Him like I should. 

I don't pray like I need to. And when I do I get distracted. Or feel like I'm not going deep enough. Praying specifically enough. Praying hard enough. Not putting enough heart into it. Not believing enough, trusting enough, caring enough.

At church this month we're reading The Circle Maker, and our sermon series is on the power of prayer. Encouraging us to pray bigger. Pray longer. Pray harder.

Knowing that I fall short in this area and feeling the need for Derrick and I to both focus, pray big, and connect spiritually, I came up with a weekly prayer calendar for the next 28 days. Just a few days in, and it has already been such a blessing. Just hanging out with God together, talking to Him together, verbalizing our thanks, our praises, our fears, and dreams together...

I encourage all of you to set aside a time to pray specifically - alone, with a friend, with your spouse, with a family member. Pray big. He's bigger.

 

I've included our weekly prayer calendar for inspiration. Feel free to steal the idea! 

Sunday 

 Pray for work, our jobs, our careers, and the week ahead

Monday 

 Pray for our marriage, our home, our family

Tuesday 

Pray for the Jones'/Greens' Family

Wednesday 

Pray for unsaved family and friends, for spiritual growth

Thursday 

Pray for the Johnson Family

Friday 

 Pray for our friends

Saturday 

 Pray for Relationship Church, for church growth, for our church family, for the sermon the next day