Journaling.
Journaling.
King David. Ben Franklin. Mark Twain. Beethoven. Albert Einstein. Anne Frank. Winston Churchill. What did they have in common? They were journalers. They all kept a diary.
Let me preface this shameless pitch for journaling by saying that it is not a requirement for daily devotions or requirement for relationship with Jesus.
I have just personally benefitted from it so greatly (and research proves it’s power), that I would strongly encourage you to do it, too!
There is no wrong way to journal. Do not write to sound eloquent or with the intent of sharing. Write your heart. Write a fun memory of your day. Write about what you read in the Word. Write about your pain—past and present. Journaling is a powerful way to ‘process.’ Journaling is a proven way to make sense of personal challenges and personal tragedies. It helps sort the contents of your heart and mind.
(Please do not expect your journal entries to sound like the entries I’ve shared here. These are highlights, more devotional thoughts than true journaling. The bits shared on this website and podcast are some of the least personal things possible, and I’m only willing to share in hopes they will help others establish these life-changing habits….in hopes that they will be a tangible example of what Bible study/journaling can look like.)
I recently read the following piece of an article entitled “The Journal:”
“From an article found in the New York Times, March 7, 1991: “New studies suggest that people who are able to write about their inner thoughts and feelings may enjoy better mental and physical health.” Dr. James Pennebaker, a professor of Psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas whose book, Opening Up: The Healing Power of Confiding in Others, (published by William Morrow and Company, Inc.) states: “…Writing is a powerful tool to organize overwhelming events and make them manageable. The mind torments itself by thinking about unresolved issues. By translating the experience into language, people begin to organize and structure the surge of overwhelming thoughts. Once organized, they are easier to resolve.” This article indicated that writing about emotional experiences produces as much benefit as a session with a psychotherapist. Also, it indicated that writing about traumatic experiences was found to raise the level of T-cells to fight infection and virus. It was stated that writing about emotional experiences was best viewed as “psychological preventative maintenance.”
Another article, “What’s All This About Journaling, in the New York Times, October 25, 2018: “There are the obvious benefits, like a boost in mindfulness, memory and communication skills. But studies have also found that writing in a journal can lead to better sleep, a stronger immune system, more self-confidence and a higher I.Q. Research our of New Zealand suggest that the practice may even help wounds heal faster.”
Wowowowow! That is a pretty strong case statement for journaling!
I cannot tell you the number of times I have personally written my way through feelings, emotions, and scenarios. Things begin to “make sense” as I write. In addition, copying down Scriptures, quotes, and book excerpts that have ministered to me helps solidify them in my mind and makes them readily accessible in the future. Journaling is also a beautiful way to chronicle the little (and BIG) moments of life: memories, quotes form your children, and more will be true gems to look back on.
In journaling, be real, be raw. Put your heart on a page. Sometimes, that will make you cry…that is okay! Most of the entries shared here were written with tears…sometimes they trickled. Sometimes they splashed. Sometimes, writing unlocks the closed places of your heart. Tears and openness are both magnetic for Jesus, so go ahead and write…
2 quick disclaimers on journaling…
1. Do not write to share. Your journals are for you and Jesus. Occasionally, you may feel prompted to share a thought He gives you in the process of daily devotions, but that is the exception. Most of what happens “behind closed doors,” stays behind closed doors! Personal and private!
2. Bear in mind, as you “put your heart on paper,” that someday you will no longer be here, but your journals will be. At some point, someone will, more than likely, read your journals. As you chronicle and process on paper, keep this in mind. I think it is possible to process through ugly situations and emotions without putting potentially hurtful things on paper. I hope that someday, when I am gone, my journals will be a gift to my family and not a source of wounds. I want to remember the bright and beautiful things of others on their pages; for them to be full of compliments, love, and memories for my children and others. I believe that our journals can bring joy.
Dawson Trotman stated: “Thoughts disentangle themselves as they pass through the lips or the fingertips.” This is sooooooo true! You will find that, as you incorporate prayer, the Word of God, and potentially, journaling into your life, that the words that pass your lips in prayer and the thoughts that flow through your fingertips and pen will slowly unravel the entangled thoughts in your mind. They will become key components on the pathway to “whole.”