I mention it often on the show and at church. Journaling is a valuable tool for anyone interested in growing spiritually. Just the physical act of writing down what you are thinking forces you to focus and consider what is important. Putting a verses into your own words can be a great way to begin journaling for those who don’t know where to start.
The best advice I have for someone who is not a natural at journaling (like me!), is to select one key passage from whatever text you are reading today and concentrate on that one or two verses. Think about it for a few minutes. What do the words mean? What is the idea being communicated? How did the first person to read it understand it? What key principle is being taught? What is God doing! Do we learn anything about God’s character? What about man’s character?
After taking a few minutes to consider the passage, rewrite it in your own words. For your first journal entry, you made a great start! There is no “wrong” at this point. Even if you misunderstood the verse, the process of thinking through it will prepare you to understand it better in the future. Give it a shot, be consistent and try to journal daily for a month. I believe you will find it to be a powerful way to focus your thoughts on God and help you face life with Joy. Keep rejoicing!