JOURNALLING

A Spiritual Discipline

You’ve seen ‘em: the artsy writer types with black-rimmed glasses who sip coffee and hunker down in dark corners of coffee shops, pen in hand, writing contemplatively inside a hardback journal.

When you think about creative writing or journaling, you either think of that scene, or your little prepubescent sister who writes about her flavour of the week in her little pink diary with the miniature lock and key. But journaling is not just for the literary creative types or just a rite of passage 13-year-old girls engage in under. Journaling is a mature spiritual discipline that can greatly compliment spiritual growth.

Whether it's used as a place to keep track of prayer requests, write poetry or Scripture, or just a place to write out fears, struggles, hopes and goals, a journal is a safe place to record and explore your deepest thoughts.

Yet, one rarely hears another Christian say, "You know, I was writing in my journal the other day about the faithfulness of the Lord, and I just ..." Christians tend to stress the importance of only prayer and Bible reading, but few accept journaling as a daily spiritual ritual. But some Christians do journal. Those who do find it a great exercise that strengthens the other disciplines in their life like prayer and Scripture study.

Alison, a 30-year-old Christian female keeps what she calls "a gratitude journal." "Every night, before I go to bed, I write down at least five things for which I'm thankful to God for that particular day," Alison says. "Sometimes it is something everyone may easily overlook—like being able to breathe without a machine, the ability to drive, God's protection, sunshine, etc."

Peter says journaling can serve as a cross-trainer for other spiritual disciplines: "Journaling is also an aid to other spiritual disciplines," he says. "Writing down your insights is helpful in Bible study. Writing out prayers helps you to communicate with God. Creating a poem that praises God is an act of worship."

"It's not a substitute for prayer, but a supplement to prayer," one female, Lee Ann, explains. "It's a huge blessing to your prayer life because it helps you focus on what you want to communicate to God and really spend time thinking about it, not just rushing through a whispered prayer about it."

Over time, a journal serves as a chronicle of spiritual growth as prayers, requests and needs are met and faith is strengthened. It becomes a recorded testimony. Stuart, a male who journals says, "[Keeping a] prayer journal helps me grow since I can look back to see if the changes that were 'suggested' actually took place. It's frightening sometimes when I realize how certain issues have re-occurred many times. I also see how positive change can be when I look back and see the difference."

If you've never kept a spiritual journal, or have given up on journaling, try these suggestions to see if your spiritual life could benefit from the exercise:

ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVES

Don't focus on the negative. Some people only feel like expressing themselves in writing when they're upset, angry or depressed. Don't forget to spice up those pages with words of thanksgiving and praise as an encouragement to yourself and as a blessing to the Lord.

Why not get yourself a notebook or print off some of the blank journal sheets and set yourself a target of journaling over the next two weeks. Tell your cell leader what you plan to do and ask them to keep you accountable to see how you are getting on. At the end, sit down and go through what you have written or drawn, talk about what you have learnt with your cell or an older Christian.