How to Prayer Journal

by Karen Braun

LOVE LETTERS

Prayer Journaling can be an encouraging element of prayer with measurable results.  This fulfilling approach allows you to express and document your person coversations and journey with the Lord - this record is like a collection of love letters between you.

This kind of journalling becomes a wonderful testimony to the amazing journey and release of honest expression, exchange and assurance of details.  For some, writing the cry of their heart onto a page is easier than verbalizing out lout with words; and, recording God's words of comfort and love, as He speaks so personally to your heart has a greater and meaningful impact.  Recording dreams and other significant words can also commemorate that very personal journey of intimacy.

With time this record becomes a treasure of the measure of your love for each other.  Whether pain or sorrow, fear or frustration, joy or delight, that are expressed on these pages, the written words serve as an angoing encouragement and demonstration of God's faithfulness.

DIARY

Prayer journaling can also be a rewarding experience when used like a diary to record how God has led you to pray for specific topics.  This system works great when you are focused on a particular burden.  I.E. family, business, church, education, etc. Often an outline such as ACTS acronym or the Lord's Prayer or other headings or topics can work well as a guide for this approach.

Here's a sample outlining the ACTS format using the Word that can be written out.

Adoration  

EXAMPLE of ADORATION -

⁵      He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. Psalm 33:5 (NLT)

PRAYER - Unfailing Father of love, everything about you is worthy of trust.  Your words are true and all your ways are good and just.  I praise you that your heart is to fill the earth with your unfailing love.  You are not going to back down on your Word because, you are always true to your character.  You will be faithful to reveal more of your unfailing love to the needs in this world and in my life and in my family because that is who you are.  I honor you and put my trust in you because you are enough.

Confession

EXAMPLE of CONFESSION

¹² Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. ¹³ For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:12-14 (NLT)

PRAYER - Father the truth of your Word exposes that I do not have an obligation to the urges of my sinful nature since you have given me life through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The reality is I don't always choose your provision, which means I restrict you from filling me.  That is sin. Please forgive me for not trusting your provision and for not receiving all that you long to give and have provided for.  By faith I receive your Spirit to fill me to overflowing.  By faith I claim you to be enough for what I don't know, especially in raising my children.

Thanksgiving

EXAMPLE of THANKSGIVING

¹⁰⁵      Your word is a lamp to guide my feet

and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

PRAYER - Thank you LORD that as your words are taught, they give light to whoever receives them by faith.  You illuminate my path.  Thank you that I can trust you to give your wisdom and insight for what I don't know.  Thank you that as I continue to teach your words to my children I can trust you to light up my way and their way. It is a release Lord to let you do it.  You are the only one who can anyway. I'm grateful I can exhange my burden for your peace and provision.

Supplication 

EXAMPLE of SUPPLICATION

¹¹ For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.  Matthew 18:11 (NLT)

PRAYER - "Jesus, your Word declares that you came with a purpose to save the lost.  That means you have already purposed in your heart to save my children, and to save their friends and their families too.  I know that you already conquered deception, death and destruction, so I remind you of that and ask that you will prove that victory in my children, their friends and their families too.  I pray they will declare with their mouths that your ways are full of unfailing love.  I pray that they will not walk in obligation to their sinful nature both that you will awaken them to living their life in the provision of the cross through your Holy Spirit.  I speak your truth into the lies of the evil one and declare that you Jesus will take what Satan has meant for harm and turn it into good.  Would you please speak to then and awaken their heart to hear and know your unfailing love.  Wood you meet them at their exact point of need?! I know you know them best.  I ask this in Jesus' name for your honor and glory. Amen."   

Do you see how recording these prayers can be an effective element of prayer? Imagine coming back to a page like this ten years from now.  The notes give God the glory.

The concept of prayer journaling comes from:

"Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me agains them."  Deuteronomy 31:19(NIV)

"Then the LORD replied: Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.  For this revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.  Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NIV)

The common thread in prayer journaling is the slowing down to consider, listen and document.  "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.  In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)