How to Journal - 3 Step Explanation

1. Get everything you need

Bible
If you don’t have a Bible of your own they are available at any bookstore. For new readers we would suggest the “New Living Translation” as it is written in easy to understand English.
You can also access an online bible at Bible Gateway. However, having a personal copy of the Bible that you can make notes in and highlight is often preferable.

Journal
Any notebook will do.
Or, you can purchase a “Life Journal” at our bookstore. A Life Journal is a structured Journal which contains a section for special prayer requests. It also has a through-the-Bible reading plan that will guide you through the entire Bible in just one year.

A Bible reading plan
The Bible can be a hard book to tackle and after picking it up, reading it may seem like a momentous task. So having a plan that clearly lays out a daily reading schedule is very helpful. As well you can find a plan that is more tailored to your needs. The Zondervan publishing company has a number of great reading plans available here. Here are a few that we suggest:

If you are new to the Bible you may want to try one of these:

• 30 days with Jesus
• 30 days for new Christians
  

If you are a bit further along you might want to try one of the previous plans or one of these:

• 90 day reading plan
• 180 day reading plan
  

If you have been in church for a long time any of the above plans may be a good fit or one of these:

• Buy a Life Journal and use the one year plan contained in it
• Three year plan

2. Set aside a regular time

One of the hardest things to do is set aside regular time for our relationship with God. Pick a time of the day when you are at your best and that you can consistently put aside time to read and journal. Make it a habit!

3. Start reading and journaling

It is one thing to read a book, but it is another to reflect and internalize what you have just read. That is where journaling comes in. After reading your daily section take a few moments to journal about what you are hearing God say to you. Following this simple acronym borrowed from New Hope Church will be helpful.

• S for Scripture
  Open your Bible to the reading found under today’s date of your Bible bookmark. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.


• O for Observation
  What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words, in your journal.


• A for Application
  Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.


• P for Prayer
  This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

For a good idea of what this can look like, check out one of Tom Loewen’s journal entries.

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