The Prayer Journey // Prayer Journaling Made Simple

Part One // Part Two // Part Three 

I am so excited for today's post, because I love practical application and sharing different ideas! Prayer journaling has been something I've always struggled with. In years past, I've started several prayer notebooks, but I never kept up on them. They felt too...structured. Intimidating. At times, even discouraging.

It just wasn't me. 

I'm someone who likes to see results, and to list all my prayer requests in a row just seemed deflating. Not that God doesn't work, but it just felt like a list of wants- even if it was on behalf of other people.

It was more like a record book of what God did rather than a living relationship, a breathing communication. 

After many years of trial and error, I finally found a system that works for me- and today I'm going to get really practical, open, and share what my tools look like. If you've struggled with keeping prayer notebook before, I hope this will inspire you to try again until you find something that works for you! Once you find something that works for your specific personality, it's really not that hard. 

I encouraged you in my last post to look for a perfect notebook to make into your own prayer notebook. This, is mine:

I was gifted this faux leather journal and as soon as I felt its cover I knew I wanted to use it for prayers. Using scrapbook paper and washi tape, I sectioned it off into different categories- family, friends, nations, self, husband, plans, praise, etc. Within each category, I either copied out prayers that I really loved from Scripture/biographies, or I wrote out my own prayers (I talked about liturgy HERE). The prayers I wrote out were my own "liturgy"- things that I want to make sure I pray for, and points that act as a springboard to pray for more. For example, if I have a friend who is sick, I can turn to the prayer I wrote out specifically for sick friends. As I pray through the words I've written, different things will come to my mind, and I'll pause to pray those things as well. It causes me to become specific and bold in praying, instead of simply asking, "Lord, please heal this person".

In other words, my written prayers become my go-to battle plans. 

Side note: for any young woman who has struggled to be faithful in praying for her future husband- this is an amazing tool. Writing out a prayer with specific points helps keep your mind focused on the spiritual battle! 

Another side note: writing out prayers for yourself is so powerful and keeps you accountable! Listing character traits you need to work on and reading them on paper instead of thinking of them in your mind brings it to a whole different level. 

To summarize- I have someone specific in mind that I want to pray for. I go to whatever section that person would be under and use a prayer there that is fitting to the circumstance. As I pray these powerful, precise words, different thoughts will come to my head and I'll pause within the sentences to pray for these things as well. 

So, I have my prayer notebook, but it's more general prayers in the sense that I can put anyone's name in if that particular category/situation is appropriate. I don't have specific needs written out, other than I do have names of friends underneath some prayers in my friend category. But as far as praying for other people outside of my family, my prayer notebook usually isn't used for them. 

Thus, I have my photo prayer book. 

It's just a simple photo album, with photos of friends who I want to be faithful in praying for. On the back of each photo, I have narrow sticky notes with different prayer points for that particular family/friend. This way, I can add or subtract points as the situation changes, keeping everything neat and tidy. During my prayer time, I can either pray for that person as I flip through the pictures, or I can pull the card out and pray specific points. I can also draw out one card each day and commit to praying for that person all day. For me, pictures keep me much more involved rather than just a name across a page. Seeing their faces keeps me accountable in praying faithfully!

As much as I'd love a picture of everyone (that's pretty much a hint to flood my inbox with your pictures so I can pray for you- win-win, right?), there are people who I don't have their picture. For these people, I have an empty slot that I simply put in sticky note strips with that person's name and specific request. I can see them all at a glance, or I can pull them out one by one. 

See? Not hard at all. 

To recap, I use my prayer notebook for specific prayers/liturgy/soundboard praying, and I use my photo prayer book for friends/friends' prayer requests. 

Lastly, during my prayer time, I also write out my prayers in my personal journal. I've found that- again- my prayers are more focused if I write out my prayers instead of just praying them in my head.  As I listen to worship music, I will write out what's on my heart and what I'm facing or struggling with on paper in my personal journal. There's no separate journal for this to make it feel professional or stiff- it's just pouring my prayer in ink just like I would share about an experience I had or a lesson I learned. So, after I've used my prayer notebook and photo prayer book, if there's anything I want to talk to God about my week or feelings of my soul or needs for provision or life in general, I'll write out a prayer in my journal. These are really my heart-prayers, the ones where I ask for guidance for specific situations that I face that week. They're honest, vulnerable, down-to-earth. They're "right now" prayers, not necessarily ones I go back and pray again because they're very specific to my life at that particular moment. 

They're prayers communing with not just my Heavenly Father, not just my King- but my Best Friend. 

And truly, it's the same He wants from you, too. Don't let fear of prayer, or of fasting, or of liturgy, or of journaling keep you from seeking after Him with all that you are. It's okay to have trial and error, to figure out what works and what doesn't. But keep at it. Each step, no matter how wobbly, is one more closer to a more confident you who takes bold steps of faith even when they feel scary.

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I really hope this was able to inspire and encourage you- the Father longs to hear from you, and hopefully this will begin your own prayer journey deeper to the center of His heart! If you start a prayer journal (or already have one that works for you!) I would love to hear about it- drop me a comment and share your testimony! 

The Prayer Journey // The Beauty of Liturgy

// PART ONE // PART TWO //

If I'm honest, I'd tell you that liturgical prayers used to scare me. From past church experiences, they were looked upon as almost unholy to pray because it wasn't your own words from your heart. 

I wish I had learned the truth of the beauty of liturgy years ago. 

Instead of fumbling through trying to express what's on my heart, if I had understood the sweetness and simplicity of reading a prayer- and then making it my own- it would have taken my prayer journey farther, much more quickly. 

Don't let liturgy scare you like I allowed it to scare me. 

I shared here how part of the challenge my brother and I did was to pray for 30 minutes every morning. We used a prayer book to start off with and then closed with our own prayers for the day. Every morning I knew exactly what I would pray, what I would add. It was special knowing that although in our separate rooms, my brother and I were joining together in unity, praying for the same things. It wasn't a time of trying to fill the air with stumbling words- it was filled with words with precise purpose. 

And truly, who wants to come bumbling and mumbling before a King?

I also challenged you to go through Scripture, find prayers that were spoken by holy men and women, and to make those prayers your own. For example, taking Ephesians 3:14-21 and replacing "you" with the name of the person you're praying for. This, too, is "liturgy" in its own right- powerful, purposeful, precise. 

There is something beautiful and powerful in praying the prayers spoken by holy men and women of old.

Can you imagine if we all began praying prayers like this? If we started praying back Scripture, reminding God of His promises and praising Him for His faithfulness? 

What would happen if we weren't afraid to pray bold prayers? 

Maybe you're just starting out on this deeper prayer journey. Maybe the words come slow, or not at all. Or maybe you've always prayed but it's become a ritual that needs to be sparked into a holy flame again. Maybe you've always shied away from liturgy and didn't know where to start. 

It's okay to join in and pray bold prayers from saints gone before. 

It may just be the spark you need to set your prayer life into a brilliant blaze. 

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This week, be intentional to incorporate liturgy into your prayers. Pray back Scripture, use a prayer book- or even search Pinterest for prayer quotes from missionaries or Kingdom-minded authors. Also, be on the lookout for a perfect notebook to copy these prayers into one convenient place that's easy to use. I know prayer notebooks can seem intimidating and confusing- they always were for me!- so next week I'll share a glimpse into what I've found to work the best.