First, what I do I mean by, "keeping a journal"? I do not mean keeping a diary. That may be a helpful discipline, but my journal is not where I record the events of the day for the sake of posterity.
I also don’t want to imply that there is one right way to keep a journal. My way is just one way. Another brother in our congregation uses his journal to right down verses that stand out to him as he reads the Bible each morning. Then when he is done reading, he prays through those verses. Great idea.
For me, a journal is primarily a tool to help me meditate on Scripture. When I just read my Bible and then pray, it can be easy for me to pass quickly over the text and even easier to not use that passage as a bridge to prayer. Writing forces to me slow down and think about what I’m reading. Inevitably, I’m moved to pray about what I see there. I find that when I incorporate a journal into my time with the Lord, it seems more like I’ve enjoyed fellowship with Him—had a conversation—than engaged in two unrelated, impersonal acts.
How do I do it? I take a passage of Scripture—always from a book that I am familiar with so that I’m not abusing the context—and I write about it. (How do I become familiar with a book? I read it over and over and over.) It may be more helpful to give you a sample than to describe the process in abstract terms. (You might also find these two posts helpful for how to stop and think through a passage: here and here.)
Below is a journal entry in which I was looking specifically for manifestations of the humility of Jesus:
Luke 22:31-34
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have [y’all], that he might sift [y’all] like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail…Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
Jesus prayed for those who failed Him. No vengeance, just care. In the hour when anyone would have been consumed w/ impending suffering, Jesus was caring for those He knew would abandon Him, praying for them. He did not say, “How could you do this to me after all I’ve done for you?” Just the opposite. Immediately before this, He expressed gratitude for what they had done for Him, even eternally rewarding them—knowing they would abandon Him.
Certainly Jesus prayed for Himself. The prayer of Gethsemane is recorded for us. Certainly, Jesus was hurt by the abandonment. Seems to be implied by Jesus looking at Peter immediately after his denials. But Jesus was humble, so He did not think only of Himself even in His worst circumstances, and He did not consider an offense against Himself so great as to discard the offender. In fact, He died that they might be forgiven for offending Him.
How can I hold a grudge against those close to me who fail me? If the perfect Lamb of God was so quick to care for those who failed Him, how much more should I care for those who fail me? Am I greater than Jesus? Is an offense against me greater than an offense against Him?
Father, please open my eyes—in the moment— to anger, bitterness, vengeance, or dismissal toward those who hurt, slight, or forget me. Open my eyes to it and hold it up for comparison to the heart of Jesus when He was in the same situation. Work in me to the end that slights against me move me to prayer for those people—benevolent prayer. Help me to become more and more mesmerized by the character of Jesus, love Him, and follow Him.
I have abandoned Him many times for false gods and false refuges. Yet, He ever lives to intercede for me.
So you see, I just use pen and paper to think through the verses, think deeply about Jesus, and about the implications for my life. I typically write some kind of short prayer in response to what I have seen.
The greatest benefit for me has been the working of these things into my mind and heart beyond the immediate time that I spend with the Lord. Because I’ve written about them, they are on my mind throughout the day, and I am able to continue meditating on them as I go to sleep many hours later.
The experience is so refreshing that I tend to desire it again the next morning. In other words, keeping a journal not only helps me to get into the flow, but it helps to keep me there.
This morning I enjoyed an additional benefit. I woke up this morning feeling a bit downcast for various reasons. I was moved—for the first time ever—to sit down and read an old journal. What a wonderful time of fellowship with the Lord! I was not only reminded of things the Lord had shown me from the Word months ago, but my eyes were opened to how the Lord has worked in my life over those months. Struggles of mind and heart that were prominent then have abated to a great degree. In other words, the Lord affirmed to me, "Take heart, I’m changing you." The greatest joy, however, was that I was stirred up anew by manifestations of humility in the life of Christ that had drifted to the back of my mind.
Again, there is no right way to do this, and it certainly isn’t a commanded discipline. It is simply something that has been very helpful to me, so I wanted to share it and encourage you to give it a try.
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