Tuesday, March 12

The Desk Series: Prayer Journal


The Desk Series :: My Meeting Place 
Prayer Journal - Part 2

Part 1 of this series found here

Keeping a prayer journal is a new addition I've added to my meeting place. For me, prayer is not new, but purposely writing my prayers out while at my desk is. God hears my prayer whether I speak it out loud, think it silently, or write it down. He hears my prayer, any time, any place and I can pray directly to him. 


This little black leather journal has simple lined pages, elastic strap to keep it closed and a bit of tiny design etching on the front and back covers. Most days, I add a prayer, some days they are a page long and some days as few as 4 lines. These are prayers that are of a more focused nature and I put dates beside them in order that I can look back and remember. Actually, I began the journal with these words and this entry...

"So I won't forget...

Dear Lord, so I won't forget. I begin my prayer journal with these words of dedication. I fail so often to pray to you, when I should be be praying to you. I want to be purposeful to a life of prayer, so I begin creating the habit of taking time to write them down. It is my prayer that I turn to you-turn fully and regain any lost ground, ground that I gave up in any way. Lord, replace what has been lost with something new and help me to be aware of it's timing. ~Amen"


What do I write? Anything I would normally pray or want to say to Jesus. Over the years of my life, my prayers have ranged from overwhelming joyful adoration with praise and thanksgiving, to sorrow and lament with profound grief along with warm-faced conversations laced with demanding questions. I have prayed standing up, lying down, sitting and my most precious of all are the prayers that have found me on my knees. There is something quite sacred about that special posture. I have prayed in my home, in the car, in church, in the hospital, in various places and most often in nature. My prayers always seem to take on a beautiful mixture of prayer and praise. I am not sure you can have one without the other. There have been many times when I have not prayed nearly enough.

My first prayer, the one that was the most important was the one I prayed at 11 years old in the woods, while taking a walk. (more on that in another post)

Really, prayer is as simple as taking your next breath with the name of Jesus on your lips. And make no mistake, no matter what anyone has told you, no matter what you have read as to his hearing your prayers or not...yes, he does hear!

I love this quote in the book, The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. "Prayer and praise are both expressions of faith, but praise is a higher dimension of faith. Prayer is asking God to do something, future tense; praise is believing that God has already done it. past tense."

and this one,

  "The potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire; it has bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. Prayer is an all-efficient panoply, a treasure undiminished, a mine that is never exhausted, a sky unobscured by clouds, a heaven unruffled by the storm. It is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings." unknown


If you have never written down your prayers, give it a try and see if you enjoy it. I love the concept of just taking the time to do it. It makes me pause and really think about those intimate moments that I pen on the page. Also, that little black journal will become a legacy after I am gone for those who come after me...I find that to be important.

14 comments:

  1. I used to do this for the same reason and I realise I must do it again! I have missed out on so much prayer and this was very good for making me not get distracted!

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    1. Keezie, so glad that I've been a reminder for you. Thank you for your visit!

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  2. What a beautiful post! I am sure your family will be so blessed when they read of your prayers for them over all the years! My old journals have prayers scattered through them, but recently I began a journal just for prayers, as my memory gets so scattered sometimes. Blessings to you this week!

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    1. Thanks Bettie! It surely does help with our "scattered-ness" :-)

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  3. I have prayer journals, too! When I use to go to Bible study, I would write down others prayers request so I could pray for them over the week. I began adding my own as well. As I look at the stack of notebooks filled with scriptures and prayers, I hope they become the words my children or grandchildren needed to read to take them closer to the Bible and God. That the words might inspire them or give them strength when they are going through something. Leaving behind my words, as silly as they are sometimes, or how they wandered way off the trail, it is a part of me I hope they treasure.

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    1. Thank you for sharing with us, Elizabeth! Yes, for the next generation...I so agree.

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  4. I love to read these. They are motivating and helpful. I'm still learning to pray, and am working to pray more specific. All of your journaling I love to sit and take time while it's quiet to read.
    I Hope there can be a way to save these to keep close and read. Your journal idea of prayers for future generations, not just next is a nice idea. Though nothing is better than now and being able to talk and share together.

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    1. I am so glad you are finding these posts a help. And yes to talking and sharing.

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  5. I started writing prayers shortly after my mother died. I found a small black soft journal that she had never written in, so I used that for my prayers. My mother was a prayer warrior. I've since filled it up and I haven't written many prayers lately. You inspire me to get another small journal to take up that practice again. Blessings to you!

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    1. Sorry about your dear mother. I am so very glad that I have inspired this for you.

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  6. What a great way to remember. And it also reminds us to praise Him for answered prayer when you look back.

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    1. That is another great reason...answered prayer!

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  7. Writing down my prayers and prayer requests I am given is something I need to be better at. Being a prayer warrior is a definent something I want to be. Thanks for the thoughts, ideas and encouragement.

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    1. Pat, yes it helps to write these things down and then we can look back at them. You are welcome!

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Thank you for taking a moment to share your thoughts.