The W2W Ministry is covering spiritual gifts this Easter season and we talked about spiritual writing last Friday.
Journalling through Scripture, I get to dialogue with God even as I get to know Him and His ways more and more. It also prevents my journalling from becoming one long, boring monologue.
One other way I like to journal is to write down all the things I am grateful (and not so grateful) for in a day as it allows me to see the miracles of the day and where God was actually standing by my side. Plus this also helps me stay grateful and practise the art of gratitude.
When I feel moody or down, I use the Feel it, Own it and Express it to see why I am feeling a particular way and to dig a little deeper to see what could be the underlying cause so that I have a better understanding of myself as I take it into prayer. It sure beats psychoanalysis.
How often should one journal? If not every day, then at least once a week, although, I find that a week is too long to remember everything that has happened to me.
Journals are like Pensieves in Harry Potter's world, where we can review our memories and thus be able to "spot patterns and links". If we do not write down our epiphanies, our moments, we lose the ability to review them and thus lose the opportunity to mine the past to enrich our present and future.
Mostly, we lose the chance to know how good God has been to us as the memory fades and the moment gets forgotten. So if you do not want to forget it, write it down.
Writing, be it prose, poetry or songs, can be a spiritual practice, especially when we do it to praise and glorify the one who endowed us with this facility for written language in the first place.
We just have to look at the Bible as an example of the written word that is profound, beautiful, inspiring, challenging and most of all, an intimate love story of humanity's relationship with God.
Although the Bible, a collection of 73 books, was written by a number of writers through various ages for different communities, they were all inspired by the Divine. The Bible therefore is considered the Word of God.
Although the Bible, a collection of 73 books, was written by a number of writers through various ages for different communities, they were all inspired by the Divine. The Bible therefore is considered the Word of God.
Taking inspiration from the Divine, we can, likewise, write our own psalms, laments, letters and songs. We can write to communicate to others just who is God in our, and their, lives, and in sharing our inner thoughts, we may perhaps touch others and become instruments that transform lives.
So not all of us are called to be writers. And yet, we can each still write. If we are serious about growing in our faith journey, then keeping a spiritual journal will allow us to see more clearly how God is working in our life, what are our desires, named and yet to be discovered, and whether we are staying true to our values. Spiritual journalling can also help us map our personal growth and reveal to us our weaknesses and fears.
My journal is my place of refuge, where I can be truly myself in front of God. When I write, I can pour out my woes, my shame and my gratitude to Him. My journal becomes my voice of truth to myself just as it is my messy, sometimes incoherent but heartfelt love letter to God.
While there is no right way to journal, I like to use the readings of the day as my starting point in my reflection time and see how Scripture speaks to me in a personal way on any given day.
Faith is not just theology, doctrine or principles that guide one's life, faith is first and foremost, an intimate relationship with God, God who is living and who engages with us all the time.
So not all of us are called to be writers. And yet, we can each still write. If we are serious about growing in our faith journey, then keeping a spiritual journal will allow us to see more clearly how God is working in our life, what are our desires, named and yet to be discovered, and whether we are staying true to our values. Spiritual journalling can also help us map our personal growth and reveal to us our weaknesses and fears.
My journal is my place of refuge, where I can be truly myself in front of God. When I write, I can pour out my woes, my shame and my gratitude to Him. My journal becomes my voice of truth to myself just as it is my messy, sometimes incoherent but heartfelt love letter to God.
While there is no right way to journal, I like to use the readings of the day as my starting point in my reflection time and see how Scripture speaks to me in a personal way on any given day.
Faith is not just theology, doctrine or principles that guide one's life, faith is first and foremost, an intimate relationship with God, God who is living and who engages with us all the time.
Journalling through Scripture, I get to dialogue with God even as I get to know Him and His ways more and more. It also prevents my journalling from becoming one long, boring monologue.
One other way I like to journal is to write down all the things I am grateful (and not so grateful) for in a day as it allows me to see the miracles of the day and where God was actually standing by my side. Plus this also helps me stay grateful and practise the art of gratitude.
When I feel moody or down, I use the Feel it, Own it and Express it to see why I am feeling a particular way and to dig a little deeper to see what could be the underlying cause so that I have a better understanding of myself as I take it into prayer. It sure beats psychoanalysis.
How often should one journal? If not every day, then at least once a week, although, I find that a week is too long to remember everything that has happened to me.
Journals are like Pensieves in Harry Potter's world, where we can review our memories and thus be able to "spot patterns and links". If we do not write down our epiphanies, our moments, we lose the ability to review them and thus lose the opportunity to mine the past to enrich our present and future.
Mostly, we lose the chance to know how good God has been to us as the memory fades and the moment gets forgotten. So if you do not want to forget it, write it down.
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