“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer & supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God....”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬

Have you been yearning to start prayer journaling, but have no idea how to kick things off? You’re not alone. Embarking on any new spiritual discipline can feel taxing and unfortunately, many of us have experienced a complex relationship with the powerful gift of prayer. I too have felt disorganized and disoriented during my private prayer time, but I didn't know how to reel it in until I tried prayer journaling.

Of course, you don’t have to have a prayer journal to talk with God (but I have some really good arguments for why you should and how it can help you regardless of the status of your prayer life.) And there’s no single right-most way to do it. But if you’re ready to stop ruminating over the incessant ideas to organize a plan of action, the following strategies may help.

START WITH THE BASICS.
Assuming that you’re already sold on “WHY” prayer journaling is needed, let’s talk a bit about your materials. There’s no need for fancy supplies like gaudy notebooks, expensive pens, or a plethora of embellishments. I have many of these items already because I am a creative junkie. But all you really need is the basics - something to write with, something to write in, and have something to write about.
think about WHAT YOU LOVE.
Although, you don’t need all the bells and whistles to get started, I do suggest you start with the things you love. What attracts you? What will keep you engaged for the long run? If you were a fly on the wall in my process (well, first, that would be weird) you’d see that I have a jazzed up composition notebook along with a small bag of supplies. Throughout my journal you’ll see colorful insksticky notes, stickers, stamps, scrapbook papers, doodles, etc.
You, on the other hand, may want to start with something less embellished, like a simple spiral notebook, bullet journal, a photo album to insert separated prayers, a 3-ring binder, or even a legal pad…if that’s your thing. (I’m not sure why that would be your thing, but to each his own, eh?) Many prayer journal enthusiasts choose to use a ready made journal, printable templates, or digital platforms to take the guesswork out of the process. The easiest thing to do - and this is extremely important - is to grab what you have in your reach and GET STARTED. You can incorporate new ideas as they arise.
consider your prayer process.
Do you need to use a verse of the Bible as motivation to get started? Do you already have a short list of people that you need to intercede for and you can get right to it. Maybe you want to follow an acronyms like P.R.A.Y. (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) or A.C.T.S (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) to follow. This is completely up to you. At some point, to keep things fresh and interesting, you may consider using a variety of methods to get you started and keep you going. I’ve even used the lyrics of a heartwarming hymn as a prayer prompt. Again, just get started, you can always refine your process along the way.
Organize your prayer journal.
Because journaling is such a personal experience, you’ll need to have a process that reflects your needs. This is mainly why I choose to set up my own as opposed to purchasing something premade.
- Are dates and times important to you? If so, you’ll want to choose a template with dates or date your pages/entries. Sometimes, I’ll include a tiny date at the bottom of an entry, but dating the whole journal made it feel rigid like a planner or rote like a diary.
- Dividers and tabs may be useful to ensure you are covering the most important areas of your life in prayer. I tried tabs at first, but realized they were a little cumbersome as they stuck out from the side of my journal. I settled on other ways to divide my sections like covering the edge of my page with scrapbook paper. You can see an example in the video below.
- Will you include pages for special people? Special areas of your life? I’ll show the areas of my personal journal set up in another post and link it here when it’s posted.
Be open to the process.
Your way of prayer journaling will undoubtedly evolve over time. Embrace those changes as they come. You may realize that some strategies work better for you than others. As you dive deeper into this practice, you may notice that you’re spending longer periods of time in prayer. Or you may see that you’re spending shorter, more focused times in prayer. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you toward what is most beneficial for you.
Avoid the pitfalls.
Because journaling is such a personal experience, you’ll need to have a process that reflects your needs. This is mainly why I choose to set up my own as opposed to purchasing something premade.
- Don’t get distracted with creativity. Although it can be tempting, the beauty aspect of
- Don’t overly edit. The Lord will not be more impressed with perfect penmanship, grammar, spelling, or syntax. Let your ideas flow without your inner critic holding you back over minor details.
- Don’t get caught up in measuring up. Be authentic and genuine before your Creator who already knows us better than we know ourselves and still loves us. Feel free to be honest and open to giving Him your whole heart.

I finished my beautiful prayer journal a couple of weeks ago and it has been as transformational as I imagined it would be. Here are some of the benefits I’ve noticed in just this short time:

It has served as a sort of mobile prayer closet that’s easy to manage and readily available as I often take it with me.
My thoughts have been more cohesive because my mind tends to be more focused when I write.
I have begun to pray more frequently and fervently and thoughtfully.
I spend more time in reflection and introspection, allowing margin for to the Lord to respond.
It has fostered a deeper affection toward the Lord and for those I’m praying for as I get to look back on the requests I submit to Hime and the relationships I have with those I petition for.
It has helped to deepen my trust in the Lord and my yearning for His will as I look back on how He answers prayers. It has become a treasury of His love and faithfulness over time.
I feel more appreciative of the practice of prayer as a gift from a loving Father.

Please understand that this practice has not replaced my ongoing internal dialogue with God and it has not replaced the desire to pray with people in-person. But it has allowed me to overcome an often distracted and disoriented private prayer time. Leave a comment to let me know if this is something you practice or would like to try. I’d love to connect and share ideas.