A few years ago, Flannery O’Connor’s prayer journals were published in book form. To be honest, I felt a little guilty reading them—they seemed too personal for public consumption. But her publisher and the manager of her estate believed they should be published. In 1946, O’Connor began keeping a prayer journal when she was at the Iowa Writers Workshop. Among the numerous entries, she wrote, “If I even do get to be a fine writer it will not be because I am a fine writer, but because God has given me credit for a few of the things He kindly wrote for me.”[1] Indeed, O’Connor did go on to become a renowned writer. Had she not died an early death from lupus at age 35, she surely would’ve benefited from rereading those entries she wrote while studying her craft in Iowa.
As much as I rely on technology, I still keep a handwritten prayer journal. Why? Because it helps me remember important details I’d otherwise forget. But if you were to read it, you wouldn’t find anything as prolific as O’Connor’s. My prayer journals consist mostly of dated entries that include Bible passages that spoke to me on a particular day, prayer requests, and lists of people I’m praying for. On some pages, you’d see updates in the margin where I’ve described how God has answered specific prayers. And every couple of pages, you’d find a list of things I was thankful for on that given day. I have stretches of time when I’m consistent, and other times I’m not. I’ll make an entry every day for weeks or even months, and then I might miss several days. At a glance, these journals don’t look like much—they are simple notebooks filled with messy handwriting. (My penmanship is atrocious). And yet, these journals mean everything because they are a written chronicle of my history with God.
Prayer journaling has stood the test of time. The Bible contains numerous examples of God’s people recording their spiritual journeys. The book of Psalms is filled with David’s reflections on his relationship with God. In Lamentations, you’ll find the prophet Jeremiah’s thoughts about the fall of Jerusalem. Or, consider the words of Asaph:
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds (Psa. 77:11-12).
Another option to consider is that some people use prayer journals as a type of daily inventory and include questions to review at the end of the day. It would be best to come up with your own, but they might include something like:
- Did I abide in Jesus today? How so? If not, why not?
- Was I committed to my work today? Did I work hard at my craft?
- Was I kind? Is there anyone I need to apologize to?
- What sins do I need to confess?
- What am I thankful for? (Include unique specifics of the given day).
Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to journal. The goal is simply to record your history with God. If you keep at it over time, you’ll find it increasingly meaningful. If you’re already journaling, I’d love to hear what’s working well—so drop a note in the comments section.
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[1] Flannery O’Connor, A Prayer Journal, (New York: W.A. Sessions, 2013).
