Write Your Way Closer to GodНамуна

Principles to Follow

There are four important principles every journal keeper needs to know.

Plan to keep it private: Many of us have a secret desire hidden way down deep inside our hearts that what we write will be admired by others. For my journal to be really helpful to me, I had to give up this fantasy. Our journals need to be private so we can be fiercely honest.

No one is going to read the pages of my journal but me. I know that my journals will never be published. They aren’t for my children. They are my private journals. I have some “godly woman” journals I don't mind if many people read. I copy favorite passages in them and write out prayers. But my working journal is private.

Have no fear of failure: Your journal is like mine if it contains your journey to your conclusions. Some of what is written is wonderful and some if it is heresy. It takes a while to distinguish the flowers from the weeds. Somehow, thankfully, the Lord uses the mess to help us grow to spiritual maturity. There is no such thing as journaling well or, conversely, journaling badly, unless, of course, you are not honest. Because there is no right way to journal, there is no way to fail.

Journaling takes time: Writing takes time. But it doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Even fifteen minutes is beneficial. Reflective writing may actually save us time if it clarifies our thinking so we can make a wise decision. Writing can save us from wasting weeks in mental anguish, nursing a grudge. It can keep us from throwing away years of hard work. Writing will take time, but not writing may take more. Writing is time well spent. We may find that we don’t have enough time not to write.

What we choose to write about is up to us: There are no formulas. I do what I sense I need to do each time I sit down to have my quiet time. This spontaneity helps me to avoid getting into a journaling rut, where I’m going through the act of writing, but it seems to have lost its value.

There is no right way to journal. There are no rules you must follow. You are free to think of your journal as a tool to use for what you need that day.