Bible Journaling

Bible-Journaling-Spiritual-Discipline

Do you do Bible journaling?

It’s especially in vogue with new Journaling Bibles in print and lots of Instagram pictures of artistic journaling.

But at its basic, it’s still listening and recording how your heart is hearing God’s love for you through scripture.

  • Journal the lessons you want to remember.
  • Write down memories of God’s goodness you don’t want to forget.
  • Record the insights the Spirit gives you to use.

Your growing relationship with God is worth treasuring.

We’re talking more today about “The Why, What, and How of Bible Journaling” at  Do Not Depart.

Will you join me there?

RELATED LINKS

Plan to spend more time this year in God's Word and pursuing a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Find resources to help you plan in this month's series "Plan to Abide."

25 thoughts on “Bible Journaling

  1. Michele Morin

    I’m not sure how you do it, but I do appreciate all your writing in all your different places. I’ve been journaling during my devotional time for years, and for a long time (a very long time) that was the only writing that there was time for in my life, so some day I’d like to go back and read all those notes!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      How interesting it will be if/when you do go back and read those notes, Michele. You definitely should! For a season I used to write out my prayers—I should go back and re-read those sometimes too to see if what I’ve asked for has changed through the years. 🙂 Writing is so valuable both for the now but also for the later. I know you understand!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Some people are journalers; some aren’t. I am sporadic about keeping a regular life journal (except for my one-line-a-day journal), but a little more regular with my Bible journal the last decade. Your dying series definitely counts as a journal to me, Andrew. It’s been a valuable one for many of us. I appreciate your bravery in publishing those personal thoughts every week.

        1. LisaNotes Post author

          We likely have different definitions of “journaling.” Like any other writing (or conversation, etc.), it *can* be centered on self. But it can also be centered on any number of other things too. Think of it as writing blog posts but not publishing them—a different name for journaling. 🙂

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      I’ll look forward to what you’ll share on it later this year, Jean. I’m still timid to write much directly in my Bible (why? I’m not sure!) so I still write on notebook paper and keep it all in a binder, old-school style. 🙂

      1. Jean Wise

        we are both old school. I think I have seen you on a few of the bible journaling facebook groups ( may be wrong???) and some people have really had some backlash from bible about marking up their Bibles. I think anything that gets you deeper into the words, God is pleased with. Some people color the full page, I just use the margins. interesting new way though and one I want to continue to play with. Coloring with God….

        1. LisaNotes Post author

          Although I don’t mark up my own Bible (except underlining), I am glad other people do. 🙂 My dad, for instance, marked up his Bible, so after he died, that was one of his possessions that I for sure wanted to keep. My sister Sandy always writes in the margins of her books, so I love borrowing her books to read myself because I get to read her notes as well. I’ve seen some fantastic Bible coloring too–will look forward to seeing yours one day soon. 🙂

  2. Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours

    A topic close to my heart! For as long as I can remember, I’ve jotted notes in the margin of my Bible, but things really came together for me when I began to write my prayers in a journal. It’s not exactly one of the Bible journaling ideas you mention in the post, but it’s how I get my head—and heart—around God’s whispers and shouts. I’ve done it for 30+ years. Have been thinking about a blog post on what to do with all of those prayer journals someday when I’m gone. Will try to write it soon. Thanks for the reminder!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      What a wonderful historical record you have of your time with God, Susan! From time to time I keep prayer journals, and I must say that it usually provides some intimate and insightful times—so I don’t know why I don’t do it more often. I’m encouraged that you’ve kept up that practice for such a long time. Beautiful!

  3. Lois Flowers

    Lisa, I’ve always jotted notes in my Bibles too. The next time I come to a particular passage, which could be years later, it always interests me to see what caught my eye the last time AND what I notice now that I didn’t notice then. Does that make sense? I’ve never heard of journaling Bibles before reading your post … what an amazing idea!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Yes, that makes perfect sense, Lois. It’s exactly what I do with my notebook pages! 🙂 This week, for instance, I’ve been reading through Nehemiah, so I look back through my notes of the previous times I’ve read through Nehemiah to see which verses I chose to journal about. And it amazes me how it might be the exact verse I chose again—or it might be something I totally missed in my current reading.

      Whoever came up with Journaling Bibles had a great idea. Although I don’t have one myself, I definitely see their appeal.

  4. S.S.

    Thanks for sharing such a practical way to get into God’s Word and mine it for all it is worth. I think back to Jesus words about disciples being those who abide in His word. There we would find the truth which can set us free.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Mining the words…I like that imagery. Go for the gold. 🙂 He said just seek and we would find, so I’m thankful that he makes himself so available to us as we uncover his treasures. Thanks for stopping by.

  5. Beverley

    I kinda already do this – i mark up scriptures all the time, add notes on the edges and follow on scriptures and I keep notes in my journal, especially when God speaks. Don’t think I would draw in my scriptures though. Thank you for the print out of Matthew 6, I shall put in my journal so I can use it.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Those kinds of notes on the edges and in journals are so valuable. I should go back and re-read those more often… I’m looking forward to journaling through Matthew 6 too. Ready to begin! Glad you’re in it with us, Beverley.

      1. Beverley

        The Latter-Day Saint church provide on line scriptures that you can add tags, notes and you can even high light scriptures. I shall share on my blog at some point when I get my head around it 😉

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