My prayer jouranl

God never ceases to amaze me. For the longest time, I have always written my prayers - mostly in a list fashion. But in the last couple of weeks, the Lord has allowed me to read two books that have completely changed my perspective on a "prayer journal." The first began in a Christian fiction book, The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers. In the story, the main character is reading a distant relatives journal - her heartaches, concerns, her coming to Christ, etc., and throughout the story you see how the two lives parallel as well as see the hand of God in this woman's life. It got me to thinking how much I would love my kids, my grand kids, to read about MY walk with Christ - the good, the bad, and the ugly and the hand of God in it all. I want my kids to know how much I prayed for them. I want them to know that God was with me even through the tough times. I want them to know that I relied on Christ every single day. I want them to understand God's grace and mercy and to see it in my life as an example.

Once I had made a decision to begin a "real" journal, the Lord allowed me to come across another book about making my home a safe haven. And guess what?? The first chapter was on the importance of time alone with God, a devotional time, and guess again what she strongly recommended?? Writing your prayers as a letter to God...in a prayer journal!!!

I have been faithful for the past three days and put my own little twist to it. I write as if I am truly talking to God. I share my heart just as I would be talking to him. Then I open my Bible and begin reading. I as I read certain scriptures that speak to my heart, I write them in the form of a prayer asking God to make them real in my life. For instance, as I read Philippians 4 yesterday (which quite possibly may be my favorite chapter in the entire Bible - it is so chocked full of good stuff!!), I wrote, "Help me Lord to rejoice always (vs. 4);

Help me to be anxious for nothing (vs. 6);

Help me know the peace of God that surpasses all understanding (vs. 7);

Make my thoughts be of things that are noble, and pure and true, and lovely, and worthy of praise (vs. 8); help me to be content wherever You have me (vs. 11);

and help me to remember that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (vs. 13);

and that you will ALWAYS supply my needs according to Your riches in glory (vs. 19).

Those scriptures have never seemed so real to me. Thank you God for godly women who write and encourage other women like me - through fiction, Bible studies, etc. And help me to be one of those women as well!!!