For quite awhile now, I’ve wanted to do a prayer journal. Specifically, a prayer warrior journal. What’s the difference? Well, I think the prayer warriors of the world are often the most quiet. They aren’t out there fighting with loud words and swords. They are quietly reflecting on God’s word and earnestly praying for strangers, friends, family, and the world.
I’ve wanted to be a prayer warrior, too. I’ve wanted to be someone that, when they needed prayers, thought of me because they knew they could count on me to pray as I said I would.
I think being a prayer warrior, like any type of warrior in life, takes time and mindful practice. It doesn’t happen just because you declare it, it happens because other people notice the change God has sparked in you.
I’m excited that I can finally celebrate my new prayer warrior journal. There are a lot of ways to use this journal, and one of them to write down your prayers. I’ve always thought writing things down was a good way to pay closer attention to them. With my prayer life, writing things down has helped me in many ways, too.
What Kind of Prayers Are You Saying?
My prayer journal allows me to look back and see what types of things I’ve requested from God. This is important. I might think I’m being grateful and focusing on the blessings, but when I look back over the things I’ve written and see more lamenting than gratefulness, it reminds me to re-focus.
Reading through my prayers also shows me where my focus has been. Have I been thinking about one thing too much and neglecting other things? Do I pray enough for other people, for our country, or for my place of business?
You Focus Less on You
What do you feel when you see your prayer journal filled with requests for your own life and not so many for others? Yeah, me too. Even when we think we’re being generous with our time and prayer, we can see very quickly how fast our own egos come into our time with the Lord.
I’m Reminded of the Answers I’ve Received
Sometimes we pray for something, receive our answer (and blessing) and then go on to the next prayer request. Writing down your thoughts will allow you to pause and reflect on the answers God gives us. We are then able to be see God’s work in our lives when we might have missed it before.
Renewed Focus on Your Purpose
Life can seem all too random and busy most days, but with a prayer journal you’ll be focusing on the things you noticed that day, areas where you were able to help or where you felt fulfilled. This exercise helps you realize that you are here for a reason. It gives you a renewed focus to your purpose, and helps you become mindful of the words you speak and actions you take.
Keeping It Real
Let’s face it, it is one thing to pray in our head and another to take our thoughts and write them down. We are most apt to be honest with our words when they are written down, and our real thoughts are exactly what God wants! We can’t fake it with him. Writing down our thoughts is like whispering a cherished secret to God, one that we desperately want Him to hear.
Don’t Give Up
What kind of attitude do you have when you pray? In 1 John 5:14 it says “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
When you pray, do so confidentially. Ask God to show you his will for you, and don’t be timid in your prayers! God allowed us to have access to Him any time we want through prayer, which is an amazing blessing that we should boldly celebrate.
Listening to God
We often think of prayer as us asking God for things, but an equally (and perhaps, more important) element of prayer is listening. Writing down your thoughts will help you quiet your surroundings and your mind so you can hear what God is trying to say to you.
I hope you’ll check out the Prayer Warrior Journal I created and I hope it helps you draw closer to God and enhances your prayer life.
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