LIFE Journaling

This is an article I wrote for my churches webpage. Enjoy!

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:11

Why does LFC encourage you to journal?

We believe that biblical truth taught in creative ways will change lives.

We also believe that the greatest tool you will ever possess is the ability to self-feed. Self-feeding is the time you spend with God, His word and with an open heart to dig out the treasures of the scriptures.

We want to take you beyond just being taught the Word by others and into creatively allowing the Word of God to impact your life.

Have you ever sat down to read the bible, read a chapter or two and then realized that you didn't really take any notice of what you were reading? You are not alone. Many people have a lot of trouble retaining and applying what they read in the bible.

Life Journaling, using the SOAP acronym, is a way that many people find useful. The method is simply a matter of following the letters of the word soap. You will need a bible, a pen and something to write in. Use a journal to keep your reflections together. LFC sells Life Journals at our resource table (following services for $5.00) and in our church office. But you can always get a more inexpensive spiral notebook. The reason the Life Journal is so practical is that it provides the right formatting, the bible reading for the day (in the back) and is set up for ease of use.

Let us look at how journaling can cause growth in your LIFE.

Journaling helps you to:

Listen

The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8)

Every day of our life God has lessons to teach us that we will miss if we are not listening. In order for us to know what God sounds like – we need to spend time with His ‘word to us’ – the bible. What types of things does God say? How does He speak to and through others? As you listen to His written word you begin to get a sense of how He shares His heart with others and what He sounds like. Too often we are so busy either with our lives or with telling God what we “need” that we never listen to what He has to say to us.

Inquire

If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. (Jer. 29:13)

God wants us to ask, seek, and knock on His door. If we are diligent in seeking after Him we will find Him. An interesting thing about journaling is that when you look back on the questions you asked God a week, a month, or a year ago you will often see how He answered it later and you didn’t even notice! Writing down your questions and your prayers allows you to review them later on. As we easily forget things – writing them down assists us to remember.

Faith

Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. (1st Tim 4:7)

Our faith will grow as we get to know Jesus better!

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

As journaling helps you to read and then understand the Word your faith will increase! The things we read, listen to and ponder have a great impact on our faith. Taking in a daily dose of God’s word will cause growth and increase our faith.

Experience

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
(John 13:17)

Of course we would be wasting our time if we didn’t allow the lessons from the Word, and the increased faith it brings us, to change us and our hearts. As well as changing us it will also challenge us to go out and do the things we are called to do: to love God with all of our lives and to love others, serve others and reach others.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

So what is SOAP journaling?

Scripture: Select and write a scripture from today’s reading. Open your Bible to the reading found under today's date of your Bible bookmark. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

Observation: Write a personal observation from today’s reading. What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words, in your journal.

Application: Write a description of a way to apply this to your life today. Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

Prayer: Write a little prayer. This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.