Journaling
Why journal? What good does it do? How do I know I am hearing from God? Some of the questions people ask about journaling. Journaling is an interesting exercise. It is really more than an exercise, it is an art, more than an art it is effective and there is lots of healing in it. It took me several tries to journal. I would read books on it and make an effort to do it but it never was very long lasting. I finally read three books in a row that really impacted me and lead me to the technique if you could call it that. One of the books was by Paul Norcross on “the Secret Place of God” which finally convinced me of its validation. There are a couple of key scriptures which can lead you into journaling and it is not just for women, David in the Psalms was a great journalist as all of the Psalms is David journaling to the Lord and hearing back the answer.
Psalm 45:1 “My heart overflows with a good theme, I address my verses to the King. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” What happens when you write with your right hand if you are right handed, your left side of your brain or skill side is activated and your right side of your brain or creative side is open to listen. A mistake most people make is they go before the presence of God, with pen in hand and they say God speak your servant is listening. Not a bad idea but that doesn’t seem to work for most people. Mark Virkler talks about tuning to the flow and I had some difficulty with this until I related to the flow of living water or water and a pump that brings up water. It’s like priming a pump so the water starts flowing. In the natural the way you prime a pump is to pour water into the spout of the pump and then the water starts to flow.
Matthew 11:28 “ Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” So you are writing this out, slowly and nicely, to the end of the scripture and at the same time you are listening and then following with a thought. Don’t analyze just stay with the flow. So if you don’t get a response you go to the next pump primer. Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” So you are using the word to drop you into the kingdom of God. For the Kingdom of God is within you, in your inner room or your secret place.
This takes some practice and some resolve. You can become discouraged when the words don’t start flowing as quickly as you want. But keep with it and you will see results. It is cheaper than your therapist and is actually better because you are tapping into the true Counselor who is the King of Kings. Below is an example of journaling from a morning spent with the Lord. I purchase the small composition books from Fred Meyer for 1.00 apiece and find them very valuable as it is a written record of what I am doing. As soon as you can, introduce your name into the journaling. I.e., “Come away by yourselves” Mark 6:31 “ to a secluded place and rest a while. They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.” So you insert your name here – this is God’s word and He is speaking to you and calling you by name. Come away David (or insert your name) with me by yourself to a secluded place and rest a while. So I am going away in the boat to a secluded place. Selah. Which by the way means, pause, or your turn to speak, Lord.
So, most mornings I will start with “Good Morning Lord”. This is addressing my verses to the King. So if I am journaling to the Holy Spirit I address Him as the Third Person of the Trinity. If I am addressing the Father I will address the Father as the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ. If it is Jesus I address Him as Jesus the Son of God, The Son of Jesse, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So on this morning I am addressing my verses to the Holy Spirit of God.
Good morning Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity, Breath of Heaven, fragrance of the Living God the sweet smell and sweet aroma of Christ. The Holy One of Israel the flame and fire of the Living God. The God of my presence the Blessed one. The One who hovers and broods. Yes the Brooding One who settles. The Dew of Heaven and the dew of the morning. Freshness of the day, sunshine after the rain, The First Light of the morning, The day break, even the Morning Star. Breath of life and Living God. Active God, the God of my presence.
Now I am addressing Jesus. Good Morning Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, Root and offspring of Jesse. Fairest of 10,000, ruddy and dazzling like a wild apple tree in the middle of a forest. Whose head is like pure gold and has hair like as black as a raven. Whose mouth is altogether lovely. Who is like you? You have no equal. None compares to you, you are mighty in power working wonders, and majestic in holiness.
Now I go to the Father of our lord Jesus Christ, the ancient of Days, The King of Glory, the Ruler of all.
The Great and awesome God, The Alpha and Omega, The Father of lights in who there is no turning of shadows. To thee Lord I come. To thee I come, I will bless the Lord who has counseled me the One who instructs me in the night seasons. (So I am off and flowing with the words, not analyzing, but keeping scriptures flowing and looking for direction and change in thought.) Your will be surprised where you end up. Every day will be different. Try it out.