Note: This post is part four of a four post series on Spiritual Relaxation. Use the links below to read the other posts:
– Eat Dessert First
– Sweet Hour of Prayer
– Adding Meditation
Growing up, I was taught about journaling. I have kept a journal on and off again throughout my life. That is until the past three or four years when I have made it a central part of my my work and my spiritual life.
Journaling, for me, has become much more than recording my daily activities and happenings. I should probably make more entries that will give future generations a better understanding of my life. My current journal will give them a view of who I was as a human being more than a few of what life was like at the beginning of the 21st century. I do not regret what my journal has become. Today, my journal is where I work through thoughts and feelings and where I record inspiration.
In regards to spiritual relaxation, my journal has become a place to help me focus on what I need talk to God about. You see, if I try to kneel for an hour to pray, i am not going to do it very often, because I will come away from the experience with aching knees and a screaming back. And frankly, I will probably lose concentration long before the 15 minute mark. But it is different using my journal.
When I want to spend a significant amount of time talking with God, I will often use my journal.
When I want to spend a significant amount of time talking with God, I will often use my journal. I love inviting God to my journalling sessions. In fact, if my intention is to pray and use my journal, which it often is, I will open my journal entry by addressing Heavenly Father in prayer. For my poor distracted brain, this allows me to focus so much better. It helps me get thoughts and feelings out and in front of myself and God so that I can talk to Him about them.
The best part is when I feel inspired to record the feelings and ideas that come to me as I pray this way. The Spirit confirms that ideas and thoughts are being given to me and I am able to feel the confirming feelings of the Holy Ghost as I write what I understand God wants me to know.
Using my journal to help me focus and pay close attention to the Spirit makes praying for 30 minutes or more easy. I get so much more out of my time in prayer this way that I look forward to more time spent sharing and receiving from God.
This practice of using my journal to help me focus my thoughts has changed my spiritual life in significant ways. It has taught me to listen much more closely for the whisperings of the Spirit. Now when I am praying without my journal nearby, I am able to wait more patiently for the Spirit’s touch on my mind and I am able to recognize it with greater confidence.
My journal is now an essential part of my spiritual toolbox.