Page 73 - The Importance of Prayer Student Textbook

After finding the Day One app, I took about two years to type in all of the entries from the 20+ journals
of my past. The app allowed me to date the entries correctly, add pictures, and put everything in one
place. This one piece has been a game-changer for me. Also, the Day One app has a feature called “On
This Day.” Each day when I open the app, it pops up a window that allows you to see anything recorded
on that day in previous years. As a part of my morning routine, I take a few moments to read over the
entries and reflect on God’s faithfulness.

A second piece I use is a 5-year journal. I’ve only been using this journal for a year and a half, but it’s
been a beneficial piece for capturing a little something every day. This 5-year journal is not designed to
record every thought; it’s designed to record a snapshot of the day’s events. On each page, there are 5
sections for 5 years with 5 lines in each section. I’ve enjoyed being able to quickly see a little of what
God was doing on that day. It’s small and simple.

Finally, I also use lined pages in my daily planner for capturing raw thoughts or working through specific
issues with God. Let’s face it, there are some moments in life that you might not want to read about 10
years from now. But you still need to work out that moment with God. For me, I like the simplicity and
clarity that comes from handwriting my thoughts on paper. While I enjoy typing large amounts of
information in Day One, I also like the simplicity of handwritten prayers.

With this system, I’m able to go back and either retype entries from the 5-year journal or my
handwritten pages into Day One (if I want to record the moment indefinitely). If that moment was just
for the moment, I can leave it alone and refer to it if needed. Again, this is the system that works for me.
It might not work for you. Find the system that works for you.

Step 2: Find a good workflow for using your journaling system.

All the products in the world will not help if you don’t have a system to use them. Some people get
intimidated about prayer journaling because they think they must do it every day, they must write
something incredibly profound, or they don’t feel like writing is their strength. In each case, it’s about
finding a good workflow that works for you.

My 5-year thought journal is daily, but it takes about 1 minute to complete. I use the lined pages in my
daily planner about 2-3 times a week. I use those whenever I’m distracted or need to see some thoughts
written out. My Day One app is used 2-3 times a week as well. I use it when I want to really remember
what God is teaching, how God is leading, or what God did in a situation. Find a good workflow that
works for you.

Step 3: Find a good time to write out your thoughts.

I’ve found over the years that my best time for writing is in the early morning. It’s during the hours of 3
a.m. to 6 a.m. that I have the most clarity, the most silence, and the most focus. It’s during this time that
I spend time with God in prayer and the study of His Word. It’s a natural time for me to do prayer
journaling. I do 95% or more of my prayer journaling in the early morning before the demands and
distractions of the day divert my focus elsewhere. It’s good to find a time when you can be most present
in your prayer journaling.

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