Senior Living News

You dedicate plenty of time to Bible study and journaling, but have you ever considered combining them? While it might seem like a challenging mix, journaling with the Bible can be very beneficial, and it gets easier the more you do it. Keep reading to learn more about Bible journaling and how you can add this practice to your day.

What Is Bible Journaling?

A Bible journal is the idea of studying a part of your Bible and journaling a response about it. You can use the journal to record the things that happen in your life as they relate to the Bible verses you're reading. If you're dealing with a challenging situation, you might journal about that and find related Bible passages to study and incorporate into the journal entry. This can help you process the situation and find guidance from the Bible that helps you deal with it. Some people turn Bible journaling into a creative activity by drawing responses to the passages.  

Benefits of Using Your Bible While Journaling

When you read your Bible, it's not always easy to remember the messages and apply them to your life. Journaling can help you commit the Bible stories to memory better than simply reading them. Your Bible study might be inspirational, but it might not make as much change in your life as you want. Journaling with your Bible can help you better understand what you're studying and apply it to your current situation. This makes it more relevant and helps you use the messages from the Bible to make choices in your life, which can help you feel more connected to your faith. You might also find your Bible journaling helps you with your prayers by helping you work through your situation and articulate your thoughts.

How to Journal With the Bible

Like regular journaling, recording your thoughts along with the Bible doesn't have any rules. You can use the two practices together in a way that seems natural and helpful to you. However, these ideas can help you get started.

Choosing Your Journal and Bible

If you already have a blank journal and a favorite Bible, you can use those items together. Any journal works if you want to incorporate your Bible into your journaling; you can use a regular notebook or buy a dedicated journal. You can also use a wide-margin Bible that's designed to let you make notes in the margins. Some journaling Bibles also have spaces between the lines for additional notes. This option lets you use one book where you can write your thoughts and personal experiences right next to the relevant Bible verses. You can also draw in the margins to express your thoughts or deep-dive into the messages in the verses.

Choosing Passages

If you decide to journal alongside your Bible study, you can move through the Bible in any way you want. You might follow a specific Bible study program or choose the passages that speak to you in the moment. If you want to focus more on journaling about your life, you might find Bible verses that fit your situation. Look for a Bible verse that gives you hope or discusses a similar situation.

How to Journal With Your Bible

You can take a few different approaches to how you journal with your Bible. Experimenting with different methods when you first start can help you settle into a routine that benefits you the most. Here are some ideas:

• Choose a passage. You might start with the Bible passage first as your journaling inspiration. Read the verses and reflect upon them. Then, journal your reflections about the passage. Incorporate things that have happened in your life that relate to the passage.
• Journal about your life. If you have a life event you want to journal about, you might start with that. Once you get some of the details down in your journal, search for relevant Bible verses that you can study. Write those verses in your journal and relate them back to the life events you already journaled about.
• Start with prompts. Another option is to start with journal prompts with a faith focus. This can be helpful if you don't have any major life events you want to journal about. Examples include things like your calling, what you're thankful for, areas where you need God to help you change or your values. You can then find related scriptures and include life events.

Tips for Bible Journaling

Journaling with your Bible can evolve however it makes sense to you. Here are some tips to make the process more effective:

• Have a routine. Make Bible journaling a regular part of your day to make it effective. The more you journal, the more you can soak up the word and apply it to your life. You might make journaling a part of your morning routine, for example.
• Pray. Starting with a prayer can help lead you to the right passage for that day.
• Don't be afraid. This type of journaling shouldn't be scary. Start small and experiment, but remember there's no right or wrong way to do it.
• Find inspiration. Visiting the chapel or taking a walk on the landscaped grounds of The Gardens at Barry Road might give you inspiration for your Bible journal.