For a friend I am re-sharing this:
Prayer Journal
This will work with any size
notebook. A notebook that pages can be
added to is a big plus as some sections fill up faster than others. Using dividers label the sections as
follows.
Daily
This is a place to write down daily thoughts and daily
prayer request.
Monday-Family, sub tabs for each
person in your family, don’t forget one for yourself.
For large families you
might split this up. In this divider you
put a section for each person, you pray
for each one of them. Their needs, your
dreams for them. In a large family consider tuck 2-3 into each days prayer time instead of
trying to give serious attention to each member on Monday if praying for all of
them on Monday is overwhelming or one week pray from the top of the list to the
bottom then the next week from the bottom of the list to the top.
Tuesday-Friends
Here is a special
place to lift up those that we love and have the privilege to call friend.
Wednesday-Finance
We all need prayers
for better financial management and stewardship.
Thursday-Health
A special place to
pray for our health and the health of those we care about.
Friday-Personal
This day is to cry
out to the Lord. Seek Him on a personal
level.
Sat-Our Nation
Our nation needs our
prayer. Set aside Saturday to pray for
everything from elected officials to our military.
Sunday-Church Family
Jot down the prayer
request from Church to pray over during the week. Pray for those you know need extra lifting
up. Pray for pastors, staff who ever God
leads you to pray for. You might take your journal to Church to note prayer
request.
Answered Prayers
This is a section to
record when prayers are answered.
Daily Gratitude
Write 5 things
that you are grateful for that day. You can do this right before bed or in the
evening sometime. These don’t have to be big earth shattering revelations, as
most things you are grateful for are not. These entries are what matter to you and what you are grateful for. This is a very personal venture. The only 2 rules with the gratitude journal
are:
Everything in it must be positive and;
You can only list something you’re grateful for once – no repeating
entries. Remember that you may want to read over your journal
entries in the future. This can be a great pick-me-up when you're feeling stressed
or depressed.
Remember that you may want to read over your journal entries in
the future. This can be a great pick-me-up when you're feeling stressed or
depressed
Journal
Here's
How:
1. Decide
on a Journal
You may want to maintain your journal online, or in paper form. When deciding
which route to take in selecting a journal, think about whether you'd rather
type or print, where you'd like to do the bulk of your writing, and whether
privacy is an issue that may affect your decision.
More tips on selecting a journal
2. Decide
On A Framework
You can write long, descriptive paragraphs about what you appreciate in your
daily life, or your gratitude journal can consist entirely of lists. You can
write about a preset number of items per entry (10 per day, for example). Or,
you can just resolve to write about whatever seems right for a particular day.
The main idea is to get yourself into a place of reflection and gratitude. Do
what works best for you.
3. Commit
To A Schedule
An important aspect of the long-term success of your gratitude journal is the
frequency with which you use it. It's usually best to aim for once a day in the
beginning, or several times per week, but allow yourself some wiggle room if
things get busy. You want to make a commitment that will keep you inspired to
write, even if you aren't always in the mood, because this exercise can help change
your mood). Just don't allow that to be so rigid that you'll be tempted to give
up the whole plan if you slip up once or twice.
4. Just
Keep Writing
Many people find that their whole attitude changes once they've been keeping a prayer
journal for a while; they tend to notice things throughout the day that they
may want to include in the journal -- things they wouldn't have otherwise
noticed. To maintain a more optimistic attitude, be sure to write regularly. If
you find yourself skipping days with increasing frequency, gently remind
yourself why you're maintaining the journal in the first place, and be grateful
that you are able to get back into the habit of writing again anytime you want.
Enjoy!
Remember that all gratitude doesn't need to be saved for the
journal. Tell the people in your life how much you appreciate them. From people
in your family to sales clerks and postal employees you encounter in your day,
everyone likes to know that they're appreciated. And their positive reactions
can help put you in a positive mood, too.
Quick Tips on Selecting
a Journal
The type of journal you use if a reflection of your personality,
and can affect your process. Here are some journaling options:
Beautiful
Books:
Some people do well buying the most beautiful blank book they
can find, which inspires them to fill it with beautiful things, and have a nice
keepsake to boot. However, some people find that a beautiful book puts on too
much pressure; they don’t write as freely or as deeply because perfectionism
takes over and they become afraid to make ‘mistakes’, focusing more on grammar
and penmanship than content, and end up unable to put anything on paper.
Plain
Books:
A plain notebook or cheap-looking blank book can ‘give
permission’ to fill its pages with bad drawings, scrawled rants, and other
forms of expression that can be cathartic. Also, a more mundane-looking book
can be left in plain view or taken with you to the office or a coffee shop, and
it won’t scream “Hey, I’m a diary! Read me!”
· The Computer: The computer is another
great option for recording your thoughts. For one thing, many people find that
they can type faster than they can write. Also, some may find it distracting to
worry about penmanship, and typing at a keyboard ensures that their entries
will be easily readable. There’s the added benefit of never needing to buy or
store new journals.
Pens:
Some people really enjoy the act of writing with a pen, and like
to see how their handwriting reflects their moods and internal world. If you’re
one of these people, you may want to invest in a really nice pen that writes
smoothly and beautifully. Think about if you prefer a fine or medium tip, a
ball-point or other kind of pen. You can even experiment with different colors.
Very creative types even like to include pictures in their journals.
There
are many options for creating your journal. Think about what’s important to
you, and what will make you most comfortable.
