3 Easy Steps to Starting Your Bible Journal

Writing or drawing in your Bible journal for at least ten minutes a day helps you hear God when He speaks.

Our world is incredibly noisy. Finding even ten minutes of quiet time is difficult with the constant dings from our cell phones and opportunities to binge watch the latest TV show or endlessly scroll through social media.

But our Christian faith depends on quiet reflection time. Psalm 1:2 says, “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

Bible journaling, or Christian journaling, is a way to meditate on God’s word during church services, Bible studies, Sunday school, and even prayer. Here are three easy steps to starting your Bible journal. 

Find the Right Journal

People might see journaling as something that isn’t “for them.” But journals are for people to reflect on God’s word in a way that feels comfortable, whether they prefer drawing or freewriting.

To find the right journal for you, consider your needs. Are you taking your journal to church to take notes during the sermon? Are you copying scripture to understand the Word of God?

Answering these questions helps you select the style of journal that fits your needs. There are journals that are completely blank, have scripture on one side and a blank page on the other, or have coloring pages for both children and adults. If you have more than one need, then it’s OK to own several journals.

Use Your Bible Journal for Self Care

Busy people often put their personal needs last. After work, childcare, or chores, people think that there isn’t time left for exercise, hobbies, or even their spirituality.

But Ephesians 6:18 tells us that we should be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” In other words, our time with God is non-negotiable for our Christian faith.

Bible journals are also important for our mental health, so we should treat writing as an act of self care. A good practice is to begin your morning with just ten minutes of journaling because you can clear any negative, distracting thoughts.

Making journaling a daily self-care practice ensures that, when God speaks to us, there’s quiet reflection time to hear Him.

Journal with Friends and Family

People might see journaling as a solitary act, but finding a community of writing helps to maintain a daily practice. Your community (or communities) can include a men’s Bible study, a Sunday school class, or a friend group.

Think about ways to get creative with your Bible journal. Maybe you ask your family to write or draw in their bible journal in the morning, and then your family discusses their reflections at the dinner table.

“Iron sharpens iron” when we discuss our reflections with friends and family (Proverbs 27:17). God speaks to us during quiet prayer and reflection, but we need a community to share His wisdom.

People face barriers to journaling if they think that the practice isn’t for everyone or they just can’t seem to find the time after completing long to-do lists. But starting a Bible journal is as easy as finding one that fits your needs, blocking off at least ten minutes a day for self care and reflection, and using friends and family to maintain the practice.

When people discover that Bible journals help silence our noisy world to hear the voice of God, they often wish that they had started sooner.