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Do you have your notebook all ready but the blank pages are just kind of staring at you?

Have you considered starting a prayer journal, but don’t know where to start?

No worries! I’ll help you jump start that journal and it will be fun and therapeutic. And the good news is (besides the Gospel, of course) that there are many Benefits of Prayer Journaling (including stress relief and overall better health)!

A little bit of background:

I started prayer journaling my my 20’s.  My boyfriend at the time had mentioned that when he was going through depression, his counselor suggested journaling to help him cope.  Around the same time, I was teaching 7th and 8th graders and as a part of our morning routine, I had the students write in a journal.  Each morning while I was taking attendance and doing necessary paper work, I would have a prompt on the chalkboard.  The students would write in their journal for about 10 minutes.  Sometimes the prompt would simply state, “write a letter to Jesus”, other times it might suggest writing out a traditional prayer, other times it might ask them to write ten things they feel grateful for.

These “events” led me to start my own prayer journal.

(*If you are more interested in Why I Prayer Journal, you can read more about that here: (and see some of my first journal entries!)

My idea of a prayer journal is a place where I can not only share my thoughts with Jesus, but also celebrate my faith in a creative way.

If you paged through my personal prayer journal you would see many letters that simply start, Dear Jesus or Dear Eternal Father; prayer cards pasted with novena prayers copied in my own handwriting, colored pages, newspaper clippings or other clippings pasted that discuss Scripture or have the lyrics to a song that have helped my personal faith and my relationship with Our Lord.

My prayer journaling is not based on any lessons I have learned academically – it’s a place where I believe my prayer is more focused and fruitful.

If you are looking for a more intellectual, academic explanation of prayer journaling, check out this video produced by Blessed is She: Prayer Journaling Workshop

How to start a prayer journal:

Step 1: Preparing to Prayer Journal

Have fun with picking out your supplies!!!!

This part can be so fun and will truly help you get excited about starting a prayer journal!

Pick out a notebook or journal that you will enjoy writing in, pens that feel smooth when you write and inspirational products from Open Journey

Although DaySpring has their supplies marketed towards “Bible Journalers” many of their supplies are truly inspirational for a prayer journaler as well.My favorite journaling supplies are:

• An old-fashioned marble styled notebook – yep, that is what I use!*
• Prayer cards/holy cards
• Stickers!  I love stickers so much I wrote a whole post about them (Catholic Sticker Heaven: Your Ultimate Guide to Cool Catholic Stickers) – and here’s a secret I have to share with you – the Dollar Tree has some great stickers too!
• Pens that write smooth/ and colored ones too!  DaySpring has this fun pack: Journal It – Pen Pack (it is normally $20 and last I checked it is on sale for $8!)
• Colored pencils, markers and yes, even crayons.

Truthfully, I’m a “wanna be artist”.  Prayer journaling allows me a creative outlet.  I like to color.  I imagine I would enjoy scrapbooking if I felt I had the time, and I do enjoy writing.  I do all of this in my prayer journal.  I can’t sew, I’m horrible at drawing and I have no business picking up a paint brush – so for me, this is a way I joyfully spend time with the Lord.  Since I pretty much don’t know how to relax – this is as close to I get to obey His command to “be still”.

*If you would rather have a journal that is more guided, check out these: 10 Best Journals for Busy Women

Step 2: Dedicate your Prayer Journal to Jesus

Now, about that first page.

If those blank pages are intimidating, or you just have no idea where to begin . . . FEAR NOT!

I always put a picture of Jesus on the first page.  My favorite image is of Jesus as the Good Shepherd; but I also use what’s available.  Someone left a ton of Divine Mercy Prayer cards in the back of our church, so I give those out when I do prayer journaling workshops.

I love putting an image of Our Lord on the first page.  It sets the tone and says, “Jesus, all of this is for you”.

If you have a holy card you just love, or a special devotion to Our Blessed Mother, you could do a variation of this idea.  Another fun way to begin is to create a collage of holy cards on the first page

or

write out the sign of the cross . . . then turn the page and begin.

Step 3: Pour your heart out to Jesus, and remember to thank him for being your best friend.

So you did something with your first page and you might be wondering . . . now what?

Write a letter to Jesus and pour out your heart.  Tell him what keeps you up at night.  Tell him what you are truly grateful for.  Tell him why you are starting to prayer journal.  Ask him the questions you have about your life and your relationships.  Ask him for guidance and peace. (You can take a peak at my first prayer journal entries here: Why Prayer Journal?

Remember that Jesus is your best friend.  The way I spend time with him and my friends may look different than the way you do.  Your journey in this book will simply be where your heart and pen (or colored pencils) lead you.

If you are curious about how I pray using a journal, take a peek here:

8 Ways to Pray Using a Journal

I recently started a new journal and I know one entry is the novena prayer to Saint Joseph and another page I just had some fun coloring and then over my rainbow stripes I placed a holy card on the center and used start stickers to fasten it there. For me it’s a creative outlet, a way to silence my thoughts and hopefully in doing so, hearing God’s voice.

If you would like some printable prompts – you can get several by subscribing to my email list!  I wrote 40 prompts for Lent and created a chart for you to use – but honestly, it’s totally okay to use these ideas even if it isn’t Lent! Get your copies right away!

And lastly, if you are wondering when you might have time to journal – I wrote about that too.

When do real women find time to journal

And if you want me to come and lead a prayer journal workshop, let’s chat!

Email me at prayerwinechocolate@gmail.com and let’s see if we can set a date!

If you’d like to host your own workshop, or “sip and script” prayer journal gathering, here’s a guide:

How to Host a ‘Sip and Script’ party: Prayer Journaling with Friends

Get your tween or teen started with prayer journaling early with the Be Yourself Journal!

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