The Discipline of Journaling Part #1

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

In preparation for a speaking assignment, I begin to think about the discipline of journaling. For most of my early years, I was not a very disciplined person. I wasted my high school years as I was always a terrible student. Today I would have probably been diagnosed with ADD.

The two areas where I was disciplined was music and reading. In third grade, Mrs. Torpin challenged me to study the violin and the read, read, read. That created in me a love for books.

The second church I served as Director of Music, our Pastor gave us the challenge to read a chapter from Proverbs every day for one year. Some 40 years later, I still practice that discipline.

When I went to Sandy Cove to serve at Vice-President of Ministries, I was challenged my first year to become “disciplined” having a daily quiet time. I heard a message by Dr. Ron Blue about putting my quiet time on my daily calendar as if it were an appointment. That was the beginning of developing the discipline of spending time daily with the Lord.

Several years later, Fred and Florence Littauer were presenting a workshop on developing our spiritual gifts, and they challenged us to develop the discipline of journaling. Their daily practice was to read through Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, and then to journal what God was teaching them through the Scripture of the day and from Chambers devotional.

For whatever reason, that discipline resonated with me, and over the past 48 years, I have been journaling on a regular basis. It is a discipline that has been practiced over the years by great men and women of the faith and one that I would like to recommend to you for your consideration.

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord. Psalm 102:18

And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. Isaiah 30:8 (ESV)

So, go now and write all this down. Put it in a book So that the record will be there to instruct the coming generations … Isaiah 30:8 (The Message)

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. Jeremiah 30:2

Dr. David Jeremiah gave some practical reasons why we should journal. I have borrowed some of his points and added a couple of my own:

1. Journaling helps us to remember God’s work in our lives. The older I get, the more disciplined I need to be in remembering. I don’t think it is just my age. If we are honest, we tend to remember what we should forget and forget when we should remember.

 

Dr. Henry Blackaby, in his epic work, Experiencing God, shares the principle that God is always at work around us, and He invites us to be a part of that work.

It is an exciting part of journaling for you and me to record the ways that we see God working in our lives. Somedays, I may only have one thing to write about. Other days there could be two or three ways that I have seen God act work. You will be amazed at the “God sitings” if you are willing to look for them.

 

“Many people think God has not blessed them with much until they move it all to a new address.” – Don Whitney

“Count your blessing name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

2. Journaling helps us to track our progress. When I go back and reread my journals from five years ago, I am amazed at the growth I have experienced in my life. You begin to see how God is modeling, shaping, transforming, and conforming you to His image.

More next week.

Set apart for more,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

---

Think About This: “Oh that I could spend every moment of my life to God’s glory.” ―from the journal of missionary, David Brainerd

The Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 26-27, Numbers 1-3 | You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: ⁴ Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah ⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord.   -Psalm 4:4-5

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.