I have personally struggled with being consistent in the daily practice of journaling. Journaling is the spiritual discipline of recording in a notebook, diary, or computer file the faith lessons that a believer is learning in his (or her) personal relationship with God. In my daily Bible reading this morning, I was reminded of the importance of putting into practice this discipline in my walk with the Lord. In the Biblical narrative of the Israelites preparing to enter the long awaited Promise Land, it is recorded, “At the LORD's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages …” Numbers 33:2 NIV
It appears that the Lord commanded Moses to record Israel’s progress stage by stage so that they (and we) could later look back on their journey and be reminded of God’s intervention in their lives. Through journaling and then later revisiting our journal entries, we are reminded of the Lord’s faithfulness to us in the past and it gives us hope and confidence for the future.
There are many benefits that come from journaling. One of the positive byproducts of journaling is that we can learn from past missteps and learn how to avoid them in the future. But probably the most important benefit is to be reminded of the Lord’s presence and power in our lives. An excellent article written by Kimberli J. Brackett on the blessings of journaling is found at the following web address …. www.heartlight.org/articles/200605/20060524_godthing.html.
Brackett wrote … “Journaling allows us to see the fingerprints of God all over our lives and the lives of the people he has so graciously given to us to love and to share in this journey. The power will start with writing your "God things" down, but it will grow even stronger when you go back and re-read the pages and remember. You will be amazed at how page after page of the evidence of God in your life will grow your faith! It's only as our faith grows that we can begin to bestow on our Father the honor and praise he so richly deserves. It's only as our faith grows that we can start to understand that "It's not an Odd thing; it's a God thing!"”
Let the journaling begin!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Numbers 32:1-33:56
About Me
- Roger Hendricks
- My family has lived in Springboro, Ohio for the past 14 years. Although my wife and I are both from Indiana, we (along with our three children) now consider Springboro our home. I have the privilege of serving as the Senior Minister of the Southwest Church in Springboro. During my time with the church, I have learned a lot about growing with others in a community of faith and continuing to seek God's lead and direction. Although I have much to learn, I am eager to help others seek God and to experience an authentic personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Along with my past experience of serving on various ministry staffs of churches in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, I have a Mathematics Education Degree from Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) and a Theology Degree from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis (next door to Butler University). I am excited about this web site and the potential it provides to help people seek God! (www.SeekingGodinBoro.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment