Lesson Notes

Introduction

• Brief Recap
  • Based on Don Whitney’s “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life”
  • Focused on developing spiritual habits for the purpose of godliness – growing nearer to Christ and growing more like Christ
  • 1 Timothy 4: 7-8 – “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
  • Tonight we consider a habit particularly suited for this moment in time
    • A time when we have a lot to process and need to really lean into God!
    • As always, my prayer is that the habits we develop during this time when life is “on pause” or at least “slow motion” will stick for the rest of our lives

Journaling

• Journaling blends the Bible and daily living – that’s how it helps us grow in godliness
• Throughout history many of the godliest people have kept journals
  • Augustine, Jonathan Edwards, George Muller, …
  • It certainly isn’t required, but arguably is modeled in Scripture
  • The Psalms are a kind of journal of King David and others
  • Lamentations reads like Jeremiah’s journal – his inspired reflections on the events of the day (the destruction of Jerusalem)
• Journaling can be quite helpful, particularly in unsettling times
  • Helps you process the many thoughts running around your head
• What is biblical journaling?
  • More than a simple list of activities or petty grievances – so more than a stereotypical diary
  • Your journal is where you document the works and ways of God in your life
  • Daily events, relationships, Scripture insights, prayer requests
  • Reflections and feelings
  • Devotional thoughts, theological ponderings
  • Recording progress in other spiritual habits and holding yourself accountable
• A great tool for thinking about and applying the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
  • Reflecting on God’s Word and the riches of His grace to us in Christ
  • Like every other spiritual habit – do it to become more like Jesus
  • Don’t just log stuff – there needs to be critical reflection – on Scripture and self
    • Romans 12: 3, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned
    • A means by which the Spirit shows us areas of weakness or sin, our motives, our mistakes
    • Periodically review entries when you’re able to view them more objectively – see whether you’ve made spiritual progress or regressed
  • Our biblical journal should help push us outward toward others, rather than sucking us inward into ourselves – so be careful!
• A great help with meditation (back to session 1)
  • Journalin can be powerfully helpful with meditation!
  • Write down your meditations as you reflect on what you’ve read that day and how to apply it to your life
  • Your meditations will stick with you far longer afterward
• A place to pour out your thoughts and feelings to the Lord – as we see in Psalms
  • Journaling helps develop our skill of putting our thoughts and feelings into words we lift up to God – exactly as we see modeled in the Psalms
  • By slowing us down, a journal helps us think and feel more deeply about the things of God
  • Maurice Roberts, “A spiritual diary will tend to deepen and sanctify the emotional life of a child of God. There is great value to us of becoming more deeply emotional over the great issues of our faith. Our age is not deep enough in feelings. Biblical men are depicted as weeping copious tears, as sighing and groaning, as on occasion rejoicing with ecstasy. They were ravished by the very idea of God. They had a passion for Jesus Christ – His person, offices, names, titles, words and works. It is our shame to be so cold, unfeeling and unemotional in spite of all that God has done to us and for us in Christ… The keeping of a diary might help to put us right in this respect also.”
• A place to remember God’s words
  • Psalm 77: 11-12
  • Helps maintain a heart of gratitude – use your journal to record prayers answered and blessings bestowed
  •  Spurgeon, “I have sometimes said, when I have become the prey of doubting thoughts, ‘Well, now, I dare not doubt whether there be a God, for I can look back in my Diary, and say, On such a day, in the depths of trouble, I bent my knee to God, and or ever I had risen from my knees, the answer was given me.”
• A helpful reminder of your goals and priorities and progress on spiritual habits
• Ways of Journaling
  • No specific right or wrong way – content, format, length, or frequency
    • Handwritten or electronic
    • Loose-leaf, spiral, fancy book, blog, Word or Google doc
    • A few times a week or daily
    • Can be formal or informal – flowery words or bullet points
    • Can be short of long
  • A simple starting approach
    • Write the verse or idea from your daily Bible reading that most stood out
    • Meditate on it for a few minutes, then write down thoughts and insights
    • Then write about recent events, feelings, responses, prayers, joys, successes, etc.
• Tips
  • Journaling can be fruitful no matter how well or poorly you write or how much you invest in it
  • Event a few entries a week can accomplish a great deal
  • It does require persistence when you “aren’t feeling it” – just keep at it – push through the block
  • Don’t ever worry about “getting caught up” – just show up and write something
  • You’ll need to journal before you start to experience its benefit

Concluding Thoughts

• Your journal may be the only written record that survives your life other than courthouse and  census records. It can be your testimony of faith to future generations

 

Homework

• Try journaling at least 3 times between now and Wednesday – tomorrow, Saturday or Sunday, early next week…