How a Journal Can Make Your Prayers More Powerful
Are your prayers intentional and focused?
My brain functions like a pinball machine.
For those who don’t remember, pinball machines are arcade games where a plunger is used to shoot a steel ball onto a slanted field filled with obstacles. The goal … to earn points by keeping the ball in play as long as possible.
Back to my brain.
Too often, it seems like my thoughts are fighting through a field of obstacles that distract me. I do my best to keep a specific idea in play as long as possible, but it’s not easy.
I’m a good student and a great listener when I plan and eliminate my distractors. So, when I really want to pay attention, I grab paper and pen, limit the noise to quiet instrumental music, and I write!
Maybe you can relate. Life is loud and fast. We all have dozens of thoughts and ideas bouncing around in our heads.
Focusing takes intentional effort and discipline, and this is especially true during times of prayer.
I can have the best intentions to spend time talking with the Lord, but when I pray for Ann, I start thinking about Bobby or something that happened last week, last month, or years ago. Suddenly, I realize I haven’t prayed at all for ten minutes.
So, I’ve made a list of things that are helping me stay focused … things I believe can help make your prayers and mine more powerful.
A Journal Can Make Your Prayers More Powerful
Let’s start…
♥ Grab a Notebook and Pen
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I use a simple spiral notebook, write the date at the top of the page, and pour my heart out to the Father. I often follow a pattern of Praise. Repentance. Ask. Yield.
And add any verses and quotes I want to remember.
I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.
Psalm 119:15 (ESV)
♥ Prepare Your Heart
I used to start my prayer time as soon as I got out of bed, but I couldn’t keep my mind from wandering and worrying about the day ahead. Now I prepare my heart by listening to quiet praise music and reading the Word first. I ask the Spirit to fill me and help me reject distractions and “be still.”
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
James 4:8
♥ Praise and Thank God
I try to begin my prayers, praising and thanking God for who He is and all He does. I want to pay attention and appreciate the countless ways He blesses me every day.
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Colossians 4:2
♥ Repent and Forgive with a Humble Heart
I continue by asking God to forgive me and help me forgive others. This is never easy. I’d rather make excuses and explanations. But it’s vital. When you and I stop to recognize our sins and God’s forgiveness, His gracious love humbles us and gives us peace.
And I need that to help me forgive the people who hurt me.
Forgive [me my] sins, as [I] have forgiven those who sin against us.
Matthew 6:12 (AMP)
♥ Ask God to Provide
This is where I stop and pour my heart out. I talk with God about my needs and the needs of others. Joys and struggles. Hopes and dreams. And all the things we worry about. I give it all to Him, asking Him to help and provide, and to give us His peace and strength.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
Philippians 4:6
♥ Surrender to the God of Possibilities
I close my written prayer time, surrendering myself and my prayers to God, trusting that He is able. I believe He will change my circumstances, or He will change me.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Mark 10:27
Mark 10:27
Finally, before I close my journal, I remember that…
“Prayer is not a monologue, but a dialogue; God’s voice is its most essential part. Listening to God’s voice is the secret of the assurance that He will listen to mine.” ~ Andrew Murray
I sit quietly and invite the Spirit to speak into my heart.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to Make Your Prayers More Powerful
Father, thank you for inviting us to come to You with open hearts, prayerfully asking for Your forgiveness and help. You are so generous and compassionate. You know our needs before we even ask, but You encourage us to pray so that we might be mindful of Your provision and intervention in our lives.
Like Paul, I want to follow Your will perfectly, but I don’t. I need Your merciful forgiveness every day. And I need Your help to graciously forgive those who, like me, are selfish sinners at times. Please wash me clean once more and give me the humility I need to let go of anger and resentment focused on others.
Your Word tells us to pray about everything and never stop. What an incredible blessing! You are loving, caring, and able to provide for every need.
So, once again, I bring my humble, repentant heart to You. Please guide me with Your will and give me everything I need to trust and obey. I pray it all in the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus. Amen.
So grab your journal and a pen and…
Remember – your Father loves you. He hears and answers every prayer.
If you’re like me, you never come away feeling like your prayers are powerful. But I am confident that God, who is all-powerful, promises to receive and respond to every prayer lifted to Him from a humble heart.
May the Lord bless you and make your prayers more powerful as He works in and around you through His grace, mercy, and love.
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Amen
I, too, am often guilty of having a pin-ball thought process, Deb. Keeping a prayer journal is a fantastic suggestion that can help all of us to focus completely upon our loving Father. Thank you and blessings!
I’m so glad it blessed you, Martha! Thanks for letting me know! Blessings and BIG HUGS!
Absolutely a large AMEN! Staying focused is a thing I have much trouble doing. My sweet spouse says that my brain is always in full mode! I guess I have a pinball brain too, that being the case!! Thank you so much for all of the suggestions and the verses. I will pick up my notebook and pen and get going with this.
Thank you too for your honesty and your humbleness. It is good to know I am not alone in all of this “busy brain” stuff.
I pray that you have a very blessed week, stay safe and well.
Friendship is a wonderful gift. I am very grateful for yours!!
It’s reassuring to know we’re not alone, isn’t it, Sue? I like that you call is “busy brain.” That’s perfect. I pray that journaling helps and blesses you. Thanks so much for your faithful words of encouragement. You are a true blessing, my friend!
I love this, Deb! I’ve been journaling my prayers more often again, and I’m seeing this in my prayer life, too!
Thanks, Stacey. I’m so glad it encouraged you. Blessings to you, my sweet friend!
I love journaling prayers to God. I even sometimes reverse and listen to what I think He is saying to me.
I do the same, Maree. Going back and rereading prayers and the things the Lord has spoken in the past is especially helpful on difficult days. He is so good and keeps His promise to never leave or forsake us. God’s blessings, dear friend!
When I prayed, my mind jumped around from one child (or grandchild) to the other just like yours did. I remember Oswald Chambers addressing this in one of his devotionals. It does help to write my thoughts and prayers down so I can keep my focus. My word this year is STILL and your beautiful post really spoke to me. Thank you, sweet sister. 💕
Thank you, Donna! I love your word for the year. It’s hard to be still but oh, how those Lord blesses those quiet moments we spend with Him. He is so gracious and good! Praying your week is filled with blessings!