Journaling

I recently started journaling again during my time with God. I used to as a teenager, but then for some reason, probably laziness, I stopped. I've been reading a blog called "Holy Experience" (it's on my blog list) and the author of the blog is a woman who has a heart for Jesus and looks for him in every day things. She did a bunch of posts not too long ago about the benefits of keeping a spiritual journal. Some of the reasons were to help us remember what God has done and is doing in our lives, to pass on a legacy to our children, to keep spiritual discipline, and I'm sure there were other reasons that I can't remember. For me, I have found that it REALLY helps me to focus on my Bible reading as God often points out different verses to me that hit me in a new way. I write the verse down and then write my thoughts about it or I write down what God is saying through the verse. Often I add prayer requests and/or praise items...it varies from day to day. Basically, it helps me to pour my heart out to God and to listen to what He has to say, instead of just quickly reading through my Bible, maybe saying a quick prayer, and then racing off to the next activity on my list as I have often been in the habit of doing. This past week, on her blog (Holy Experience), she said we don't devote time to prayer because we have made an idol out of self. Ouch! That hit me hard. Life tends to be busy, but I'm rediscovering the importance of slowing down and taking time to deepen my relationship with the Lord, instead of just going through the motions. Kiera sleeps 12 hours every night and naps 2-3 hours every afternoon, so I have no excuse that "I didn't have time." I really want to make the most of my free time and include Jesus in it. I'll leave you with a verse that challenged me this week. Romans 13:14a "Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.."