journalingprayer

Journaling as Prayer

Keeping a journal is a meaningful prayer practice. Putting thoughts on paper as we pray can help us to be more reflective about what we feel and think. Journaling can open mind and heart so that we are better able to hear what God really wants of us.

Journal writing has been an honored practice throughout Judeo-Christian history. Writing about life challenges and re-visiting that writing later helps us to gain clarity in our relationships with God, ourselves, and others. Over a period of time, patterns of acting, relating, and thinking all emerge as tools for self-understanding. We begin to see evidence of God’s work in our lives, reminding us of our inner beauty and gently confronting our limitations.

Begin journaling now

Try this exercise as you start your journal:

Ask yourself these questions and respond to them:
- What has happened this week that encouraged me?
- Challenged me? Disturbed me? Delighted me?
Reflect on these experiences and write out what you want to do or pray about because of them.

Click here for help with keeping a journal.

Praying with Scripture
Reading and praying the scriptures invite us into an exploration of the Word of God.

Gardening as Prayer
There is something profound at work in gardening, perhaps, because plant life is created by God and, when we work with plants, we sense a closeness to God.

Praying the Rosary
Fingering and moving the beads can calm our spirit, help us focus, and integrate our senses of touch and sight into the experience of God.

Labyrinth Prayer
We walk the labyrinth as we pray or meditate and in the process learn to calm our minds, relax our bodies, and reduce stress by letting go of all that burdens us unnecessarily.

The Contemplative Prayer Walk
The prayer walk is a simple procession of contemplative peace.

Faith sharing Prayer of Small Church Communities
Small church communities provide the opportunity for each member to be valued, to be listened to, and to be empowered to have a voice and the courage to act on convictions.

Liturgy of the Hours, The Church’s Prayer
Liturgy of the Hours, daily office, morning and evening prayer – some of the many names for a prayer that is offered at fixed times of the day and night.

Prayer of Examen
The prayer of examen is an examination of our lives, a way of honestly assessing our lives in the light of God’s mercy. This prayer focuses our reflection on a narrow time span, perhaps the previous day or week.

Meditation as Prayer
In the Christian tradition, meditation is a method of prayer in which we spontaneously respond to God by pondering God’s activity and presence in human history and in our lives.

Centering Prayer
Centering prayer helps us come to contemplation. It seeks awareness of the presence of God by withdrawing our attention from the ordinary flow of thoughts.

Journaling as Prayer
Keeping a journal is a meaningful prayer practice. Putting thoughts on paper as we pray can help us to be more reflective about what we feel and think.

Praying with Icons
Oftentimes in prayer, our imaginations can race in a distracted manner. Icons can help us to overcome distraction. They invite us to focus on an image of the holy that points the way to God.