With a Thankful Heart

I am a journal~er!  I love to journal.  I have been journaling since high school.  For me, writing is a way of expressing what is in my heart; releasing any fear/anxiety/joy/etc to the Lord which frees me to receive from Him whatever He has for me.  It is a way of release and love and thankfulness and processing any issues of my heart.   

I have a movie journal; a prayer journal; a "signs of the times" journal; travel journals; life goals journal; a dream journal; a "FOCUS" journal~ vision/mission; a "coloring your prayers" journal; a prophetic words journal (I record all the prophetic words spoken over my life)...and a daily journal.   

Journaling is a way to keep my faith history with God alive!  Time moves along so quickly and I forget...I forget God's faithfulness to see me through some painful times....I forget what I prayed so long and hard for....and I forget when God answered that request....I forget what God has done in me....I forget what God has done for others...I forget what Scripture has spoken to my life...I forget what prophetic words have been spoken over my life...I forget because life doesn't stand still.  It moves in fast-forward most times.   

In journaling, those times are relived, like meeting with old friends....even the painful times, because they aren't so "close", they are great companions as I revisit them.  God's kindness, faithfulness, goodness, mercy, healing, love, gifts, peace, comfort, life~ all are seen in the pages that have been filled with color and design and tears and honesty and expectation and joy and love....I am leaving a legacy to my children and their children and their children (if the Lord tarries) that they can trace my faith history with God.  

My encouragement is to begin a daily "thankful journal".  This is a great way to start if you have not journaled before.  White space on a journal page can be daunting, so this is a way to start writing and remembering and thanking God for what He has done.  "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,"  Colossians 4:2.

Step 1:  Get a journal & a pen 

Step 2:  Write the date on the top of the page so you can keep track of your history with God

Step 3:  Write "Lord, today I'm thankful for...."

Step 4:  List at least five things daily that you are thankful for.  Try to write out different things everyday

Here is an example:  

Lord, today I am thankful for:

1) Seeing the sun shining~ I love the sun!

2) Your love Lord ~ my heart is soaring!

3) Time with my husband today~ I love being married!

4)  My home

5)  Both my girls came over to see me tonight!  I love my grown up girls.

Record your thankfulness for the weather; relationships; physical things around you; what God is doing in your life; what Scripture is speaking to your heart; etc....

Have fun journaling!!!!  

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