How To Organize Prayer Journal

Keeping a prayer journal may not be explicitly prescribed in the Bible, but it is a very beneficial practice for a believer. In essence, a prayer journal is where we record our prayers to God. Journaling our prayers is simple—all we have to do is pray and write down the prayer to record it. The purpose behind keeping a prayer journal can be found in Psalm 77:11-12. We journal our prayers so that we can remember and ponder the wondrous works of God. It also helps us appreciate the peace He gives us, which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).

Father in heaven, may I always be diligent in praying to You. Grant me the discipline to take time to journal my prayers so that I may remember and ponder Your wondrous works. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The Benefits of Keeping a Prayer Journal

A prayer journal is optional for every Christian, but it provides several benefits that may lead you to consider keeping one. Here are they:

1. It allows you to record your prayers so you can look back on them later.

“Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.” —1 Chronicles 16:12

For a multitude of reasons, we sometimes want to revisit a specific moment in the past and remember what we were praying for. This may be because we want to look back on the desires of our hearts at that time, what aspects of our prayers God has answered, and the redirection God has guided us with, among other things.

2. It allows you to ponder and see God’s faithfulness.

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” —Lamentations 3:22-23

As you record in your prayer journal the things for which you have been praying to God, you will notice a few important details. You will see His providential hand over everything that has happened and how He has been faithful all along. You’ll begin to notice that God sometimes answers prayers in the way you hoped for, while other times the answer is entirely different—and often better than anything you could have dreamed. 

3. It allows you to check your heart.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” —Proverbs 4:23

When you review your prayer journal, you will also get a glimpse of your heart from the things you have been desiring. You will see what you have been consumed by, what focuses have been unhealthy, and how God has transformed your heart.

Organizing and Keeping Your Prayer Journal

You don’t need any fancy materials to start a prayer journal; any notebook or writing medium where you can record your prayers will do. If you’d like, you can buy ready-made prayer journals designed for the specific purpose of recording your prayers. They have additional features such as a section for Bible verses, some written encouragement for the user, a planner-like feature, and so on. But, if you want to keep it simple, an ordinary notebook with enough pages to get you through many months would suffice. This section is written with that in mind.

1. Have a template for every journal entry.

Having some uniformity in the format of your prayer journal entries keeps everything organized and aesthetically pleasing. It can be helpful to decide on the template or format of your entries beforehand. Consider the following when designing your template: where you’ll put the date of the entry, what sections you’ll include, and where you’ll record any corresponding Bible verses. For example, you might choose to write out your prayer first, followed by a Bible verse and then your reflection. Don’t worry about making these rules too rigid; your template or format is not something that needs to be strictly adhered to. Of course, there is always room for flexibility.

2. Choose a good notebook for your journal.

As a practical tip, you need a good notebook to write down and organize your prayers. It does not have to be extravagant; a simple notebook that’s big enough for you to write in comfortably and that has enough pages to last you a while is what matters most. That means that while a pocket-sized notebook might seem handy, it might not be the most practical when considering the time it takes to write down your prayer entries.

3. Keep your notebook in a safe space.

Once you’ve chosen your notebook, it is a good idea to protect it from damage. You might consider putting it inside a secure pocket in your bag rather than just throwing it in where it might be smashed by other items. Be mindful not to lay it down on a table or countertop near drinks that might spill and damage it. Your prayer journal is valuable because of the important entries it contains, so it’s helpful to keep it in good shape.

Heavenly Father, give me the grace to be faithful and diligent in my prayer time with You. Help remind me to always make time to pray and write those prayers down in my journal. Open my eyes through my journal entries, and let me see how You have been good and faithful to me all the days of my life. I know Your goodness and mercy follow me wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

It can take time to fully appreciate the benefits of your prayer journal, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel a difference in the first few weeks. As you continue to journal and look back on the months and years of entries you’ve made, you will see and appreciate how God has been moving in your life. You will see that whether good or bad, God indeed works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.). A prayer journal can be a beautiful reminder of how God’s sustaining grace transforms you from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.).