Cultivating the Heart: Journaling
I have spoken a lot about the discipline of journaling in my preaching and teaching for years. I speak about it a lot because I believe in its power a lot. Yes, something as simple as a pen and paper can be divine. They can be miraculous. How? Well, so much of our days are spent reacting. Our thoughts are often jumbled up on the floor of our minds.
The discipline of journaling forces us to pick up the clothes on the floor. And to decide whether the clothes need to be washed, thrown out, or folded and put in their proper place. Failure to do this causes a lot of anxiety and worry and fear and recklessness. That’s right. When we fail to reckon with our thoughts and consider whether they are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praise-worthy (Philippians 4.8)…when we fail to do this, then we let thoughts that are counter-productive and even destructive remain in our minds. And by remaining in our minds, they shape our hearts. They form our habits.
If you’re constantly thinking negative thoughts, you are forming a path. And before you know it, your path has become a rut. And over time you will be so entrenched in thinking that is not directed by faith that you won’t be able to see over the edge of that trench.
Journaling quite frankly slows us down to observe and to consider our thoughts. Journaling forces us to engage thoughtfully in the happenings in the world.
When I struggle with irritation or anxiety, it’s due to not taking my thoughts captive to the lordship of Christ (2Corinthians 10.5). Journaling forces me to consider whether my thinking is directed by truth and Christ’s way of being.
How? Well, have you ever been in an argument with someone and one of you gets the bright idea of asking: “Why are we even fighting???” Once you answer the question and make explicit why you’re fighting, you quickly realize that it was not worth the anger. When I am depressed, I ask myself: “Why are you downcast o my soul?” And when I take the time to really consider the question, and make explicit what is assumed, then I begin to taste freedom.
I would encourage you to buy a notebook and begin writing down all your thoughts. If you need help, here are some questions to answer with pen and paper:
How do you feel right now? Listless? Numb? Fearful? Angry? Worried? Excited? Peaceful? Joyful?
How have you spent your free time the last two days?
Could any of those activities be linked with the feelings you listed?
What areas of sin are you glossing over or trying not to address or trying to hide?
Why?
Who is one person you could reach out to so ask how they are doing? How you could pray for them?
Another way of journaling can be a method I learned from Ray Cordeiro’s book, Divine Mentor. It’s a helpful method called the S.O.A.P method and it is my go-to when I open my Bible to hear from God.
It’s an acronym that directs your engagement with Scripture and is very simple to apply today:
S(cripture): List out the Scripture passage you’re engaging with
O(bserve): What do you observe about the passage—people, ideas? Pick one of the characters and consider how they might be feeling?
A(pply): Imagine yourself in the place you’re reading about. You’re hearing the words. You’re on the banks of the sea. How do these words make you feel? What are they calling you to do in your following after God?
P(ray): Write out a 1-2 sentence prayer asking God to help you apply what he has shown you in his Word. Of course, you can spend more time in prayer, but writing it down helps clarify your thoughts and the call of obedience.