Faith and prayer

40 Prayer Journal Prompts

These prayer journal prompts are for anyone who prays with a pen in hand. Maybe you have kept a prayer notebook for years, or maybe you are just starting to write your prayers down. You might be praying alone at the kitchen table, in a parked car or with a small group on a weeknight.

Writing a prayer slows it down. It can help you notice what you are truly thankful for, say what you are sorry for, and name the people and needs on your heart. Over weeks and months, your pages become a record you can look back on, where you may see how your prayers, and you, have changed.

Come to these prompts as you are. There is no right way to sound and no need for polished words. Write plainly, write honestly, and leave room for silence. These pages hold your side of the conversation. What you notice in the quiet is yours to keep with patience and humility.

All 40 prompts

Each prompt is marked quick (2 to 5 minutes), reflective (about 10 minutes) or deep (20 minutes or more).

  1. How would you describe your prayer life this week in three words? quick

  2. Name one person who came to mind today and write a short prayer for them. quick

  3. What is one small worry you can write down and bring to God in prayer before your day begins? quick

  4. Write a prayer for the next hour of your day, whatever it holds. quick

  5. What moment from today are you most thankful for, and how would you say thank you for it in a single line? quick

  6. What ordinary thing went well today that you can thank God for, like a meal that tasted good or a bus that came on time? quick

  7. Write three short prayers that begin with "Thank you," "I'm sorry" and "Please," finishing each one in your own words. quick

  8. Where are you as you pray today, and what do you notice around you before you begin? quick

  9. What is one need in your neighborhood or town that you could pray about this week? quick

  10. Write a one-line prayer you could repeat while waiting in line or washing dishes. quick

  11. Who has prayed for you at some point in your life, and what would you like to thank God for about them? quick

  12. What do you want to ask God for today, said plainly and without dressing it up? quick

  13. Think of a request you wrote down some time ago. What has happened since then, and what do you notice as you look back? reflective

  14. Write a prayer for someone you find hard to love right now, asking only for their good. reflective

  15. Which comes more easily to you in prayer, giving thanks or making requests, and why do you think that is? reflective

  16. Sit in silence for three minutes before you write. What thoughts, memories or feelings came up while you were quiet? reflective

  17. Write a prayer for someone close to you who is carrying something heavy, naming the details you know. reflective

  18. What would you like to confess today, and what might it be like to write it out honestly? reflective

  19. When do you find it easiest to pray, and what about that time or place helps you? reflective

  20. Write a prayer for your work, your studies or the main tasks that fill your days. reflective

  21. What is a prayer you used to pray often but have stopped praying, and why did you stop? reflective

  22. Write a prayer for someone in the world you will never meet but whose story has stayed with you. reflective

  23. How do you usually pray: sitting, walking, kneeling, driving? What does that habit say about how you come to God? reflective

  24. Write a prayer for the people you live with or live closest to, naming each one. reflective

  25. What were you praying about a year ago, and how have your prayers changed since then? reflective

  26. Write a prayer of thanks for something difficult that also brought something good into your life. reflective

  27. Write a prayer of confession without hurrying, then write what you hope for as you set that weight down. deep

  28. What have you prayed for over a long time without seeing the answer you hoped for? Write honestly about how the waiting has felt. deep

  29. Read back through older journal pages. Where do you notice care, change or provision that you missed at the time? deep

  30. Write a letter to God about a fear you have not said out loud to anyone. deep

  31. Look at what you have been asking God for lately. What do those requests show you about what you love most? deep

  32. Write about a season when prayer felt dry or empty. What kept you coming back, or what made you step away? deep

  33. Write a prayer for the person you were ten years ago, holding that younger you with kindness. deep

  34. If you listed everyone you pray for regularly, who would be missing, and why might that be? deep

  35. Write a prayer about a relationship that needs mending, including an honest look at your own part in it. deep

  36. What does listening in prayer look like for you, and how do you hold what you notice with humility and patience? deep

  37. Write a prayer of surrender about something you have been trying hard to control. deep

  38. Write a prayer for the years ahead, naming the hopes you hold easily and the ones you are afraid to name. deep

  39. Write the prayer you most need to pray today, even if it has no tidy ending. deep

How to use these prompts

Pick one prompt that fits where you are today: a quick one from the top of the list when you have five minutes, or a deeper one near the end when you have a quiet half hour. Many people like to write in the morning before the day gets loud, or in the evening as a way to set the day down. Date each entry so you can look back later. If you feel stuck, start with a single honest sentence, such as "I am not sure what to say today," and keep going from there. You can also simply write the names of people you love and pray for each one in a line or two.

Download the prayer prompt sheet (PDF)

Questions

Do I have to address my prayers to God directly when I journal?

You can write your prayers as a letter to God, or you can write about your prayer life in your own voice. Both are a good use of your page, and many people move back and forth between the two.

What if I feel nothing when I pray and write?

Many people go through dry or quiet seasons in prayer. You can write about that honestly, keep showing up when you are able, and be gentle with yourself while you wait.

How can I keep track of answers to prayer?

Date each request and leave a little space beside it. Once a month or so, read back through your pages and note what has happened since, including the answers you did not expect and the prayers still waiting.

Can I use these prompts with a small group or youth group?

Yes. The quicker prompts near the top of the list work well for a group, and it helps to make sharing optional so everyone can keep their pages private if they wish.

Is it okay to write prayers that are angry or sad?

Yes. The Bible holds many honest prayers of sorrow and complaint, such as those in the Psalms, and your journal can be a place for that same honesty. If you want more prompts for this, our Lament page may help.

Scripture to journal with

Hope

40 prompts

Faith