Bible Journaling for Beginners: Reading, Noticing and Writing
A plain, no-art way to journal with the Bible: read a short passage slowly, notice one phrase, and write a few honest lines. Sample pages and prompts included.
Teachings
Start with whichever practice feels gentlest today, and come back to the others when you are ready.
This page gathers our guides to journaling as prayer, from keeping a prayer journal and writing a letter to God to lectio divina (reading a short passage slowly and noticing what stays with you) and journaling through Advent and Lent. You will also find a soaking-prayer practice and paths into scripture journaling and reflections. Many Christians from different churches use these practices. Each guide explains its practice in plain words, and you are welcome here whatever you believe.
A first try can be small. Write the date and one honest sentence to God, then sit quietly for a few minutes.
Guides
How to Keep a Lectio Divina Journal, One Slow Passage at a Time
Learn the four movements of lectio divina, how to write through each one in a notebook, and a simple 20-minute session with Psalm 23 to try today.
How to Keep a Lent Journal Through Forty Days of Honesty
A plain guide to keeping a Lent journal for all forty days: simple daily formats, scripture to write with, what to do when you miss a day, and honest prompts.
How to Keep a Prayer Journal You Will Actually Come Back To
What a prayer journal is, how to set one up, four simple ways to write your prayers, and how to begin again gently after weeks of empty pages.
How to Keep an Advent Journal Through the Weeks Before Christmas
A simple Advent journal practice for the weeks before Christmas: what Advent is, how to set up your pages, weekly themes, and prompts for waiting well.
How to Keep an Examen Prayer Journal at the End of the Day
Learn the five steps of the daily examen and how to write them in a journal each evening, with a 10-minute version, sample lines and prompts for hard days.
How to Write a Letter to God When You Want to Be Honest
What a letter to God is, how to write one honestly in about 20 minutes, what to do when you doubt or feel nothing, and three prompts to begin.
Keeping a Gentle Sabbath Journal for a Weekly Day of Rest
How to keep a short sabbath journal on your day of rest: a five-minute practice, what to write and skip, and three gentle prompts for tired weeks.
Meditative Prayer With a Journal: Slowing Down With God
How to pray slowly with a short scripture line, rest in quiet, and use a journal before and after, with steps, a five-minute version and help for hard days.
Prayer Journaling Prompts for Writing Honestly Before God
How to bring your real feelings, including anger, doubt and grief, to God on paper, with a simple method, Psalm examples and prayer journaling prompts.
Psalms Journal Prompts for Honest Prayer and Quiet Reflection
How to use the Psalms as journal prompts: five psalms to start with, a simple way to write through each one, and what to do when prayer feels dry.
Psalm 46:10-11
Soaking Prayer: A Quiet Way to Pray With a Journal
Soaking prayer is resting quietly with God, often in silence or with soft music, with no agenda. Here are four steps to try it with a journal, plus prompts.
Scripture and reflections
Scripture journaling
31 scripture journaling pages, each with a World English Bible passage and gentle reflection prompts for personal prayer, small groups and youth gatherings.
Reflections
Scripture reflections on hope, rest, identity, worship and grief, each with a World English Bible passage and journal prompts for prayer and honest questions.