What Is Bible Journaling?

Have you heard or read about “Bible journaling?” If not, what is it and is it important to do?

God’s Record

God declares in His written Word that someday that all of “the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Rev 20:12). Being in the book of life is a good thing because “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15). The psalmist writes “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book” (Psalm 56:8)? Is there a literal, physical book or is it symbolic of what you do in this life? God never needs reminding by use of a record book so the reason for this “book of life” being mentioned is probably for our sake, so that we’ll understand that what we do in the body reaps or loses rewards in the kingdom? God already know who’s in the book of life and who’s not; we don’t.

Your written Record

God sees everything and that’s withheld from His view as “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:13) and someday God “will repay each one according to his deeds” (Rom 2:6). Every one of us is stewards of what God has entrusted us with (1st Cor 4:2). God doesn’t want us to work to be seen by others but only be seen by Him and not to grow discouraged in this as “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Heb 6:10) so we should “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matt 6:20).

Your journal Entries

What is “Bible journaling?” It is basically a great interactive Bible study method that helps you to interact with God’s Word by recording your own thoughts on what you’re reading. Perhaps putting days of the week and dates on your journal entries would help somewhat if you want to be more organized. For some, it is writing in their Bible’s margins or looking at what is written, underlined, scribbled, doodled, and ear-marked pages for passages in Scripture which are thought to be significant. To begin one you can purchase a small diary-like journal book that has pages either lined or not. It doesn’t really matter. It is very much like a prayer journal except in a Bible journal you write on each page the day of the week, the date, the Bible verse and then afterwards, write down any personal reflections you had on the Bible verse or verses that you read. It is like your own daily devotional that comes straight from the Bible.

You don’t have to use Bible verses in chronological order, going from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. Just use your regular Bible study time to come up with a Bible verse or one you were just thinking about the other day; whatever comes to your mind. You might use the Word of God like a medicine cabinet reading the psalms for experiencing trials and sorrows; reading the Gospel of John for the assurance of the believer; or reading the Book of Revelation to see how the kingdom arrives (Rev 22). You be the judge of that.

Conclusion

Bible journaling can be anything you want it to be. You can find some online where the format’s already been prepared for you. Some are online Bible lessons that you can either write in your own journal or order journals on the Internet. Whatever subjects that are important to you make good Bible verses for your journaling. You can even journal during your regular Bible reading time or bring it during services, Sunday school, Wednesday or Sunday night Bible study, whenever for whatever time but personally, I would keep your Bible journaling separate, as a record of what the Word of God says to you in your personal devotional time because God still speaks to us today and it is in His written Word, the Bible.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.