Keeping a Prayer Journal

Having a faithful prayer life is important in your relationship with God. Act 6:4 states "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." And Romans 12:12 says "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer." These two verses, found in the King James Version of the Bible, illustrate the importance of prayer. We are to pray continually; when we are rejoicing and even when we are having problems.

A prayer journal is a record of your spiritual life, a journal that you dedicate writing what you pray for in. I use a standard spiral notebook that can be found at any store. Keeping a prayer journal will help you have a faithful relationship with God and will keep you accountable in your daily life. It will also help you to stay focused while praying and not let your mind wonder.

I believe prayer has three important components: praise, confess, and request and thus a prayer journal should as well.

PRAISE

"And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people." Romans 15:11

We should praise God for what He has done in our lives. Thank Him for answering a prayer. Thank Him for making it through another day. Thank Him for showing you something new.

When God does something for us, write it in your prayer journal. Even write down the date it happened.

CONFESS

"I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah." Psalm 32:5

We are to confess our sins to God. God already knows our transgressions, but by confessing it we are acknowledging that we know we did wrong and want his help to overcome it.

We should write down our sins in our prayer journal. When you have overcome that sin, crossed it out and write the date. By writing your sins down you are holding yourself accountable to God.

REQUEST

"And all things, whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Matthew 21:22