Journaling is a spiritual discipline where one writes down their prayer requests, answered prayers, thankfulness, joy, thoughts, notes, insights, daily struggles, spiritual victories, encounters with God, etc., whether during or after Bible Study or during personal devotional time. Many also journal when they are listening to a sermon and they experience a powerful “Aha” moment. Journaling for some is a brief few sentences while others journal several pages as the thoughts flow. Some journal privately by writing down things in a notebook or shared privately with friends on one of their social media platforms. Journaling also preserves a written record of one’s spiritual journey.
In the Book of Joshua, God told Joshua to record the spiritual journey of the Israelites after they crossed the Jordan River as a memorial to show God’s faithfulness:
Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them saying, take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.
Pass on before the Ark of the Lord into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come ‘what do these stones mean to you?’, then you shall tell them the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord…. So, these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever. (See Joshua 4:1-7.)
Likewise, in Joshua 8, after the battle at Ai, Joshua renewed the covenant by reading the words of the Law. Joshua was instructed to build an altar of uncut stone on which no iron tool has been used. And on it they offered burnt offering to the Lord, and they sacrificed peace offerings. And there in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stone a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written God instructed Joshua to write upon the stones a copy of the Law of Moses (not the whole law of Moses, but perhaps the 10 Commandments). As instructed, Joshua wrote on the stones in the presence of the Israelites. This activity and the inscription would serve as a memorial and also a reminder for the people of the constancy of God.
Beloved, you are encouraged to implement this spiritual discipline in your life by writing your thoughts in a dedicated notebook, or if it is easier, in a document created on your computer. You will discover as you write down your thoughts and your special God-moments in your life; you will develop not only a life of worship but you will experience a deeper relationship with God! Don’t forget to pray before and after you journal and then spend some time after journaling to sit quiet in God’s presence and allow God to speak to you.
Next Week: Continuation
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