“Bring the winter coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books and parchment note books.”

_2 Timothy 4:13

These words, penned nearly two-thousand years ago, tell us that the Apostle Paul, whose written words make up two-thirds of our New Testament, was a note-taker; a journal keeper, a man of letters.

Think of it! Paul wrote God’s Word. Paul kept a journal of God’s Word!

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, every word in the records we know today as the Holy Bible were written by believers who kept God’s Word in their hearts and wrote God’s Word in their notes and their letters.

Become a Note Taker

Keeping a personal journal is, of course, first and foremost personal.

Your journal prayers are personal communication between you and your Father and his Son, and they are inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Keep in mind as you are writing your prayers every answer, to every prayer, can be found in God’s Word.

So if your prayer concerns your health, or the health of your loved ones writing some notes to strengthen your faith in that area seems like a smart idea. If your concern is provision, or protection, guidance or direction, remember—God has covered it all in the Word.

Searching for scripture promises pointing to God’s answers and making a list of them—writing some notes for future reference—not only strengthens your faith it gives you a record of God’s promises that you can find quickly for yourself or to share with others.

Take Notes To Meet Your Need

“And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” _Philippians 4:19 AMP

“The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger [God will meet all his needs]… _Proverbs 10:3a AMP

What are the five greatest needs in your life today?

1.__________________

2.__________________

3.__________________

4.___________________

5.___________________

God, through His Word, has made provision for every situation in the lives of his children.

If you need peace, “the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].” _ Philippians 4:7 AMP

You can take this promise from God’s Word, write yourself a note to help you recall what is yours, and begin to build a list of other verses to prayerfully consider when your peace is not so peaceful.

If you need protection, “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.” _Isaiah 54:17 AMP

No matter what your need, God’s has already prepared your answer.

Your personal journal is the perfect place to put this promise of Jesus into action.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” _“Matthew 6:25-33 (RSV)

Seek first his kingdom – Pray about it.

And his righteousness – Find out what the Word says about it.

And ALL these things (spiritual, physical and emotional – all is ALL you know) shall be yours.

Where to Find God’s Answers

Most good Study Bibles include a Concordance and some cross-references. So for example, if you are seeking answers regarding healing begin in your Concordance.

Look up healing

Put a bookmark in your place

Turn in your bible to the first verse listed there

Make a note of the verse (writing it down imprints it in your memory) and any footnotes that speak to your research

Follow the cross-references for that verse to other verses on the same subject

When you have exhausted the references for the first verse return to the bookmark in your Concordance and follow the second verse to its conclusion.

This process can be applied to any subject, person, place or situation you are interested in learning about. The notes you take will strengthen your understanding and your faith. The notes you take will build a hunger for more and more of God’s truth, renewing your thinking and changing your mind; turning you away from the old way of looking at everything.

Journal God's Word - copyright Ellen Lebsock