Journaling As Prayer

Journaling was part of my daily spiritual practices for years, but for the past few months, I've let it slip a bit.  I used to fill journals with my scribbled thoughts, prayers, and reflections.  I have them all stored away for safekeeping because I like to read them from time to time. 

I've missed journaling, and Lent seemed the right time to revive the practice. 

There's something about the feeling of deliberately writing down my scattered thoughts with a pen on actual paper that is restorative.  It's slower than typing, but it feels more visceral, if that makes sense.  

For over a decade, I have finished each journal entry with the simple word "Amen."  I started doing that when I realized that my journaling was a form of prayer, a way to keep a conversation going with the Divine.  

One of the many things I've learned by journaling is that writing can become prayer when we let it be honest. Journaling invites us to slow down, notice patterns, and name what is stirring beneath the surface. It gives shape to thoughts we often ignore or rush past. When offered to God, writing becomes a sacred practice of attentiveness.

Scripture affirms the power of writing as a spiritual witness. “Write the vision,” the prophet is told, “make it plain” (Habakkuk 2:2). Writing helps us see more clearly what God is doing within us and around us. It allows reflection to deepen into prayer.

Journaling prayer is not about crafting beautiful sentences. It is about truth. We write what we feel, fear, hope, and question. Nothing needs to be edited. God receives our words as they are. Over time, writing becomes a mirror that reveals where grace is quietly at work.

Journaling also helps us notice God’s faithfulness across seasons. Looking back, we see prayers answered, perspectives changed, and wounds healed slowly. Writing creates space for gratitude to grow.

This practice can be especially helpful during Lent, when self-examination and reflection are central. Journaling allows us to listen more closely to our inner lives without judgment. It teaches us to be curious rather than critical.

Journaling prayer does not require long entries or daily discipline. A few sentences can be enough. The goal is not consistency but attentiveness. God meets us in honesty, not perfection.

As you write, allow your words to become prayer—offered, trusted, and released. God is present in every line.

Prayer
God, who knows our hearts, meet us as we write. Help us listen for your truth and trust your grace. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What might you need to name honestly before God?

2. How could writing deepen your prayer life?

3. What patterns do you notice in your spiritual journey?