Journal?

Good Morning,

Job 19:23-27 (NIV)
Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,
that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
or engraved in rock forever!
I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!

Do you journal? What I mean is, do you write down your thoughts during your quiet times with the Lord? Do you put your prayers and prayer requests down on paper (or, perhaps, type them into your computer word processor)? Do you have any record of what you've felt in your heart and mind and spirit? If you don't answer "Yes" to this query, maybe it's time that you consider doing it.

Job, it seems, didn't "journal" in any way and if I'm reading these words today correctly, he is kind of beating himself up a bit because of it. My mind clearly heard his voice today as he said, "Oh, that my words were recorded," and they brought to mind all of the words that I should have written down, but did not. All of those thoughts and feelings and prayers that I can no longer go back to when similar times come upon me.

Someone asked me this same question a couple of years ago. About journaling, I mean. My answer was "No, I don't." But then, the next morning when I sat in front of the computer screen and began to type the message that God had given me, I realized that maybe I did journal, write down those thoughts and feelings God gave to me, every day. The difference was, and what caused me to answer in the negative, was the fact that I sent along those words to other people and didn't keep them privately to myself. You see, I just didn't equate the two...journaling privately and sending out what I had been given...as the same thing. Of course, God showed me my error. If it were to happen today I guess I'd have to say, "Duh! What do you THINK you're doing?"

Our Scripture verses today tell us clearly that all of us ought to journal in some way. We really need to take the time to put our thoughts down in some written form or other. Um, I don't think the iron tool and lead would work today, but, hey...if it's good for you, go for it! Seriously, it is not only just good to write down what comes into our minds and what our feelings are, I think it's necessary; a real need in the life of all Christians, if it is physically possible to do it. And, for those who can read these words, it IS possible, of course.

I think that the most important part of journaling, writing down our thoughts and feelings, is the fact that when we spend time with God, read Scripture, and listen for the Holy Spirit to guide us, then the thoughts that we have are, very often, from God directly to us. Yes, that thought you had when you read your Bible was probably something to YOU from your creator, your heavenly Father.

Think about it, please. Take the few moments to write something down. Even if it's only a couple of words. It can be extremely important. It can also be life changing.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David