How To Use Prayer Journaling To Feel Centered Again on Hard Days!
How To Use Prayer Journaling To Feel Centered Again on Hard Days
Some days it feels like absolutely everything is going wrong. You get a flat tire on a rainy day on the freeway. Your child gets sick at school and needs to be picked up but you’re at work and you don’t have any more leave that you can use to take off. The groceries are sky high and you only have $20 left to feed your family of 6. It’s like when it rains, it pours.
When days like this happen, you don’t always know what to do. But you do know that if you don’t get some relief soon, you are going to break. And if that’s where you are, you’re not alone. ‘
Fortunately, you don’t have to fix everything by yourself because God is near at all times. And one of the best ways to commune with him is through prayer journaling.
Prayer journaling offers a perfect space for healing and stillness where you can release all your burdens to God and embrace His peace. A few minutes with Him per day can soften the edge of your weary soul.
In this post, we will discuss how to use prayer journaling to feel centered on hard days. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
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* Why Prayer Journaling Helps You Feel Centered Again *
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One of the reasons why I love prayer journaling is because it is a safe space. It creates an avenue where you can pour out your heart and release your emotions through writing without holding back.
Prayer journaling helps calm racing thoughts by presenting them before God in the form of writing. It also helps deepen your awareness of God’s truth and presence.
With prayer journaling, you build a consistent relationship with God. It provides a foundation where you can return to at all times when everything else feels shaky and unstable.
* What “Feeling Centered” Really Means For A Christian *
Feeling centered is simply being grounded in God’s truth; it’s not about having it all together, it is about knowing that your true anchor is God.
As a Christian woman, feeling centered means holding on to God’s word and not being overwhelmed by a to-do list. It is consciously choosing to be emotionally invested and honest with God.
You don’t have to pretend everything is fine. Feeling grounded is about resting in God’s grace instead of striving for perfection.
As a Christian woman, true centeredness is about surrender and not control. Feeling grounded is about feeling connected to your faith even when life feels messy or uncertain, trusting that God is always there to keep you standing.
With these thoughts in mind, let’s discover some prayer journaling prompts that you can turn to in those times when you feel like you are about to mentally spiral.
* 5 Calming Prayer Journaling Prompts to Feel Recentered *
1. “Lord, I feel overwhelmed by…”
Many a time, naming the things that make you feel overwhelmed is the first step to releasing them.
You could also write about the:
- Unrealistic expectations you place on yourself
- Decisions you don’t know how to make
- Difficulties in trying to balance everything without falling apart
God wants to meet you in the middle of the mess; he’s not asking for you to be perfect.
2. “God, help me lay down the burden of…”
The truth is, He never designed it for you to carry everything on your own. He wants to carry your burdens for you.
You could also write about the:
- Worry about things you can’t control.
- Guilt you’ve been holding onto
When you write, visualize yourself handing all your burdens to God one after another.
3. “Jesus, I need Your peace because….”
Know that his peace is constant, even when all other things feel uncertain.
Some related journaling ideas include:
- My heart feels hurried and anxious.
- Lord, I’m overthinking about what is next.
- God, I haven’t had a break in days.
Allow your prayer journaling be an opportunity to be still and catch your breath.
4. “Holy Spirit, remind me of Your truth when I believe…..”
Sometimes lies and pressure try to cloud your mind, but God’s truth brings clarity.
Some lies we might believe about ourselves that we can journal about are:
- “That until you prove yourself, you’re not enough.”
- “That everything depends on you.”
- “That you’re too far behind to catch up.”
Beside each lie, write a scriptural truth that lets you recenter your focus to God.
5. “Father, help me trust you today with….”
Surrendering to God is not a one-time thing. It’s a daily invitation to God.
Some journaling prompts include:
- “Even when my schedule doesn’t go to plan I will…”
- “Even when my relationships are strained, I will…”
- “Even when my future doesn’t seem clear, I will…”
Wrap it up with a short, sincere prayer: “Dear Lord, I trust you here. Help my heart rest in your arms.”
* How To Start Prayer Journaling On Hard Days *
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On hard days, one of the best things you can do is journal to reconnect with God. When you connect with God, you get to have peace despite your troubles. The question then is, how do you start prayer journaling?
First, you should choose a quiet moment, it could be morning, afternoon, or evening. You don’t need a lengthy time, even 5-10 minutes is enough. Nor does it have to be at the same time every day. Grab any moment you can.
Also, ensure you have a prayer journal handy or a notebook dedicated to journaling. Or you can use a dedicated prayer journal that digital like this one that I use or a printable prayer journal like this one.
Be sincere with God; you have nothing to hide from Him. Begin your writing by expressing your true feelings to God even if they feel wrong. Start by writing “God, here’s what I’m feeling right now.”
You don’t need to be perfect; it can be messy, but just keep it real because it’s a fellowship between you and God. And when you fellowship with God, honesty is the best policy, no matter how ugly things get.
I can tell you that I’ve written some pretty angry thoughts in my prayer journal and I don’t regret it because that’s how I felt in that moment.
And God knew it, so why act like it wasn’t true. Your relationship with grow deeper the more truthful you are with him because, in my opinion, you are showing that you trust him enough to unmask in front of him.
While you’re at it, ask Him, Father, speak your peace over my mind and heart. Following through on this can help you get through every hard day.
* Bible Verses To Reflect On In Your Journal *
1. Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
God wants us to have peace, even in the face of the unknown. This concept is very hard to me to come tot terms with because I always like to know what is going happen next.
But God doesn’t always tell us the future. Instead, he asks us to keep our minds and thoughts on him despite the worry we might feel.
- What thoughts are pulling your attention away from God’s peace today?
- What would it look like to bring them back to Him?
2. Psalm 46:10; “Be still and know that I am God.”
Stillness is not only a physical thing. It’s not just about keeping your mouth closed but it’s also about quieting our mind and soul. The above verse invites you to pause, breathe, and remember who God is in the midst of the fast-moving world.
- What truth about God do you need to remember right now?
- Where do you need to create space for stillness in your day?
3. Matthew 11:28-30; “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest….”
You don’t have to be perfect to come before God. Just show up honestly. The weary are especially welcome. He promises to give rest that the world cannot offer you.
- What kind of rest is your soul longing for?
- What burden are you carrying that you need to lay down?
* Let Prayer Journaling Be Your Anchor *
Hard days come with anxiety, no doubt, they are challenging. The good news is that you’re not alone in this.
If you start writing in a prayer journal, you can get through the toughest days. God is present, and your prayer journal can be a safe space for you to commune with him.
There’s no better time to start than today. It could be one line, one verse, or one simple but honest prayer. There’s no template; just be sincere and write out exactly how you feel.
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