Journaling through the Word of God has been something that I have always done. It has been a way for me to draw closer to God and understand and remember more of what the Bible says. That said what I share has taken me years of practice trial and revision to come to a place where you see what I use today to journal through scripture. I have used the lab of the classroom, family and small groups to arrive at what I have today. I have seen not just my own life changed through this but also countless others. So I am inviting you to journey with me.
I started reading John again and journaling along the lines that I have tried to teach my students over the years. I use the word W-O-R-D as an acronym for my time with the Lord morning by morning. The W- is the word of God passages from the chapter of scripture which I have read for the day. These verses which have stood out as I have read are recorded at the beginning of the page. Next I use O- for slowing down and making observations about the verses and chapter I read. These observations are a careful and prayerful reflection on what the chapter says. It is not what I want it to say; wish it said’ or a forced meaning. My observations cannot make it say something it could not have said to the original audience. One last thought on observation at this time- this is not interpretation. R- is for reflection. I have exchanged this because I feel reflection is more the goal in this section. Reflect on the scripture that you have taken in, writing about how this looks in this season of your life. Because the Word of God is living, the same passage may have a totally different application in another moment of your life. The fact that the Word is living is why it is so essential that we never neglect reading it and applying it to our lives now. The final letter is D- which is for devotion. This is where you write out your prayer for the day. Ask God how you might live this word this day. Write a prayer of repentance if the Holy Spirit has brought things to mind that you need to change in your life. There are no rules in prayer and this is your written prayer, so write from your heart; this is what God wants from us.
I always have students begin in John’s Gospel. John’s writing is not just different from the other Gospels it is the best place to understand what it means to be born again. This being born again of the Spirit is essential to understanding anything in the Bible.
If you would like to follow my journey and journal along with me I invite you to grab your Bible and any blank notebook you may have and write your way through scripture. I would love to hear what you are learning and how you are growing if you join this adventure. Please reach out and share your insights into the Word of God. We gain even more when we share the journey together.
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