Spiritual Journaling: Keeping a Journal to Tell Your Spiritual Story
“Spiritual journaling” may sound like an activity for pastors, theologians and religious leaders equipped for a daunting spiritual task. Many people believe that they don’t have a worthy spiritual story to share or a worthy way of sharing it. In reality God is alive and mightily at work in every life. You have a God story to share and you can find a way to share it.
It’s easy to think that we have to do something, or experience something, remarkable to have a reason to share the story of our lives. We have a way of believing that our “ordinary” lives are powerless. The value in reaching out is missed in our poor estimation of what we have to offer. We wait for something “big” to happen to us before we recognize the importance of our journey. We don’t acknowledge the special gift we have to share. It’s the gift of our ordinary lives shared with others: the gift of our spiritual journey.
If you choose to tell your spiritual story, cialis cheap you too will tell it in your own, unique way. Everyone brings their special touch to the expression of their journey, making the experience of telling and receiving stories a flavorful and powerful experience. I will share my journey my way. If you share yours you will do the same. I encourage you to cialis prescription online embrace these expressions rather than be discouraged by them. It’s your story. Tell it your way. Let others do the same. Enjoy the ways God has made us all unique.
You might be thinking, “How Do I Even Begin Sharing?” I suggest keeping a spiritual journal to start. Consider the variety of journals that you can choose from. Maybe a sketchbook would suit your personality? Perhaps you’d like to choose a 3 ring binder that you can fill with lined paper, pockets, and blank paper. Check out the journal options in the scrapbooking aisle, the local bookstore and on the shelves at some of the places you regularly shop. Load up on some good office supplies and simple art supplies. Some highlighters, colored pencils, red marking pens, erasable pens and markers can help you along as you journal. Make some selections that get you really excited about the journey you are about to embark on. Your journey is worth the investment!
Spiritual journaling can be a little intimidating at first. Just having the right materials isn’t always enough to get started. Some beginners find themselves staring at a blank page with apprehension. Others write down their thoughts with the nagging question: “How Does God Fit Into My Story?” I have a suggestion for the intimidated, the apprehensive Brand Viagra and the questioning: ask God your most pressing questions and expect an answer.
Expect an answer? Ask God? Can I really do this? Yes you can! One of my favorite ways to find God in my daily life is to talk with Him in my journal. I write my thoughts and feelings for the day and I pause to hear God’s response. Then, I actually write what I hear God say. Doing my best not to edit what I’ve heard, I put my “God Response” down on paper and I place parenthesis around His words. This helps me keep my words separate from what I’m hearing and spiritual journaling turns into a conversation that’s alive! Suddenly my spiritual story is more than just a bunch of events spilled onto a piece of paper. Instead, I’m connecting my life with a God who is listening and responding!
I’m not suggesting that everyone use this approach to keeping a spiritual journal. I am suggesting that you keep an open mind and allow yourself to think outside the box. Your journey is unique and you have been wired to express it uniquely. Work with God to find a way to tell your spiritual story. Be open to trying something new, follow your instincts and don’t give up! You have a story worth sharing.
Once you have found a way to record your spiritual journey you can consider when, if and how to share it. Perhaps you’d like to share it one day but for now you’re enthralled in the task of journaling itself? Maybe you don’t care to make your story available to others at this time? It’s possible that a private journal allows you to reflect on your own journey and this is satisfying enough in itself? There will be a spectrum of responses to the question, “Should I Share My Story?” You will sit in that spectrum and you will not be alone. Be comfortable with where you find yourself and appreciate your place. There’s no pressure here.
If you do decide to share the story of your life I have one suggestion: let God be your guide. There are endless ways to offer your spiritual story to others and one of them will be a perfect fit for you. While some are bloggers others are speakers, group leaders and story tellers. Many share their story over coffee with close family and friends. Others share using scrapbooks, photo journals and voice recordings. Many people use Facebook, Twitter and other social networking tools to get their story out. Wonderful discussion groups have been started as an opportunity to share and let others respond in kind. The world is full of opportunities for storytelling. Regardless of the approach you use, you can tell your spiritual story.
Spiritual journaling is an opportunity for all of us to see how God is alive and mightily at work in every life. Don’t believe the lie that your journey isn’t worthy to be told. Consider keeping a spiritual journal and being brave enough to share it. Tell your spiritual story.
Author Bio: Alisa E. Clark believes in the power of spiritual autobiography. Her website invites viewers to create and share one’s own spiritual memoir and allows readers to learn more about Alisa’s own spiritual autobiography: Dancing in the Doghouse. You can learn more by visiting www.journeyoncanvas.com
Category: Religion and Spirituality/Christianity
Keywords: spiritual story,spiritual journaling,spiritual journal,spiritual journey