Recently, I found myself lost in my journaling trying to capture every detail of every moment of every day. Journaling time became laborious and time-consuming. A good friend and life-long journaler recently provided some tips on writing in a journal, and these tips are certain to breathe new life into how I reflect on my days.

First, she said, keep it simple. It is a gift to write what happened in your day and be able to read it at a later time. But be restrained in length and details. Getting ‘into the weeds’ as she called it, will cause journal burn-out, will be difficult to sustain, and daunting to read when you reflect back on that day. A good journaling habit is to pray first about what to include, then spend 5-10 minutes of writing.

Secondly, my friend explained that journals do not have to contain every major event, every thought, every feeling during the entire day (this was my issue). She also recommended to never try to catch up if you miss something. This was a difficult thing for me to hear, as there are times in life where you want to capture it all for posterity—especially after the loss of someone. But she explained that writing in a journal is not for documenting your entire life. It is to document the highlights of your spiritual walk with God and make note of those things worthy and of eternal value.

Thirdly, she recommended that the words written are Godward, not manward. Write about a scripture walked out, a prayer spoken, a word from God, a revelation given, a moment of spiritual clarity, or a gratitude. The journal is about you and God, and no one but you will read it anyway. Write Godward, and let it reflect His presence in your daily life.

Her fourth recommendation was to not use the journal to vent those carnal things lived every day. Emotions, frustrations, conversations, what you ate, errands you ran. Use the journal to say what we know about our Heavenly Father, Jesus our Lord and Savior, and the Holy Spirit who guides us in all things, and then write how His Word met your need that day. Being broken-hearted over the loss of my husband, I can write that “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3.

My friend advised, “Preach to yourself!” through your journal.

Finally, her last bit of advice was to be diligent. Record the most important thing of that day, or the top two; three at the most. Does it matter that you went to the dentist? Or that the grocery store was out of what you needed? It will be more important to look back at the highlight of that day and see what God spoke to you, how He used you in some way, how you trusted Him, what your prayer was.

Let your journal be reflective of the footsteps you take with the Lord each day. This will bless you to be able to look back and see the progression of your Spiritual Journey.