Encountering God through Journaling:
Tools to Deepen Your Spiritual Journey
By James W. Goll
Thursday, February 27, 2020
“My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”
Psalms 45:1b NASB
I. The Vision
A. The Purpose of Journaling
Do you have a clear vision of the purpose of journaling for your life?
1. The primary purpose for journaling is to “Encounter God.”
2. It is to record and retain revelation.
3. It is to aid you in prayer goals.
4. It acts as documentation to give guidelines in life.
5. Journaling gives you a space and a place to reflect and evaluate.
B. Retaining and Stewarding
Journaling is a tried and tested natural and spiritual tool that assists you recording
life’s lessons and to aid you in discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit. Journaling is a
fundamental and clearly useful biblical tool. It is another tool to help us retain and
properly steward what the Holy Spirit speaks to us.
C. Three Distinct Expressions of Journaling
Did you realize that there are multiple expressions of journaling, each with a distinct
purpose and style?
1. Dialoguing Devotionally with God
2. Recording Revelatory Experiences
3. Documenting Lessons from Life’s Journey
II. Devotional Journaling
This is a form of journaling that gives you tools in Dialoguing Devotionally with God.
Some would refer to this as creating a space for Communion with God. Others might call it
an approach that allows “fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit” or "developing greater
intimacy with Christ.” Whatever it is that you call it, just do it!
This approach to journaling is used by many in their devotional walk with the Lord.
Consider the classic book written by Dr. Mark and Patti Virkler, Communion with God. Or
how about “The Interior Castle” by Saint Theresa of Avila?
Do you know what these are? Treasure Chests!
III. Revelatory Journaling
This is a form of journaling that gives you tools in Recording Revelatory Experiences. The
prophet Daniel did the following with his revelatory encounters according to Daniel 7:1.
“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his
mind [as he lay] on his bed; then he wrote the dream down [and] related the [following]
summary of it.”
You notice that the scriptures state that Daniel “wrote the dream down and related the
following summary of it.” That is Revelatory Journaling!
Consider the books today by Anna Rountree: When the Heavens Opened and The Priestly
Bride, or The Vision of the Harvest and The Final Quest by Rick Joyner. Or how about the
last book in the Bible composed by John the beloved on the Isle of Patmos, “Revelation?”
Do you know what these are? Treasure Chests!
IV. Historical Journaling
This is a form of journaling that gives you tools in Documenting Lessons from Life’s
Journey. These are often referred to as diaries. This is one of the most common forms of
journaling throughout time. Diaries can be very personal and intimate in nature. They are
used to record historical events, wars and disasters.
Consider such books as The Diary of Anne Frank, The Diary & Journal of David Brainerd,
A Diary of Signs and Wonders and George Washington’s Dairies.
Do you know what these are? Treasure Chests!
V. Points that Matter
Habakkuk 2:1-2 relates, “I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart;
and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am
reproved. ‘Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on
tablets, that he may run who reads it.”’”
1. Take your place.
2. Be watchful.
3. Believe He wants to speak to you.
4. Having a purity in your heart motivation is everything.
5. Write it down!
6. Be ready to move into an appropriate application.
7. Preserve it for the days to come.
VI. This Is My Story
I have journaled sermon notes of others as well as dreams and visions of the night. My wife
recorded portions of her weeks of angelic visitations. I have journaled on my laptop, used
spiral notebooks and beautiful leather-bound journals. I have photo albums and home
recorded videos. Each holds a special place in my life.
In my journey with the Holy Spirit, I have done all three major forms of journaling. Which
one is right? A good answer can be, “The one that is needed at the moment!”
So, in your life and walk with God, you need to be flexible in the hand of God and not let
“journaling” to become a rigid law or rule but rather a tool in the Master’s hand. As a
dream that I have journaled states, “Do what Matters!” Just do it!
VII. Empowered Prayer
Father, in great name of Jesus, I present myself to You. I want to grow in greater
communion with God. I want to be a wise steward of Your revelatory ways. And I want to
learn lessons from life’s journey. Therefore, I submit myself to You, Your will and Your
ways. I am asking that You lead me into the right application of journaling that fits the
current season of my life. I want to encounter God through my journaling. Give me the pen
of the ready writer. Amen and Amen!
