A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer Journaling

July 8, 2025

Have you ever felt like your prayer life could use a boost? If you're nodding your head, you're not alone. As Christians, we often seek deeper connections with God, and that's where the magic of prayer journaling comes in.

Imagine having a personal space where you can pour out your heart to God, reflect on His word, and watch your faith grow day by day. That's exactly what a prayer journal offers. It's like a spiritual diary that helps you track your conversations with Almighty God, bringing focus and intention to your prayer time.

What is Prayer Journaling?

At its core, prayer journaling is the simple practice of writing down your prayers and anything you feel God is speaking to you as you spend time with Him.

Sometimes I write actual prayers, pouring my heart out like a letter to a friend. Other days, it’s bullet points, scripture verses, or names of people I’ve committed to pray for. There’s no wrong way to do it.

My Experience with Prayer Journaling

In many ways, prayer journaling sounds like something very ‘together’ people do. You might picture women with organised mornings, tidy kitchens and a favourite pen. That isn’t me and never has been! Okay, I’ll concede, I do have a favourite pen.

In my late teens and into my twenties, I had a great rhythm going. Every morning, I would get up half an hour early so I could read my Bible and journal my prayers before university or work. The time I spent doing both of those things on a daily basis is what made my faith so strong. My love for God grew, I saw countless answered prayers, and I learned to understand so much more of the Bible. It is such a great way to start the day.

These days, I journal less. With four young children, my days are very full. But I do read my Bible with my journal open and jot down a phrase or two most days. Not because I’m especially disciplined or holy, but because, over the years, it’s become a lifeline. A gentle rhythm woven into my walk with God.

I keep my prayer journal with my Bible, a notebook for sermon notes, and a pen tucked nearby. This means everything’s in one place and easy to reach when I’ve got a quiet few minutes in the morning or when the children are at school.

Whether you’re curious, sceptical, or just looking for a fresh way to connect with the Lord, I’d love to share how prayer journaling has shaped my faith and why I believe it can be a beautiful tool for any Christian woman.

Why I’ve Been Prayer Journaling for 23 Years (And Why You Might Love It Too)

We weren’t made to carry everything alone. Writing, even just a few lines, is a way of releasing all that’s heavy, confusing or hard. Studies show that the physical act of handwriting has numerous mental health benefits. It calms us, grounds us, and helps us process. Prayer journaling goes even further, bringing these burdens to God, not just the page.

There are lots of reasons prayer journaling has stuck with me throughout my life. Here are some of the ways it’s made a big difference to my faith:

1. It Helps Me Show Up

I’ll be honest: like everyone, I don’t always feel like praying. But knowing I have a journal waiting for me, even if I’m just jotting down a few thoughts, helps me carve out that time. It’s a quiet accountability – a gentle reminder that God is always ready to meet with me. I like to be able to look back and see dates and prayers written down.

Sometimes I start writing, thinking I’ll only manage a few lines, and before I know it, I’ve poured out a full page. Worries, hopes, thanksgiving, confessions. Writing slows me down and brings me into a posture of worship.

It’s also a really helpful tool to have at your disposal if you can’t get to sleep because you’re worried or concerned about something. Having the opportunity to pray and write your worries down really gets things out of your system. It’s a physical way of laying things at the foot of the cross and leaving them there so you can get back to bed and off to sleep. The last few months have been a difficult season in my life, and I have double pages filled with prayers and thoughts from 1, 2 or even 3am. Often, prayer journaling has been the only solution to getting everything out of my head so I could fall asleep.

2. It Keeps Me Focused

If you’re anything like me, praying silently can quickly turn into making a mental shopping list. But when I write, I stay focused. My prayers become more intentional and considered. They’re no longer just ‘popcorn prayers’ thrown up in the rush of the day.

There’s a richness that comes from sitting down, Bible open, pen in hand, and asking, ‘Lord, what would You have me pray for today?’

3. It Brings Order to My Heart

I find it helpful to keep a prayer list at the front of my prayer journal. Whenever I say I will pray for a friend or family member, I write their name down and possibly a small note about the subject of concern. I refer to this list frequently, so it also reminds me to check back in with people and see how they are. Having a dedicated space to keep a running list of people and things to pray for brings structure to my time with God.

4. It Builds Gratitude

Often, I’ll flip back through old entries in my journal and realise… God answered that prayer. And that one. And that one too.

Prayer journaling slows me down enough to see what He’s doing. It lifts my eyes from the present worries and reminds me of His unchanging faithfulness. Like the Israelites setting up stones of remembrance, these pages become a testimony to His goodness, a record of mercy after mercy that I would’ve missed otherwise.

5. It Strengthens My Faith

Reading back through old prayers, especially the ones I’d forgotten I even prayed, often brings me to tears. Sometimes I stumble across a name I haven’t thought of in years. Frequently, there are people whose names I don’t even recognise. Someone I prayed for in a season when they were hurting. I may never know what happened in their story, but I’m reminded that God does.

Those little moments knit something strong and deep into your faith. The sense that God is at work, even when you don’t see it straight away.

Is Prayer Journaling Biblical?

While the Bible doesn’t mention journaling specifically, it does talk about remembering, writing, and meditating on God's Word. Think of David in the Psalms. We have his prayers and songs because they were written down. We read the longings and laments and praises of a man who sought God with raw honesty.

In this sense, prayer journaling is deeply biblical. It’s about bringing your whole heart before God, again and again. If you’ve been thinking about starting a prayer journal, let this be your gentle nudge. It doesn’t have to be daily. It doesn’t have to be neat. But it can be deeply meaningful.

Start small. Grab a notebook, stick a prayer list on the front page, write the date, and begin. Maybe with a single sentence: ‘Lord, I’m here. Teach me to pray.’

Prayer Journaling Ideas to Get You Started

There is no right or wrong way to journal your prayers. The most important thing is finding a method that helps you connect with God. Here are some simple ideas to get you started:

Write letters to God
List things you're grateful for
Note Bible verses that speak to you
Record prayer requests and answers
Reflect on your spiritual growth

Prayer is a Personal Journey

Prayer is crucial for a healthy spiritual life and relationship with God. After all, you can't have a relationship without communication. It's something we should do even when we don't feel like it. But prayer isn't just about saying words out loud to make your point. It's about sharing your thoughts and feelings with God, and writing can be a powerful way to do this.

Of course, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to connecting with God. Whether you choose to keep a prayer journal or not, what truly matters is the sincerity of your heart. If prayer journaling resonates with you, go for it! If not, that's okay too. Your prayers are valuable because praying in spirit and in truth is what God asks of you, regardless of how you express that.

There have been times I’ve looked back at old journal entries and thought, ‘oh, that was such a good season. I was so close to God then.’ But when I actually re-read them, I’m reminded those ‘good old days’ were often messy and hard in their own way, too. And yet, God was there.

Sometimes my journals show me how far I’ve come. Sometimes they show me that I’m living in the answered prayers of five years ago. Both are beautiful reminders that God is always working.

Prayer Journaling with And Hope Designs

If you’d like to start journaling your payers, take a look at my collection of Christian stationery. Amongst other things, you’ll find a beautiful A5 floral prayer journal and a printable prayer list you can slip inside.