“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all Your works and meditate on all Your mighty deeds.
Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?”
{Psalm 77:11-13, NIV}
[linebreak]
Another Way to Remember . . .
The prayers I remember the most are the ones I’m still hoping will get answered. For that’s where my focus usually lies — on the here and now. I tend to forget the prayers that God has already answered.
But I want to follow the same path as the psalmist when he says, “I will remember . . .”
So, to do a better job of remembering all the ways that God has already answered prayers, I’ve begun to write them down. After spending time in God’s Word, I respond in prayer — written prayer. I have a journal where I pour out my heart to God. With written words, I tell Him all the things I’m thankful for, all the things I notice Him doing.
That’s what thanksgiving is. It’s the act of remembering with gratitude.
Every day I go back to read a few prior entries. As I read my earlier prayers, I realize how God has already moved in certain areas of my life, which gives me all the more reason to give thanks. I also tell Him about the things that are on my heart that day. I write new prayers.
God wants us to go to Him with all the things that are pressing on us during the day.
For me, a prayer journal is one of the dearest ways of communing with God. He loves to communicate through His Word. And He loves it when we share with Him our thoughts about the passage we’ve just read. He loves it, too, when we tell Him about our daily experiences.
Yes, God already knows everything. But He’s a relational God who enjoys spending time with us. And the more time we spend with Him, the more we discover how much we truly enjoy it too.
A prayer journal is yet another way to remember the deeds of the LORD and to consider all His works. And when we’re intentional about remembering His goodness, we can readily proclaim the greatness of our God.
Have you ever practiced writing down your prayers?
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Denise,
I have kept my thoughts in journals, but have not expressly had a prayer journal. What better resource to keep track of God’s faithfulness in answering than a prayer journal. I keep a journal for my prayers for others, but keeping one for me is simple yet profound. I tend to think, oh I’ll remember that, but for times when the “rubber meets the road”, having a legacy in writing would be a great thing to have. Thank you…
Blessings,
Bev
Wendy Munsell says
I began prayer journaling, accidentally, about four years ago when I was going through a time of discouragement. It started as I wrote my thoughts and feelings, which were not pretty, down on a scrap of paper. I let it all out; even my anger, which is something I had been trying to avoid admitting that I was feeling. God met me there in a way I’ll never forget and He went on to use that form of prayer to transform my faith, which up to that point had been mostly me trying to hang onto Him with gritted teeth.
The experience was so startling and real that I went on to make it a part of my “quiet time,” which, believe me, had never been so vitally alive before. Thanks for writing about a way to communicate with the Father that has become very precious to me.
Marianne says
I know the feeling of gritted teeth..But God will answer when He is ready. I will keep praying and I will say a prayer for you
Wendy Munsell says
I’m praying for you, too, Marianne!
Marianne says
I have never kept one. Prob. Should. When you are waiting on an answer and it hurts every day, it is good to look back at answered prayer.
Kristi says
Absolutely! I find that the only way I can really stay focused when I pray is to write it as I go. And I LOVE being able to look back and see how my prayers have changed in focus or tone, etc. as the months and years have gone by.
Total blessing.
Thank you for writing this!
Beth Williams says
Denise,
I believe everyone should watch the movie “War Room”. It is specifically about prayer. Authentic scriptural prayers!!! If I find myself discouraged or going through a rough time I write out a “thankful” journal. I list all the items–big or small–that I’m thankful for! During Women’s Bible study times I write out the prayer requests & pray for them during the week! That way each week I can check back and see if one got answered. Also our church has started a “prayer warrior” group. We have several topics: nation, lost souls, marriages in church, local churches, schools/teachers/students, youth, etc. Each month you take 1 index card and pray for the names on the back. You’d be surprised how many answered prayers you will receive! God is soo good to us!
Randelle S. says
Just a few days ago it was suggested to me to watch War Room, and now I’m seeing it again. Will have to check it out soon. Thanks!
Randelle S. says
I’m on and off with the prayer journal thing. I’ll do it consistently for a while, then i’ll stop for months of a year, but the times when I have, it has been a blessing. It helps me focus my energy into my time with God. I confess I havent gone back and re-read past prayers a whole lot though. Will have to do that more. Thanks for the reminder!
Theodore Great says
I never had one before, but after reading this I probably should have one 🙂
Mary says
I write our my frustrations as well as my thanksgiving prayers. I am so grateful for that time with God.