New Year, New Journal

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Yesterday I ordered a new journal for the new year. For the past six years I've used Paperblanks Journals. They're my favorite. They're sturdy, feel good in your hands and many come with a cool "magnetic wrap" that keeps them closed. You can find them at your local Barnes & Noble (or here's a collection of them from Amazon.)

I put everything in my journal. Spiritual reflections. Prayer requests. Random lists of things I'm thinking about. I tape in letters and notes. I doodle. I also usually flip to a random page in the back and list a bunch of questions I have about the future (both personal and about world events). Then, months later, when I get to that page I answer the questions based on what has happened since.

But the biggest benefit of journaling is being able to track the work of God in your life. It's amazing how much we forget about what he's teaching us, how he's sustaining us and how he's changing us if we don't record it somehow. Do you journal? Do you have any interesting journaling habits?

Comments (12)

I am a massive journaller. It goes everywhere with me I have sermon notes, devotion thoughts, prayers, daily happenings, poetry, drawings, lists for everything etc. I've never thought about taping in cards and notes but I think that is a fantastic idea.

When I am recording daily happenings often it comes with a lot of whining and criticism, all the things you think but you're not supposed to say out loud. My new years resolution is to stop at the end of my journal entries and reread them with humility allowing God to correct my wrong thinking and search for His truth to replace my wrong thinking with. I especially am seeking for ways in which I can better the situation not just be like everyone else who complains and never does anything.

I came to that resolution just yesterday so it's good that you've made this blog entry.

Posted by Cait | January 1, 2009 6:18 PM

I love writing but since having children have found it a little more difficult to find much uninterrupted time. I started blogging in place of journaling really, hoping that one day my kids will have a record of how God has worked in my life and in our family.

Posted by julie | January 1, 2009 9:02 PM

Hah! i LOVE those paper blanks! i once got one like the Rembrandt one you've got, but it's Shakespeare. I loved that thing; it's full now, so we're back to the good old spiral notebook. I keep telling myself that it's what goes INSIDE it that counts. =)

Posted by Kelley | January 1, 2009 9:36 PM

I tend to journal only when on major holidays like my trip to Australia back in March, but I did use one of those paperblanks, in fact I used the shakespeare one that you show above!!

Posted by Sam | January 2, 2009 5:41 AM

Yeah, I journal. It's one of my favorite things I own. In fact, my journal is sitting right in front of me as I type this.

I like the tips you posted, Josh, particularly about writing questions ahead of time and answering them later. I'll have to try that in the future.

Marshall Jones, Jr.

Posted by Marshall | bondChristian | January 2, 2009 3:48 PM

After several years of journaling on paper, I mostly journal in a Microsoft Word file. Computer journaling has its potential pitfalls, as Donald Whitney has pointed out in Simply Your Spiritual Life, and I do miss the comfortable feeling of pen on nice paper like the Paperblanks Journals. But even for a nontechie like me, the computer gives the advantages of speed, searchability, and the ability to journal while meditating with my eyes closed. I still keep my prayer lists on index cards, because I haven't yet gotten comfortable looking at my Mac while praying.

Posted by David | January 2, 2009 3:56 PM

Thanks to your recommendation last year, my husband and I are hooked on these journals. i use colored gel pens to journal and i'm amazed that they never bleed through the page.

Posted by laurie | January 2, 2009 7:57 PM

Cool. I've been journaling for about 10 years now. No matter how many blogging sites exist, (I also have a blog), journaling is still different. It's classic. For me it's more personal, you write not using any machine, but your own hands. I write everything in my journal just like you do. Sometimes even list of expenses! hehe. Just like you I write in the back pages too, with reminders, questions, ideas that suddenly pops up. I attached posts it notes too and stuff. I carry my journal everyday,wherever I go. People often ask me why I have a big bag, I said I have a book(Not Even a Hint- the one currently in my bag) and journal inside and they think it's weird. I explain that I just can't go anywhere without it, I will always need a paper and pen to write. You don't know when will an idea pops up so you gotta have a pen and paper ready. That is an advice from a songwriter I've met 10 years ago.

Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2009 3:30 AM

sorry, that anonymous was me. forgot to write my name. :)

to add to that, I still don't have a new journal for 2009, but my 2008 journal still has pages unused. So I'll just use it a for now while I wait for my Starbucks Planner/Journal that I am hoping to get by January 16! Yeah!!!

Posted by Y | January 5, 2009 3:35 AM

I don't think I'll ever move on past my Moleskin's. They are purely amazing

Posted by Josh | January 11, 2009 2:48 PM

I went to Borders yesterday and they have these paperblank journals for 75% off, i.e. $4. I bought 4. Enjoy.

Posted by brent Jones | January 13, 2009 9:59 AM

I discovered writing in journals at the start of my second year in University. Honestly, it has helped. I find myself not merely reading, but perusing the Word of God with the intention to write and reflect on it.

Also most of my blogs come from what has been written on the piece of paper, during the day or the night before.

But there are no real habits, except for me not sleeping till I finish writing and getting my thoughts on paper.

Posted by S.O. | January 25, 2009 8:06 AM

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