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Now that you know what Faith Journaling IS, you might be curious about how to get started. I could have easily written my own list, but why recreate something that is already so perfectly explained?!
postcard via Illustrated Faith | designed by Wes Molebash
1 SPEND TIME WITH GOD. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the reason we are doing all of this is to connect with God and His word. Don’t miss out on the benefit of extra Bible study and really dig into what He’s trying to teach you. I love using the daily devotions set forth in Jesus Calling, especially when I don’t have time for lengthy Bible study in the morning before work. She Reads Truth is another great resource for book studies and seasonal devotions. Don’t feel like a devotion today? Try listening to your favorite worship album or find a playlist on Spotify. Some of my favorite pages are the result of some serious times of worship!
2 PRAY ABOUT IT. Don’t just jump right in; ask God to guide you. Be prepared to let Him lead you in a direction you never saw coming. You might not be able to read, pray and create all in one sitting. If the direction isn’t clear, meditate on it throughout the day and come back to your Bible when you have a clearer word from God.
3 WRITE IT DOWN. What is it that you think God is telling you? Don’t be afraid to leave room to journal and be specific about what it is that’s speaking to you today. I often add sermon notes, prayer requests and other small notes in the margins beneath my illustrations.
4 DRAW IT. Figure out how to translate your big ideas into the margins of your Bible! You can write, draw, cut and paste or use stickers to illustrate the point right there next to scripture. Be sure and note what verses you were studying for reference.
5 DATE IT. One of the best things I ever did when it comes to writing in my Bible was to date everything. It is so important to be able to look back over a lifetime of God’s faithfulness and see when He was speaking to you and how He is answering your prayers. You might find yourself drawn back to the same verses one day in the future and it is always fun to compare what things God is demonstrating in your life.
6 TAB IT. While I don’t tab or mark every page that I illustrate in my Bible, it is a great way to show what themes you are working through, to highlight a particular topic or to mark a favorite verse. Get creative with how you mark them – almost anything can become a tab.
7 FORGET THE RULES. Art was subjective long before it made its way into your Bible, so don’t be surprised when your pages look completely different from everyone else’s. Don’t be afraid to try new supplies and new methods. Just connect with God in a way that feels natural to you!
I can’t wait to see what God will teach you over the next 31 days.
My Favorite Bible Journaling Supplies: one column journaling bible | mechanical pencils | pigment liners | crayola twistables | white gel pen | prismacolor marker | white eraser | distress markers | washi tape | craft paint | catalyst wedge | watercolor paints | tab punch | patterned papers | rolling date stamp | black ink pad. For more details about why these are my favorite, visit this post!
