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The Faith Space

47 Prayer journal templates free downloads (planners, trackers, binder covers, war room printables)

Free Printables

These prayer journal templates will help you with your prayer life. Whether you have been struggling or pretty consistent in your prayer habits, there is something here for you. 

As Christians, prayer is our lifeline. But sometimes life gets in the way. Then, you have to be more intentional about praying. That requires planning and organization. 

Literally, putting pen to paper, is one of the best ways of solving the problem or keeping consistent.

Prayer journal ideas

Prayer journaling can go in many different directions. You can be creative as much or as little as you want to be. It’s up to you.

But whatever you do, just make sure you accomplish the goal of connecting with God so He can feed your soul.

Read about prayer journal ideas to find out what you can do if you are new to doing this in your prayer life.

Prayer journal Templates

If you want to make a whole prayer binder, you will need many different types of templates. I have you covered. 

If you have children and want to get them into a prayer journal habit, there are a couple of those types of printables as well.

Prayer journal planner template 

These prayer journal templates make up a complete set that you can use to create a prayer binder. Print whichever sheets you think will make up the perfect binder for you. Or, scroll down to get the complete pdf document.

Here are the sheets which are included:

Prayer journal printable cover

How to pray sheet

Weekly prayer planner

Prayer calendar planner

Prayer list sheet

Prayer requests sheet

Prayer tracker sheet

Daily prayers journal sheet

Prayer journal sheet

Notes journal sheet

DOWNLOAD Free printable prayer journal pdf

Structured prayer journal templates

If you are new to prayer journaling or your mind strays alot during prayer, you can use a structured approach to journaling your prayer. These templates will help with that.

ACTS prayer journal template

The ACTS prayer model is one popular structured prayer method. It walks you through the four major parts of a prayer. 

DOWNLOAD the ACTS prayer journal template

PRAY prayer journal template

The PRAY prayer model is also a popular structured method that is much like the ACTS model. Using different words it also walks you through the major components of a prayer.

DOWNLOAD the PRAY prayer journal template

Prayer journal templates for children

Developing a prayer habit from as early as possible in life is really good. If you have children these printables are a good place to start helping them start a prayer habit. Because there are prompts, your child(ren) will have something to start with, along with your guidance.

DOWNLOAD the children’s prayer journal templates

War room prayer journal templates 

As Christians, we are at war. We have an enemy who is always trying to distract and destroy. He has a daily plan to accomplish his goal. 

Therefore, we too have to be intentional about keeping him out of our lives.  These war room printables will give you a place to start.

DOWNLOAD the war room prayer journal templates

Prayer request journal templates 

I cannot tell you how many times I have promised to pray for someone and had forgotten about it until I see them again. Not good. If it so happens that you face a similar struggle, these prayer requests and list templates can help you keep track of all the people who have asked you to pray for them as well as what they asked you to pray about.

DOWNLOAD the prayer request journal template

Prayer tracker printables

Tracking a habit is one of the best ways of ensuring you are meeting your goal. Prayer is no exception. The prayer trackers will allow you to note when you prayed and what you prayed for.

DOWNLOAD the prayer tracker journal template

Printable Prayer journal covers 

These prayer journal covers will help to put some beauty to your very own prayer binder that you are making for yourself. There are a variety of colors and styles for you to choose from.

DOWNLOAD the printable prayer journal covers template

Prayer journal template Word

If you prefer a journal that you can type into, Templatelab has a set of 49 beautiful and user friendly prayer journal template in Microsoft Word. They are good for both adults and kids. You can try them out.

Terms of use: The printables on The Faith Space blog are for  personal use only . The files  may not  be altered or redistributed for monetary gain without written consent from the author. This includes but is not limited to selling the printed product, selling the file, or uploading the file to any other website other than to have it printed for personal use. You may not use anything on our site for any commercial purposes. 

Reader Interactions

April 22, 2024 at 5:10 am

This is Jesus who brought me here.I only praise Him.

April 22, 2024 at 6:02 pm

Hi Faith. So glad you were led to these printables. Thanks for sharing. May God bless you richly as you grow your prayer life.

March 9, 2024 at 1:56 pm

Thank you so much, these are beautiful and so helpful!

April 22, 2024 at 6:23 pm

You’re welcome Ramona. So glad you these are helpful. Thanks for sharing.

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Ultimate Guide to Starting a Prayer Journal: Tips, Templates, and Transformative Practices

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Starting a prayer journal opens a unique pathway to deeper communication with our heavenly Father. It serves as a reflection of your daily walk with Him and a personal space for growth in your faith. Beyond cataloging prayers, this practice becomes a transformative tool for clarity, gratitude, and connection.

My journey with prayer journaling began as a quest to document my prayer requests and deep insights during my quiet moments. The joy that filled my heart as I revisited my journal months or years later and discovered answered prayers was immense. Consequently, journaling has evolved into an essential part of my spiritual routine, becoming a way to visibly trace God’s presence in my life through both challenges and joys.

This guide is designed to introduce you to the enriching practice of prayer journaling, offering practical tips, templates, and insights to help you start your own. Whether you’re new to this practice or looking to deepen your existing routine, you’ll find valuable resources to enhance your prayer life and draw closer to God.

Understanding Prayer Journals

At its essence, a prayer journal is a personal repository for dialogues with the Lord, a place where thoughts, prayers, and reflections are recorded. It serves as a spiritual ledger, documenting one’s personal walk with the Holy Spirit, including the myriad ways He interacts with us through the events of our daily lives. The purpose of such a journal extends beyond the act of writing itself; it fosters a deeper, more reflective relationship with God, enabling us to trace the contours of their spiritual growth over time.

Biblical and Historical Roots

Recording one’s prayers and reflections has deep biblical and historical roots.

• This truth underscores the power of writing: The Bible essentially serves as an extensive journal, documenting the interactions between biblical authors and God, capturing their divine encounters.
• Consider the profound impact of this practice—journaling how God interacts with you. For example, God instructed Habakkuk, And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2, ESV)
• In the Christian tradition, figures such as Saint Augustine and Julian of Norwich kept detailed writings of their prayers and spiritual experiences, offering us early examples of journaling as a tool for spiritual deepening. These historical precedents underscore the enduring significance of journaling how God interacts with us, highlighting its role in facilitating personal introspection and divine communication.

Tangible Expressions of Our Walk with God

Spiritually, a prayer journal is a tangible manifestation of one’s daily walk with the Spirit of God, offering a space for unguarded communication with Him. It’s a practice that encourages honesty, reflection, and patience, allowing for a pause in the rush of daily life to focus on one’s spiritual well-being.

By regularly committing thoughts, prayers, and reflections to paper, individuals can create a lasting record of their spiritual progress, witnessing firsthand how their relationship with God grows and changes.

Life-breather

Moreover, journaling can transform prayer from a lifeless religious obligation into a deliberate act of faith, making it a powerful tool for spiritual growth. It provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the scriptures, meditate on God’s presence in one’s life, and articulate hopes, fears, and thanksgiving.

Through this practice, believers can cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude, gain clarity in their spiritual journey, and foster a closer, more personal relationship with God.

In sum, prayer journals serve as a historical record of one’s walk with the Holy Spirit and a means of deepening one’s faith. They offer a reflective pause in the believer’s life, a quiet space to engage with God in a dialogue that is as personal as it is profound.

Preparing to Start Your Prayer Journal

Select the format that best suits you..

Embarking on the prayer journaling journey begins with a simple yet significant decision: selecting the medium or format for your reflections. The choice between a physical journal and a digital platform is deeply personal, each with merits.

• Physical journals offer a tactile experience. Writing by hand can enhance the reflective process, making the connection between thought and prayer more intimate.
• On the other hand, digital journals provide convenience and accessibility, allowing for easy organization and the ability to journal anytime, anywhere. Ultimately, the decision hinges on which format best supports your prayer habits and lifestyle.

Setting intentions for your prayer journal

This is about more than just deciding what to write; it’s about clarifying the purpose of your journaling practice. Are you looking to document prayers and answers, delve into biblical study, or explore your spiritual emotions and questions? Setting clear goals will guide your journaling journey, helping to focus your reflections and enrich your dialogue with God.

Creating a conducive environment for journaling

Usually, the best moments to journal will be your devotional times set aside for prayer and Bible study. This involves finding a space that inspires peace and reflection, is free from distractions, and is conducive to spiritual contemplation. It might be a quiet corner of your home, a serene natural spot, or any place you feel closest to God. Equally important is choosing the right time for journaling—a time when you can be consistent and fully present. Whether it’s the morning’s calm, the evening’s tranquility, or any moment that suits your daily rhythm, making journaling a regular part of your routine will enhance its benefits and deepen your spiritual practice.

When preparing to start your prayer journal, the emphasis should be on creating a meaningful and sustainable practice. By carefully choosing your journal, setting clear intentions, and fostering the right environment, you lay the groundwork for a prayer journaling practice that documents your spiritual journey and enriches your relationship with God.

Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Prayer Journal

Embarking on the prayer journaling journey is a deeply personal and spiritually enriching practice. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you start your prayer journal, drawing from the best practices and adhering to the quality content guidelines.

Step 1: Making the First Entry

The first page of a new journal often feels daunting, but it’s the beginning of a beautiful dialogue with God. Start by dedicating your journal to God, perhaps with a simple prayer asking for guidance and openness in this new journey. Consider writing down a verse that speaks to you now or a statement of intention for what you hope to achieve through journaling.

Prompts to get started :

• “Today, I’m grateful for…”
• “God, I’m seeking guidance about…”
• “My biggest worry right now is…”
• “A verse that’s speaking to me today is…”

These prompts can help ease you into the practice, making that first mark on the page less intimidating.

Step 2: Structuring Your Entries

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to structuring your prayer journal entries, but having a loose format can help keep your thoughts organized and reflective. Some people prefer a free-form approach, writing whatever comes to mind. Others might adopt a more structured format, such as:

• Date/Time : Keeping track of when you write can help you see the progression of your thoughts and prayers over time.
• Scripture Reflection : Start with a verse and write your thoughts, feelings, and prayers in response.
• Prayer Requests : List specific requests, leaving space to note when and how they’re answered.
• Gratitude : Dedicate a section to thankfulness, acknowledging the blessings in your life.

Step 3: Regular Reflection and Review

Consistency is key in prayer journaling. Set a regular time each day or week for writing. As noted previously, this is best done during your personal devotional moments with God.

This doesn’t have to be lengthy; even a few minutes of writing can be meaningful. Regularly reviewing past entries is also crucial. It allows you to reflect on your spiritual growth, see answered prayers, and recognize patterns in your walk with God. This practice can be incredibly affirming and encouraging, providing tangible evidence of God’s work in your life.

Tips for consistent reflection :

• Set a weekly or monthly review date to go over past entries.
• Use bookmarks or tabs to highlight significant prayers or milestones.
• Share insights from your review with a trusted friend or mentor for added perspective.

Starting a prayer journal is a journey into deeper intimacy with God. Each entry is a step on the path of spiritual growth, self-discovery, and greater faith. By making that first entry, structuring your thoughts, and regularly reflecting on your journey, you create a spiritual legacy that can guide and comfort you for years.

Tips for a Fruitful Prayer Journal Experience

Embarking on the journey of maintaining a prayer journal can be transformative, yet it comes with challenges. Here are some tips to navigate these hurdles, enrich your journaling experience, and leverage this practice for spiritual growth while adhering to the best practices observed in top-ranking articles.

Overcoming Common Challenges

Writer’s block : It’s natural to face moments when words don’t flow easily. When this happens, focus on simplicity. A word, a Bible verse, or even a drawn symbol can be a powerful prayer. Remember, your journal is a personal dialogue with God, not a literary masterpiece.

Maintaining Consistency : Setting a regular time each day for journaling can help make it a habit. Consider integrating journaling into your daily routines, such as morning prayers or bedtime reflections. If you miss a day, don’t be discouraged; the goal is progress, not perfection.

Privacy Concerns : If privacy is a concern, consider using a digital journal with encryption or keeping your physical journal in a secure place. Remember, the value of your journal lies in its honesty and openness.

Incorporating Scriptures and Inspirations

Enrich your journal entries by weaving in scriptures that resonate with your spiritual journey. This practice deepens your understanding of the Bible and anchors your reflections on God’s Word. Inspirational quotes from Christian authors, hymns, or even lines from Christian poetry can add depth to your entries, providing diverse spiritual perspectives.

Using Your Journal for Growth

A prayer journal is a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Review your entries regularly to reflect on your journey, recognize patterns in your prayers, and see how God has moved in your life. This reflection can reveal areas of your life that need more surrender or highlight answered prayers, increasing your faith. Use your journal to track spiritual goals or commitments, making it a roadmap for your prayer life and relationship with God.

By addressing common challenges, incorporating scripture and inspiration, and using your journal as a tool for growth, your prayer journaling practice can become a rich, rewarding experience. It’s a space where struggles and joys are laid before God, fostering a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.

Templates and Resources

Embarking on your prayer journal journey is made easier with the right tools and resources. To kickstart your practice, we’ve curated a selection of templates and resources designed to inspire and guide you. Additionally, we have provided free PDF Prayer Journal templates that you can download and use—no strings attached, no email sign-ups, and no branding on them!

Basic Prayer Journal Template

This template includes sections for daily gratitude, prayer requests, answered prayers, and personal reflections. A brief prompt accompanies each section to spark your thoughts and prayers for the day.

• Gratitude : “Today, I am thankful for…”
• Prayer Requests : “Today, I am praying for…”
• Answered Prayers : “Prayers that were answered recently…”
• Reflections : “God spoke to me today through…”

Weekly Reflection Template

Designed for weekly use, this template helps you reflect on the past week and set spiritual goals for the week ahead. It includes prompts for blessings received, challenges faced, and scriptures that stood out.

• Weekly Blessings : “Blessings I received this week…”
• Challenges & Learnings : “Challenges I faced and what I learned…”
• Scripture of the Week : “A verse that touched me this week…”

Additional Resources

To deepen your understanding and enrich your prayer journaling experience, explore the following resources:

• Websites : Proverbs 31 Ministries and Desiring God websites offer a wealth of articles, sermons, and resources on prayer and spiritual growth.
• Communities : Online forums like Christian Forums or the Well-Watered Women Facebook group provide spaces to share experiences, seek advice, and find encouragement from fellow journalers.
• Books : Here is a prayer journal that many Christian women have found particularly helpful: “ Prayer Journal for Women: 52 Week Scripture, Devotional & Guided Prayer Journal ” by Shannon Roberts. Also, to transform your prayer time and Bible study into an encounter with God, we recommend “ The Devotional Life: Cultivating an Intimate Relationship with God ” by Dr. Patrick Oben.

Free Starter Templates

Here are different design templates you can start with and customize as you progress.

These templates and resources are starting points to inspire your journey. As you grow in your practice, customize your journal to reflect your unique relationship with God, making it a true companion on your spiritual journey.

Keeping a prayer journal is a deeply personal and spiritually enriching endeavor with numerous benefits. It serves as a tangible record of your dialogue with God and a tool for reflection, gratitude, and growth. By documenting your prayers, reflections, and God’s responses, you create a legacy of faith that can inspire and guide you through life’s ups and downs. Journaling fosters a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, encouraging a reflective and thoughtful prayer life.

We’d love to hear about your journey with prayer journaling. Whether you’re just starting or have been journaling for years, your experiences can inspire and encourage others. Please share your story in the comments below or on our social media pages. If you’re looking for a way to begin, download our free prayer journal template above to kickstart your journey. Sign up for our newsletter for more resources and inspiration to deepen your prayer life. Let’s embark on this transformative journey together, exploring the depths of prayer and its impact on our spiritual growth.

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The Ultimate Guide to Prayer Journaling for Beginners

Inside: Step-by-step instructions on how to make a prayer journal and notebook. These tools will help you organize your prayer life!

Sometimes I fall asleep when I’m praying.

I also get distracted by the laundry that I didn’t finish, the children who are arguing, and the random thought about what we should eat for dinner.  I know that it’s important to spend time with God , but often my mind doesn’t cooperate.

Then there are the prayer requests I forget. I have every intention of covering that person in prayer but by the time I get to my quiet time during the day, I can’t remember what they needed. And then there are times when someone gives me a word from God. In that moment it means the world to me but weeks later I struggle to recall the encouraging words.

Can you relate?

I realized that it boiled down to a lack of discipline and organization. I’m guessing you struggle with the same thing. So today I want to show you how to make a prayer journal and notebook to help you stay focused, consistent, and more effective with your prayers.

What is a prayer journal?

A prayer journal is a place to record your conversations with God. You can write down the things that are on your heart and mind, and keep track of God’s answers and blessings. 

It’s something that you can look back on when times get hard and you need a reminder of God’s faithfulness. It’s something that you can use to reflect on your spiritual growth over the years. 

Your prayer journal can be used in any way you want because it’s personal to you and your relationship with God. 

Why use a prayer journal

Using a prayer journal is great for anywhere on your faith journey. If you are a new believer it can help you deepen your prayer life and feel closer to God. The same can happen for a seasoned believer. 

Your relationship with God will grow as you spend time with Him. It’s like any other relationship, the more you invest in it the stronger it will be. Adding a prayer journal to your daily quiet time routine will provide you with a record of your conversations, your growth, and how God moves in your life (and the lives of the people you’re praying for). 

Your prayer journal is a great place to keep track of prayer requests  and praise reports. I always feel terrible whenever I forget to pray for someone. There are so many requests that come my way between church, friends, and this community. Keeping a list of these requests in my journal ensures that I’m constantly praying over them. And I have an amazing list of testimonies from the answers to those prayers. 

In seasons of hard times, those testimonies and answered prayers can provide much-needed encouragement. Those little reminders of God’s goodness and faithfulness will boost your faith when you need it the most.

You can also use your prayer journal to unload all those thoughts and emotions you don’t want to say out loud. It gets it off your heart and out of your mind once you share it with God. Then you can dig into scripture to find truth to stand on. I have pages and pages of verses inside my journal that I use to renew my mind and combat lies. 

Feeling overwhelmed by challenges, uncertain about your faith, and struggling to manage your emotions alone? Want to climb out of your pit of despair? It’s exhausting when every hurdle feels insurmountable and your emotions threaten to drown you. But what if you didn’t have to navigate this journey alone? Take the first step towards peace. Book your Emotional Resilience Coaching package today!

Benefits of writing down prayers

Journaling is great for helping you focus. The simple act of writing forces your mind to engage in whatever you’re doing. That helps with focus.  Also, having things written out means that you spend less time thinking of what to pray about and what to say so there’s less temptation for your mind to wonder. 

Journaling keeps you from being a prayer slacker. When you have all your prayer requests written out — you stop forgetting to pray for people. And you also remember to check in with them to see how things are going. 

Writing the requests down will also help you create a routine/structure for your prayer time — I like to group requests into buckets and then pray for a specific bucket each day of the week. If that sounds confusing no worries, I’ll show you later in this post.

Journaling helps you save time & leave a legacy . One of my “super-secret ninja tips” is to take some time to write out your prayers. Yep write out what you want to say to God about a situation, person, event, etc. It may seem like cheating but it actually helps you save time. You can spend more time praying and less trying to figure out what to say. 

And once your journal is full of prayers it becomes a piece of your legacy that you can leave behind for your children and grandchildren. They can see the prayers that you wrote (and prayed) and see how God answered them over the years. Sure to encourage their hearts and inspire their walk with God. 

How to start prayer journaling

It’s really simple to get started with your prayer journal. You basically need something to write with and something to write on. I’m going to share other supplies with you but please remember that simple is great too! Here are a few tips to get you started:

• When you sit down to write, don’t edit or hold back. Write down anything and everything that comes to mind. Fill the pages with your thoughts, feelings, and anything else you want God to know.
• Write down your prayer requests, dreams, and goals.
• Copy down quotes, scriptures, and anything else you feel God speaks to your heart. These will be great encouragement to you when times get hard.

Types of prayer journals

There are so many options when it comes to the kind of journal you can use.  There isn’t one that is perfect. You’ll have to make a choice and then see if it works for you. Here are some options to consider:

• DIY Prayer Journals – Creating your own prayer journal is an easy way to get started if you are new to the discipline. You could choose a notebook (or bullet journal), add your sections, and get started. 
• Premade Prayer Journals – Using a premade prayer journal for women is great because you can just open it and go! You don’t have to think about what sections you want or don’t want. You’ll have a structure to follow and a system in place to stay organized. 
• Digital Prayer Journal – I don’t have any personal experience with a digital journal but I have friends that use different printables and pdfs and an app called Goodnotes to create a digital prayer journal.

Best prayer journaling supplies

When I said you don’t need much to get started, I meant it. But there are some things that make journaling fun and worthwhile that you might want to consider.

Journals – You can keep it simple and use notebooks, composition books, or moleskins .

Good pens – I’m a bit of a pen fanatic. I have them everywhere and I only like a certain style, ink color, etc.  You’ll be more likely to write more of often if you enjoy it.

Come to the Well –  if you are looking for an easy way to hear clearly from God and cultivate a deeper relationship with Him this is the book for you. I share my testimony of how prayer journaling helped me heal and move forward after abuse. Plus how to cultivate a deeper relationship with God in as little 15 minutes a day.

Decorations – even if you don’t like to draw or aren’t that creative you can spice your journaling pages up with different decorations and accessories. Washi tape is fun and comes in all sorts (dogs, flowers, shapes).  Stickers are an easy way to add some flair. I like to use these designer paper clips to mark the last page I wrote on.

How to m ake a prayer journal

When it comes to organizing your prayer journal my best tip is to choose a focus for each day. It’s okay if you only pray for your family on Monday. And then pray for your friends on Wednesday. Yes, there are going to be things that you’ll want to pray over daily but the rest can be spread out over the rest of the week.

You’ll spend less time in prayer each day BUT

• you’ll actually pray for more things because you’ll have a plan in place and you’ll be less likely to forget
• you’ll stop feeling overwhelmed and like a failure with your prayers so you’ll actually be more consistent with your prayer time
• you’ll gain confidence with your prayers because you actually pray and stop worrying about all the other obstacles that were standing in your way.

Prayer journal sections

There are many different sections that you can include inside your prayer journal or prayer notebook. Here are the sections that I would start with:

• Adoration : start your prayers off by focusing on God, keep a list of your favorite names and characteristics of God here
• Praise : keep a list of all your blessings and answered prayers. It is a great way to encourage yourself during hard times.
• Confessions: before you start asking God for stuff take some time to get a clean heart. Let God highlight any areas of sin in your life that need work
• Daily : this is the section where you’ll keep the prayers for the people that you want to pray for every day (usually the people that live in your home)
• Sunday : my home
• Monday : ministry (that includes you) and finances
• Tuesday : extended family and friends
• Wednesday: missions
• Thursday: unbelieving family and friends
• Friday: government, social justice, and news events
• Saturday: my church and its leaders
• Petitions : keep your personal requests and praise reports here

I like to keep my prayer journal to praying only. But you can include any sections that work for you: bible study, memorization, reading log, resources, etc.

Other Helpful Resources:

• 3 Reasons to Start Prayer Journaling
• How to Pray Using the ACTS Method
• Complete Guide to Breath Prayers

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The Ultimate Prayer Journaling Guide to Ignite Your Prayer Life

December 17, 2018 by Mary 28 Comments

Does your prayer life need a boost? Prayer journaling is the best way to ignite your relationship with God. Find out why keeping a prayer journal is important and how to create your own simple journaling routine. This post is the ultimate guide to jump start your own prayer journaling habit!

“What’s for dinner tonight? Why is this house so messy? I need to work on laundry or the kids won’t have anything to wear…..”

These are the types of thoughts that roll through my head when I try praying the “normal” way. I begin with a prayer in my mind, then immediately thoughts from the world seem to infiltrate every corner of my brain.

Have you been there?

For me, prayer journaling is a lifeline in my relationship with God. It helped me grow spiritually when I didn’t feel close to God . And it’s probably the #1 thing that helps me grow in my relationship with Him.

When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:6

What is a prayer journal?

Basically, a prayer journal is a notebook (or even just paper scraps) that contain your prayers to God. It’s a diary of sorts, but really it’s just prayers on paper, in written form.

It really is that simple. No need to get fancy here.

Why is prayer journaling so important?

There are so many things that make prayer journaling a spiritual game-changer. Here’s why I’m so passionate about it:

• Prayer journaling keeps you focused during prayer time so your thoughts don’t drift as easily.
• It documents your relationship with God, and is a tangible way to look back and reflect on His faithfulness & answered prayers.
• Writing your prayers helps you remember to pray for those in need (when these people are written down, you’re less likely to forget them).
• It’s the perfect way to pour your heart out and get your feelings off your chest.
• It helps you get specific in your prayers, instead of repeating the same phrases time and time again.

This quote describes exactly how I feel about prayer journaling:  

“Writing out my prayers has brought about a freedom in my relationship with Christ that I longed for but never knew if it was really possible.”  How to Keep a Prayer Journal by the Modern Mary

Have I convinced you to try prayer journaling yet? I hope so.

How Prayer Journaling Helped Me in My Spiritual Walk

As a teen, I fell in love with the process of prayer journaling. It was a huge blessing in my relationship God, and I looked forward to my journaling time each night. 

I had no idea how much this practice would bless me when hardships struck later on.

A few years ago, I went through a really dark time of health issues which also led to depression. (It’s not something I particularly enjoy talking about, but if you like, you can read more in my post on the best bible verses for depression ).

Believe me, my prayer journals were absolutely FILLED during that time. That journaling time kept me sane and kept me fighting.

Recently, I was tempted to throw those journals away because they’re a reminder of a painful time I really prefer not to think about. But wisely, my husband convinced me to keep them as a reminder of what God brought me through. I might want to look back on them again someday, he said.

My prayer is that you fall in love with writing your prayers as much as I did, so it can be a source of deep comfort and strength to you – no matter what life throws your way.

How to Keep a Prayer Journal

Now I’m going to share some tips for starting your own prayer journaling routine. This is a simple and basic plan, with options to take it to the next level if you so choose.

1. Realize perfection is not the goal.

My written prayers aren’t legible to anyone but me. But that’s okay, because I don’t really want anyone else to read them.

Fun fact: I often use my own silly abbreviations for long (or even medium-sized) words that I’m too lazy to write! It’s like a secretly coded message, just between me and God.

You don’t need to have beautiful handwriting or even be a good writer. All you need is a pen in your hand and an honest heart.

It’s that moment where you can unleash all your feelings, questions, griefs, and fears – knowing that God is listening and He can take whatever you need to let go of. The best form of therapy.

2. Create a simple prayer notebook.

I rarely keep consecutive, legible journal entries with dates and perfectly marked pages. Instead, my prayer journaling happens whenever the need to connect with God strikes. This could be in a nice journal if there’s one handy, but more than likely, it’s on the back of my child’s school lunch menu. 

That’s because to me, the point of prayer journaling is pouring out my heart – not creating a work of art.

The following quote explains how you should approach writing your prayers: 

Write down exactly what you are thinking. Don’t worry about following a certain order or style. When I write a love letter to my husband, I just write what is on my heart. I don’t perfect it. I don’t erase and rewrite. And that’s what God would love to hear from you. Everything on your heart. – How to Start Keeping a Prayer Journal, rachelwojo.com

Although you can definitely prayer journal on anything, it’s also nice to have a special notebook specifically for this purpose. It’s especially helpful if you want to look back on your prayers someday and reflect on God’s answers. 

Any sort of simple lined notebook works great. Personally, I prefer one with blank pages (like these  Moleskine journals ).

If you’re the organized type and want some beautiful ideas on creating a more aesthetically-pleasing prayer journal, this guide to setting up an organized prayer journal from Intentional by Grace is a great place to start.

3. Divide your prayer journaling process into sections.

Sometimes I just write whatever is on my mind and let it flow from my heart, and other times I use a bit of structure to formulate my written prayers. 

To do this, I divide my journaling into “sections.” It’s based loosely on the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 7 and goes something like this:

• Praise & adoration – Spend time telling God how wonderful He is, because of who He is (not because of the stuff He’s given you).
• Thanksgiving – thank God for specific blessings in your life, along with prayers answered.
• Pouring out my heart – tell God whatever is bothering you and ask Him for whatever you need help with. (This is usually the longest section of my prayer, LOL!)
• Asking for His will – Submit to His plans and acknowledge that He knows best, affirming your trust in Him.
• Asking for forgiveness – anything you need to confess and receive forgiveness for. Spill it.
• Pray for others – finish with requests for specific people you want to remember.

I always finish my prayers with the short phrase “I love You”!! It works for me 😉

Do you want to grow a deeper, more genuine faith?

If so, I know you’ll benefit from the “Woman After God” printable pack .  It is the perfect resource for any woman who is chasing God.

With 20+ pages of resources, you’ll learn to study the Bible effectively, answer deep burning spiritual questions, dive deep into the realm of prayer, and be encouraged with inspirational Scripture art.

This printable pack includes the “What Should I Study?” guide, which holds your hand teaches you exactly how to create a study plan based on your questions. Also included is a real-life study example, so you can watch the process unfold step-by-step.

It also includes prayer resources that will spark your communication with God and keep your dialogue going throughout the day.

If you ever think, “I want to grow closer to God, but I have no idea where to start,” this printable pack will absolutely help.

4. Try a Prayer war room strategy.

Some people like to think of dedicated prayer time as going into their ‘war room.’ Whether you have a specific, private space dedicated to prayer or it changes from day to day – the most important thing is to realize that prayer is a FIGHT. And wielding your pen and prayer journal is a great way to do it!

We are fighting for our relationship with God. For our physical family, our church family, our nation. Satan wants to take all of it down with him, but prayer is the perfect tool to fight back!

When Jesus faced Satan in the wilderness during his temptations (Luke 4), he used Scripture to defeat the enemy. We must do the same.

So, I recommend praying the Scriptures during your journaling time as a way to implement a ‘war room’ mentality. You can change the words a little bit to make the verse into a prayer. Here are some wonderful Scriptures to start praying today:

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
• “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Pslam 63:1)
• “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
• “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 9:1)

What are your favorite Scriptures to pray? Please, add them in the comments!

If you want to ‘do battle’ in prayer for specific members of your family, I’ve compiled some great resources for you: 

• 10 Powerful Scriptures to Pray for Your Kids
• Praying for Your Husband: 10 Prayers for the Christian Wife
• 12 Prayers to Invigorate Your Marriage Relationship

5. Use Prayer Journaling Prompts.

If you need a little specific guidance to go along with the journaling sections described, here are some prayer prompts to enrich your writing:

• Name some ways God has provided for you this week and say thanks.
• What do you spend most of your time thinking about? Confess your thought life to God and ask for help.
• What sin are you struggling with right now? Ask God for help.
• Who is on your heart right now that needs God?
• Tell God the goals you have in life and ask for His guidance.
• Tell God what you’re afraid of and pray for courage.

If you want specific prayers to deepen your prayers even further, grab these beautiful “My God & I” Prayer Prompt Cards below!

Sample prayer journal entry

Now that I’ve explained the ‘why’ and ‘how to’ behind prayer journaling, I’d like to show you a sample entry from my prayer journal to show you how I implement this in real life. 

Dear Lord, You are high above all and Your ways are so much greater than my ways. You are perfect, holy, and only love. Thank You for being who You are and for loving me. I’m so grateful for every blessing in my life – spiritual and physical. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me and thank you for helping me know the Gospel and giving me life in You. Also thank you for my church family, husband, children, home, and my health. Lord, you know me better than I know myself. I’m struggling to trust Your plan. I always think I know better and have a hard time leaving things in Your hands. Please help me with this. Let Your will be done in my life, because Your plan is better. Help me follow Your lead. Please forgive me when I doubt and question You when I have no right to. Forgive me when I act in selfishness and sin because I’m focused on this world.  – Sample Prayer Journal Entry, 12/15/2018

How to NOT Forget to Pray for Others

You may have noticed I did not include the people I’m specifically praying for in the sample prayer. Obviously, this is for reasons of privacy but I always like to include them at the close of my prayer. It’s just a habit I’ve tried to cultivate. 

When someone asks for prayers, I usually try to stop right then and there and pray for them too so I don’t forget. But adding a section in a prayer journal is also a great idea. I love the following tip:

Write each day of the week at the top of seven adjacent pages in your prayer journal, beginning with Sunday. (Reserve one page, front and back, per day.) Under the pages marked Sunday through Friday, write at least one person for whom you will pray.  Arabah Joy , How to Make a Simple Prayer Journal

Need a printable prayer journal template pdf?

If you don’t want to start a prayer journal from scratch and would rather have a guide to walk you through basic journaling, sign up for my newsletter and get the free “Nourish Your Spirit” quiet time guide .

This guide will help you get specific and meaningful in your prayers, and also includes a basic bible study guide to help you dig into the Word.

If you’re struggling with God not answering your prayers the way you want Him to, you may want to read my post Why Won’t God Answer My Prayer?

Whew! That was a lot of in-depth information on prayer journaling! If you’ve read this far, I’d really appreciate if you’d share this post using the social sharing buttons on the bottom of your screen. Let’s encourage others to prioritize prayer!

Do you use a prayer journal? Any tips to share?

Mary is a minister's wife, mom of two boys, and former missionary to Scotland. She’s also the creator of Healthy Christian Home, where she points to God's spiritual and physical nourishment through the natural world He has created. In her free time, you can find her with a cup of hot tea and a stack of books -- or watching a new BBC series.

Reader Interactions

February 6, 2019 at 1:13 pm

This information is sure to help me as I begin a Prayer Journal and grow closer to the Lord. I can hardly wait to get started. Thank you! Cassie

February 6, 2019 at 2:09 pm

Yay Cassie! Best wishes on your Prayer Journaling journey! Thanks for reading.

August 7, 2019 at 9:06 pm

God has been leading me to start a prayer journal. Now since I have found this web page, it has encouraged me more to start a prayer journal. Thank you SO much for posting this page. Be blessed.

August 7, 2019 at 10:00 pm

That is incredible Joyna! I pray it blesses your life in huge ways. To God Be the glory!

August 13, 2020 at 6:46 am

Hi Mary I think this is just what i need, I’ve been struggling with my prayer life and i really need a boost thank you for sharing.

August 22, 2020 at 12:37 pm

Hi Mary I do currently feel promoted to write about prayer journaling .This post is really insightful and directional. Thank you 🤗

August 22, 2020 at 12:38 pm

Thank you for reading and God bless

September 5, 2020 at 2:51 pm

Thank you so much for sharing Mary. I recently started Journaling and it has been a tremendous help.

Blessings Kathryn

September 5, 2020 at 3:55 pm

That’s wonderful Kathryn!

January 15, 2021 at 12:34 pm

I just now came across this in Pinterest. I made a new year’s resolution to start making prayer a priority and 2 weeks later…….still struggling! Thank you for this post and thank Jesus for the timing of this post. A lot of very good information and ideas!

January 15, 2021 at 3:18 pm

Connie I’m so glad, and blessings to you as you continue your journey through prayer!

March 6, 2021 at 9:36 pm

I really appreciate you taking the time to write this blog. I can’t wait to start journaling my prayers. I tried clicking on the free “Nourish Your Spirit” link and it comes back as an error. Is there some way to retrieve it?

March 6, 2021 at 10:18 pm

I will work on fixing that! Here’s the link: https://www.subscribepage.com/w1a1l5

March 6, 2021 at 10:55 pm

Thanks so much!!!!

March 21, 2021 at 8:28 am

I’m a struggling Sunday school teacher. I’d started a prayer journal and have my Sunday school class doing the same. They’re on board, but after reading this, I’ll make sure to pass this info on, hoping it will not only encourage them, but help me to help them. Thank you for this. God bless 💕

March 21, 2021 at 12:14 pm

Glad you found it helpful, blessings to you!

December 7, 2021 at 9:35 am

This is the second time I’ve read this post. Commenting this time. 🙂

Thank you for writing about perfectionism and just letting the prayers flow. I needed to hear this.

I’ve been doing ‘Morning Pages’ which is 3 pages of ‘dumping your brain’. 3 pages is the only rule….grammar, content, messy handwriting don’t matter. I noticed that within these 3 pages I included a lot of prayers…because dumping my brain brought up a lot of issues and people, including myself, and prayer was the natural response. So I did a search for prayer journaling and this post came up.

None of the other links that came up have addressed this kind of prayer journaling. They are too structured for my personality and I can’t stick with them. I never thought of keeping a prayer journal this way…pouring out my prayers as the spirit leads, yet I can still go back to them and pray them again if I want to do so.

So far, using your journaling style has worked well for me. If someone or something is particularly on my heart, I stop and go write a prayer in that prayer journal. I’ve always expressed myself better in writing than I can just speaking…so why not write out my prayers?

You asked in this post which scriptures we pray. One of my favorites, and one I pray OFTEN is, “Create in me a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit in me.” -Psalm 51:10.

Thanks again, and may God bless you abundantly and above all you can ask or think!

December 7, 2021 at 2:40 pm

Kara, thank you for sharing your beautiful comments! It made my day! May God bless you richly as well.

December 29, 2021 at 2:37 pm

Hi Mary,I am so GRATEFUL for finding this post I have been starting to do a Prayer Journal but never get started, I have more than enough pen and journals I even have created some, but never get started. This post is fantastic and simple.. On today 12/29/2021my son rededicated his life back to our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽I am so GRATEFUL for all that HE has done for me. If HE did it for me HE can do it for others too. I am so THANKFUL! With that said I know what PRAYER CAN DO. This has ignited me to grab my Journal and start to writing ✍ Thank you. Keep up the GREAT WORK you are doing and may GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

January 6, 2022 at 7:26 am

Thank you so much for this very helpful guide. I’m just wondering about the 7 Easy Prayer Journaling Steps – I thought I miss the 6th and 7th Steps.

January 8, 2022 at 8:29 pm

I started writing my prayers out several years ago on days when I couldn’t focus or my head was spinning out of control. Its very therapeutic. Some times I’ll write them for several days in a row and other times there were huge gaps. I have gone back and reread them. Its very interesting to see what I was going through, what I was feeling, and what prayers have been answered and what ones haven’t been and I’m still praying for. It also shows how my prayers have evolved. I just use a spiral notebook. I think better with color so I have several colored pens with my journal that I use depending on my mood!

August 3, 2022 at 8:18 am

I loved this praying journaling guide. This will help me improve my praying habits and develop inner peace. Thanks for writing this amazing post.

September 20, 2022 at 5:21 am

Thank you for sharing this Prayer Journaling Guide, will surely be helpful to maintain discipline.

November 21, 2022 at 5:17 am

I just came across this article while I was searching for a new way to connect with God, and prioritizing my prayer time. I really feel inspired by this, thank you for helping others and me on this hard time I’m going thru. Please pray for my marriage and I will be starting a journal thanks to your guide and journaling tips.

January 4, 2024 at 7:09 am

Very Good Mary,

Have you ever thought how the Psalms is just a prayer journal of a man after God’s own heart. You have a great gift. Keep using it.

January 4, 2024 at 8:06 am

Thanks so much for your encouragement!

June 13, 2024 at 3:22 pm

Hello Mary, I am impressed with what you have shared, I certainly want to return more intimately with the Lord as I once was. I was not brought up in a Christian Home & the Lord ‘found me’ when I was almost 50! A few years on & I became a missionary in the Philippines for almost two years. my prayer life has been sparse & I concur with some of your thoughts on this. I am English & live in England, now aged 92! I have been so blessed being a conduit for the Holy Spirit & I long to be of service once again. I will read again through all what you have shared another time shortly & make a fresh start. Thank you, Love in Him, John.

June 13, 2024 at 4:25 pm

Really glad you are here John! I recommend browsing through my spiritual articles and especially the one called “How to be Saved According to the Bible.” God bless!

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Prayer Requests and Learning How to Pray

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How to Start a Prayer Journal

• Debbie Przybylski Intercessors Arise
• Updated Aug 19, 2019

“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer” ( Psalm 45:1 ).

Some of the most profound insights and experiences of life come through prayer journaling. God wants to speak and give us insights into life. Journaling brings shape and order to everything that we do. I have been keeping a prayer journal for many years, and it helps keep my life in order and my priorities right. It has been an important discipline in my prayer life, helping me to remember what God has done.

If you don't already have a prayer journal you can start today by journaling on a piece of paper then transfer your writings to a journal when it arrives. We've listed some of the highest rated prayer journals here if you don't currently have one or need an upgrade for a fresh start! 

Strength and Dignity Handy-sized Leather Journal - Proverbs 31:25

Large Hardcover Wirebound Journal - 2 Corinthians 12:9-11

How to Prayer Journal Every Day

“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles and the judgments he pronounced” ( 1 Chronicles 16:11-12 ).

Prayer journaling is a way to dialogue with God daily, so that we can remember what and how God is speaking to us. Here are some key ways to do it:

Journal regularly but not out of duty - You may journal daily, weekly, or as often as you like. It is really up to you. It is important not to look at prayer journaling as a heavy burden or a duty. It’s a friend and will help you in life rather than weigh you down with another responsibility.

Record God’s answers to your prayers - My husband recorded the dates of answered prayer while living overseas, and he saw how faithfully God answered his prayer requests. It is a testimony of God’s goodness.

Watch for the progress you are making in your spiritual life - I always look back in my prayer journals and see how I develop spiritually from year to year. It helps me so much to see spiritual progress in my life and how God is working.

Write out what God is saying to you - This is important so that you can look at your journal during the quiet seasons in your spiritual life. Ask yourself, “How is God personally revealing Himself to me?” 

Write out key Bible verses that speak to you during times of prayer - God will guide and help you in important times of decision-making by using Scripture. 

Prayer journaling will help you to see real growth in your life because you are bringing to God the things that concern you. Through journaling, you will see your life more clearly through God’s eyes. He has so much to say when we give Him time and seek His face. It’s important to write it down and not miss out on the wisdom He wants to share with us. 

I believe that you will find it to be an irreplaceable blessing in your prayer and devotional life.  

This is an 7-minute training that will help you learn key ways to prayer journal. Watch the video called: How to Prayer Journal . 

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy” ( Psalm 77:11-13 a).

Debbie Przybylski

Intercessors Arise International

www.intercessorsarise.org

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The Incredible Power of A Prayer Journal + 3 Free Templates

Why keep a prayer journal.

Page Contents

What is a prayer journal? Our bible as we know it bears tales of exploits of God and believers. We are encouraged by what we know God has done. This is what becomes our basis of what God can do. There is a common phrase in Christian circles “If he has done it before, he can do it again!” God, however, takes it much further than this.

Is there anything too hard for the Lord? Whatever is unrecorded is at risk of being lost forever. If David had not written down his trials and victories, just how much would the body of Christ have missed out on? The Psalms carry tales of ups and downs and further downs! There is always a place you can relate to at any point in your life.

A prayer journal is a record of your conversations with God . You write down what you are currently speaking to him about, what you intend to speak to him about, what he has said to you, and what he has done. It bears a true record of your life’s ups and downs.

The Psalms are filled with these records of king David’s life. As much as we often speak of his victories, there are sad times of unimaginable trials. We will have these as well seasons as well. Seasons where an anointed king David would become destitute. Seasons where a blessed Job would be advised to curse his God and die.

These are principles that are shared in secular circles as well. Your life should bear record. That is why many speakers encourage you to keep a diary of your day to day activities. Are your day to day activities more important than the relationship that you have with the Lord? There are several places where you could purchase a prayer journal, but you could easily make your own or use a notebook. Below are some tips that you can use on this journey.

Meditate on his word

Joshua 1: 8

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success . The word of God is the backbone of all relationships with the Lord. This is where you hear from the Lord, see his ways and learn from those that have been here before.

Together with prayer, the word of God is the most important things that all Christians cannot go without. The first thing you can put in your journal is what you have read from the word of God and how you will apply it. Couple this with things that you will be praying for on that day regarding the scripture that you have just read. If you have read Joshua 1:8, your prayers for the day could go in the lines of:

• Father thank you for your word, I will adhere to it, I will speak it.
• My thoughts shall be aligned with your word. I will meditate on it day and night. Give me the grace to make time for this oh Lord.
• Father may your word govern my actions. I will observe and live according to it. My ways will be prosperous, I will be successful. In Jesus’ name. Amen

The aim of all of this is not to end up writing things that you do not make use of. Writing it will make sure that it is in your thoughts for the rest of the day. This is what feeds on that call to pray without ceasing . As you meditate on the word, have prayer points for that word, and take action by praying through your day.

In the fast-paced world that we live in today, there is never going to be a moment where the world pauses for you to pray. Make it a priority to do it on the go. It should become a part of every breath. As you think, as you speak (better yet before you speak), as you eat, as you drive, as you work, in all seasons and actions prayer should be a light to guide you.

Hiding it in my heart

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart   that I might not sin against you.

Our faith is under attack on a day to day basis. This is not a unique or even new phenomenon. Job was asked where his God was in his time of despair.

David wandered helplessly while he knew the Lord had anointed him king of Israel. It is only the word that is hidden in your heart that will fuel you in such seasons. When you hide the Lord’s word in your heart, it becomes a part of your very being. To deny him would be to deny yourself, to deny your very existence.

Not down a word that contradicts your predicament in times of trouble. The prophet Joel said it best, Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I  am  strong.

You live what you truly believe

That statement above couldn’t be more true. The way you live is a testament to what you believe. If this isn’t the case for you, there is something gravely wrong that ought to be rectified. Whatever you believe should be mirrored in the way you speak, the way you think, and the way you act.

Your actions are an extension of your faith. When the disciples went out to preach the gospel after Jesus had been crucified, those who saw and heard them knew their affiliation to Christ. Do those who hear you speak and see you know that you are walking with? Change is a very conscious process at times, check yourself.

We are not without a helper, and cannot do these things alone. Seek the Lord, confess your shortcomings and ask for his grace to overcome. These are things that when placed in your journal, are prayed over, thought about and finally reviewed later. A journal helps you track your own progress as well as the testimony of what God has done.

Whom are you praying for?

This is also another key aspect of your prayer journal. Write down the needs of others and pray over them . Your journal acts as a reminder of whom you should be praying for, and a record that you are doing it. This is not with a mind to show others how “prayerful” you are, but to hold yourself accountable. We are all stewards of his grace, we should not bury it.

Starting Your Own Prayer Journal

Sample  prayer journal e ntry.

Source for images

Printable  Prayer Journal

Free Printable Monthly Prayer Journal + Notes a4

Free Printable Monthly Prayer Journal + Notes a3

Prayer Journal template excel

Prayer Journal S ections And P rayer Journal C ategories

There are no set sections or categories in a prayer journal, per se. It will be unique to you as an individual. Here are some that we recommend.

• Illness: people for whom you are praying for in relation to healing.
• Salvation: Prayers in relation too coming to Christ.
• Intercession: Where you are standing in the gap for situations that you know of or not know of. This will include praying for nations.
• Financial: This is probably one of the ones the Lord receives the most prayers for. Money is important to our lives, it plays a massive role. Include financial breakthroughs that you are believing for. These may be for you or someone else.

Alternative format:

• Interceding for: Whom or what are you praying for without the express motivation of personal benefit from the prayer being answered.
• Prayers for me: What are you believing God for? What are you personally praying for?
• Testimonies: What has God done in this period.
• Urgent: Timebound prayer requests: rent, serious illnesses etc .
• Notes: Thoughts, joys, frustrations.

How To Make  A H omemade  Prayer Journal

At times a personal touch your journal plays into making prayer an involved, practical and deliberate act. How to make a homemade prayer journal:

We will create the banner/planner journal first:  

• Consider the material that you may need.
• If you are going for something similar to the one we have for download, you could consider using cardboard.
• To create a pretty look, get some white/coloured paper.
• Cut the cardboard into the intended size (with where you want to put it considered).
• Stick the paper together is they do not fit the size that you are going for.  
• Use marker pens and rulers to create the lines that you need for the dates.
• Make the squares relative to the size of your board. You want to have enough space for some notes.
• Once you have all the squares drawn, write the numbers in the boxes to signify the dates.
• Consider colouring days in different colours. Monday = Green, Tuesday = Blue and so on.
• Place it in your prayer closet! Let’s get prayed up!!

Creating a homemade prayer journal:

• Get an annual calendar/journal or a simple notepad.
• Rename the note section to (I am praying for).
• Use the day to day meeting/scheduling to plan prayer times.
• Record day to day events.

Prayer Journal E xamples

Here is a great video of a prayer journal we found.

Prayer Journal T emplate

We have taken the liberty of creating a prayer journal template in the monthly fashion. You may download it and print or edit to meet your requirements.

Monthly Prayer Journal a4 .Docx

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Ultimate FREE Printable Prayer Journal Template Vault

Have you been looking for a prayer journal template to DIY your own war room prayer journal? Check out this post and get access to our FREE Prayer Journal Template Vault below!

Creating a prayer journal has been one of the most impactful parts of growing my prayer life. I have always had a strong desire to pray more, but found that without much clear direction, I often was left reciting basic prayers without much depth or direction.

When I first started prayer journaling, I simply found a blank journal with a beautiful cover and started writing! This worked beautifully and allowed for raw pure conversations between me and my Father in heaven. As my prayer habit grew however, I learned that I needed some way to organize all of the parts of my prayers. I began creating simple Prayer Journal templates to help keep my prayers organized.

This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You can  read our entire affiliate disclosure  and privacy policy here.

Free Prayer Journal Template Vault

When I first started organizing my prayer journal, I found that there were a few consistent things I added. This included the breakdown of bible verses, lists of prayer requests and praise reports, specific scriptures for people I prayed for as well as paragraphs of diary like conversations with God. 

What I also found is that I needed to mix and match templates from others to get everything I wanted in a daily prayer journal printable. So I started creating templates that I both loved esthetically but also that incorporated all the prompts I needed for prayer. 

Printable bundles like this are fun to make and share so I have bundled up several of my favorites in a prayer journal vault for your personal use! You can create your own prayer journal with any one of these gorgeous free printables. With each prayer journal bundle you will receive:

1. Prayer List Template and Prayer Request Sheet

Sometimes our prayers come easily, the words flow and we have tons to say, other times we need a guide for our daily prayer.

One of the most impactful entries on our vault of printable prayer worksheets are these prayer journal templates which include two versions of the prayer request list template. These daily prayer journal pages can be used to prepare war room prayers or as a guide to remind yourself who to pray for.

One of the template designs comes with space to jot down your list of prayer requests. The second version of these prayer list templates can simply be used to list all of your praises and your personal prayer needs. 

These templates remind us that we can and should pray for others in our conversations with the Lord. They can also be used as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

2. Bible study prayer page

Often times our prayers can be guided by our bible reading and devotional time. For this reason, I include a bible study printable to the bundle. When I first began using my prayer journal I would read a passage of scripture and then pray about it.

This helped me to temper each of my prayers with the word of God, and set my heart in the right space before I began praying.

These pages follow the SOAP method of studying the bible and are great when you do  topical bible studies .

3. DIY Prayer journal printable

The prayer notes printable template is a great way for your free flowing brain dump style prayers. When there is a lot on your heart and you are unsure of where to start, use this page to simply start praying. 

These pages can also be used in conjunction with the other prayer journal printable pages as additional space to write prayers or bible study notes.

Each of these can be used individually or together to create the ideal prayer quiet time.

Want a sneak peak at the vault? You can download these prayer journal template pdfs for free! Simply click on the caption of each picture for your free prayer journal printable download.

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What are the Benefits of using our printable prayer journal template?

One of the benefits of  writing your prayers in a prayer journal  is the fact that you have a record of your prayers to read in the future. Reading through your prayers allows you to see God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life. This is a wonderful way to keep a record of your testimony and see proof of the power of prayer during the hard times in life.

The prayer journal pages that I have created allow space for you to list specific prayer requests and praise reports as well as have additional room to list scriptures to pray over those requests.

Creating these war room style prayer requests gives extra weight to the prayers you pray and increases your understanding of using the word of God to pray for those you love. 

What do I write in a Prayer Journal?

Once you access the prayer journal templates vault and print out your favorite designs, you may start to wonder what next? What should you write in your journal and how should you structure it?

Well first you must remember, prayer is just a conversation, and these templates are just tools. These printable prayer journals give you some guidance to organize your prayers. You can use them to simply write down everything you want to bring before the Lord, or use them as your method of prayer. Either way is both acceptable and impactful! 

Use the Prayer Journal templates to organize your prayers

If you decide to use your prayer journal templates as a way to organize your prayers before you go before the Lord, then I recommend you use the template that looks more like a list.

Here you can write down the needs of those you wish to pray for and then search for biblical promises and encouragements that speak to that particular need. Using the printable prayer journal templates in this method allows you to create a strategy for your warroom prayers. I like this method because after creating a prayer strategy on a particular topic I can then post the completed form in my prayer closet to use during my  quiet time with God . 

Use printable prayer templates to write your prayers

Another way to use your templates involves you actually writing your prayers directly on the printables. This way is nice because you can use a bindle to create a journal that you can keep with you at all times to write in. 

There are many different methods of prayer to use should you decide to write your prayers out directly in your prayer journal. Two simple to incorporate ways to pray include:

The P.R.A.Y. Method

• P – praise God for who he is
• R – repent of your sins
• A – ask for what you need or for the needs of others
• Y – yield your will to that of God

The A.C.T.S. Method

• A – adoration for who God is
• C – confession of our sins
• T – thanksgiving for your blessings
• S – supplication, share what’s on your heart and what you and others may need

Regardless of the way you decide to going about writing your prayers on one of the templates, the goal should be the same. Spending meaningful time in prayer helps you in connecting with God, getting to know him more, and tunes your heart to  see him in everything . 

Also Read: Top 10 FREE Printable Prayer Journal Ideas

How to use these prayer journal templates

I like to create a binder with the prayer journal templates. This usually involves printing out multiple of each sheet I want to use and keeping them handy to add to my prayer binder as needed. 

With 4 different prayer style templates you can create the prayer time that serves you best. If you are new to prayer journaling and are unsure where to start, I recommend checking out this  guide for starting a prayer journal . 

While the benefits of a prayer journal are numerous, the greatest is the assistance in building an  effective prayer routine . Growing in your walk with God through daily communion and fellowship with him is the number one best way to change the course of your life for the better! 

Still another way you can use the prayer journal printable templates is in conjunction with one of our planners, guided journals and  topical bible studies . Having focused bible study time in addition to your prayer time can really help increase the quality of your prayer and meditation. 

Approach God Boldly

My hope is you are able to use these prayer journal templates to grow in habit and boldness as you approach God in prayer. Use them daily to grow a habit of constant conversation with God, knowing and believing that he is not a passive listener and he hears you. I want you to walk in the fullness of knowledge that you pray to God not as a beggar hoping for scraps of affection. I want you to pray confidently, like the beloved daughter of God. You come not as a beggar but as an heir.

In Hebrews 4:16, Paul instructed the children of God to…

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Prayer is a conversation, and my prayer is that these prayer journal templates help you to increase your prayer life and your faith exponentially!!

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7 thoughts on “Ultimate FREE Printable Prayer Journal Template Vault”

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Wow, what a fantastic resource!

Prayer is such a vital thing in our lives to engender peace and wisdom, and I think having a resource that encourages one to pray for others and pray in the Word of God is a beautiful offering to fellow Christians.

Wow! This is so awesome and inspirational! Thanks so much for sharing!

Awesome resource! This is a beautiful printable!

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My Favorite Travel Journal Ideas (Creative Formats & Prompts)

Discovering creative travel journal ideas can truly elevate your travel experience, allowing you to capture memories and emotions that might otherwise fade with time.

A carefully constructed travel journal is not only a personal reminder, but can also be an invaluable resource for later journeys or to share your explorations with others.

In this blog post, we will cover various unique and engaging ways to document your travels. From scrapbooking and bullet journals to art journals and multimedia recordings, there’s a method that caters to every traveler’s preferences and style.

So whether you’re looking forward to a short upcoming trip or planning an extended journey across the globe, let these inspiring travel journal ideas guide you in creating a meaningful record of your experiences that will last a lifetime.

What is a Travel Journal? And How Do I Start?

One of the best ways to preserve your travel memories is by creating a travel journal . This creative outlet allows you to document your experiences, reflect on the places you’ve visited, and capture those special moments that make each trip unique.

Whether you’re an experienced traveler or just starting on your adventures, keeping a travel journal can help bring more meaning and depth to your journeys.

A travel journal doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it should be a fun outlet for self-expression.

Here are some ideas for making your own:

• Choose a format that suits your style : You might prefer writing in a notebook, creating a travel bullet journal, using an app on your phone, or even recording voice memos. Experiment with different formats until you find one that works best for you.
• Include photos and mementos: Don’t forget to add pictures from your travels along with tickets, postcards, maps, and other souvenirs that will help jog memories when looking back at the journal later. This is my favorite step in the process!
• Create prompts for yourself: If writing doesn’t come naturally coming up with travel journal ideas can feel intimidating. If that’s you, you can always use prompts to guide what information about each day’s activities should go into the journal. A simple one: “What new experiences did I encounter today?” This can be used to spur meaningful recollections about the day’s activities. But don’t worry, I’ve included 25 more awesome prompts below!
• Add personal touches: Customize your journal by adding drawings, stickers, or even creating a unique cover. This will make your travel journal feel more personal and special to you.

Focus on having a good time and savoring the journey when keeping your travel journal.

There’s no need to stress about making it flawless. Instead, concentrate on recording your experiences in an authentic way that brings pleasure and value to YOUR experience.

Creative and Personal Travel Journal Ideas

Writing down your experiences in a travel diary is an excellent way to remember and cherish the moments you’ve had while on vacation. And there is so much space for creativity and unique travel journal ideas out there. Here are some of my favorites!

1. Organize Your Thoughts with a Scrapbook

A scrapbook is an excellent way to organize your thoughts and memories from your travels. By assembling different keepsakes such as images, tickets, postcards, and other trinkets from your travels, you can make a physical representation of your journey that will help you preserve the details for years to come.

Here are some tips on how to make the most out of your travel scrapbooking experience:

• Choose a theme: Before starting your scrapbook, decide on a central theme or concept that will guide its design. Choose a concept or theme that reflects the destination, activities are undertaken on the trip, and emotions felt during it.
• Select materials: Gather all necessary supplies such as scissors, glue sticks, tape runners/adhesives ( here’s a list of best adhesives for scrapbooking ), pens/markers for journaling, and embellishments like stickers or washi tapes. Choose papers in colors and patterns that complement your chosen theme.
• Create layouts: Plan each page layout by arranging photos and memorabilia before gluing them down permanently. Consider using templates (free digital templates available here) if you need inspiration or guidance.
• Add journaling elements: Don’t forget to include captions describing where each photo was taken or what it represents. This adds context to both the images themselves but also helps jog memory when looking back at the travel diary later on. You can also include quotes, song lyrics, words in a local language, or anecdotes that capture the essence of your trip.
• Embellish: Add finishing touches to each page with stickers, stamps, washi tape, and other decorative elements. This will help give your scrapbook a polished and cohesive look.

A well-crafted travel scrapbook not only serves as a beautiful keepsake but also provides an opportunity for reflection on personal growth experienced during the journey. Plus, it’s always fun to share these memories with friends and family who may have been part of the adventure.

2. Write Down Your Experiences in a Travel Diary

Recording the details of your journey in a travel diary is an effective way to capture and remember the sights, sounds, and smells that you experience each day.

Writing in a diary about your travels can be an opportunity to consider how the experiences have impacted you as an individual.

One of the pros of the method is that you can fill out a travel diary regularly while you’re on the go. You won’t need a huge setup of paper and glue sticks for this.

To get started with writing down your travel experiences in a diary, follow these simple steps:

• Pick the right journal: Choose a notebook that feels comfortable for you — that you can make into your OWN journal. Whether it’s lined or unlined pages, hardcover or softcover, make sure it’s something durable enough to withstand being tossed around in your luggage. (Here are some popular options for travel journals.)
• Create daily entries: Dedicate time every day during your trip to write about what happened – from exciting adventures like zip-lining through rainforests to quiet moments spent people-watching at cafes. Record not only what you saw, but also the emotions it evoked. If doing it daily feels overwhelming, you can experiment with doing it every other day or once a week. Whatever makes sense for your trip.
• Add personal touches: Personalize your diary by including photos, ticket stubs, postcards, or even pressed flowers from places visited along the way. These small mementos will bring back memories when flipping through the pages later on. It doesn’t have to be as intricate as a scrapbook, but even stapling in a ticket can be a fun way to add a little something to your travel diary.
• Incorporate quotes and local phrases: Include interesting quotes from locals or fellow travelers that resonated with you during conversations throughout the journey. Jotting down common phrases in foreign languages can be both fun and educational.

Writing a travel diary can be therapeutic and help you process your experiences, making it an essential part of any trip. Plus, when you return home, you’ll have a unique keepsake that tells the story of your adventures in your own words.

If writing isn’t your thing but you still want to document your journey somehow, consider trying out Day One , a digital journaling app that allows users to create entries with text, photos, and even audio recordings.

3. Make an Art Journal

One of the most creative and personal ways to document your travels is by creating an art journal .

This type of travel journal allows you to express yourself through sketches, paintings, and drawings inspired by the places you visit on your adventures. Not only does this method help you uniquely capture memories, but it also encourages mindfulness and helps improve your artistic skills.

You can find some beautiful travel journal examples on Pinterest – here are some great art journal examples to help you get inspired.

And to get started with your art journal, follow these simple steps:

• Gather Your Supplies: You’ll need a sketchbook or notebook with blank pages (preferably acid-free), pencils or pens for drawing, watercolors or colored pencils for adding color, and any other materials that inspire you (e.g., collage elements like magazine clippings). There’s a lot of room for creativity here! But also if you only have two pencils, don’t think this method can’t work for you. You can create an art journal with anything you have on hand!
• Create a Routine: Set aside time each day during your trip to work on your art journal. Schedule a regular moment to create your art journal – whether it’s starting the day with some coffee and sketching, after an eventful day winding down, or in a cafe during an afternoon ice cream break.
• Inspiration Is Everywhere: Look around at the scenery, architecture, and people – anything can serve as inspiration for a sketch or painting. Don’t be afraid to explore new ideas and methods.Also don’t feel pressure to have a “concept.” One of the great things about art journaling is that it’s a form of non-verbal expression. So let the visual inspiration guide you.
• Add Personal Touches: If you want, you can also include written descriptions alongside your artwork describing what inspired each piece or how it made you feel while creating it.

If you’re new to art journals and need some guidance on techniques and ideas, Skillshare offers several online courses tackling various aspects of art journaling. Additionally,  “The Artist’s Journey: A Creative Visual Memoir” by Danny Gregory is an excellent book that showcases the author’s travel art journal and provides tips on how to create your own.

Capturing your travel memories in an art journal can be a unique and creative way to preserve them. It allows you to explore your creativity while capturing memories in a way that photographs alone cannot achieve. So grab your supplies, find inspiration in the world around you, and start creating.

4. Create Travel Vlogs

If you’re looking for a more dynamic way to capture your travel experiences, consider documenting your adventures through video or audio recordings .

Travel vlogs are becoming increasingly popular as they offer viewers a glimpse into the life of a traveler. You can make a travel vlog of your road trip, international trip, or even weekend getaway to the next town over.

To create your own travel vlog, simply record videos throughout your trip using a smartphone or camera, then edit the footage together to tell the story of your adventure. if you want to, you can even upload these videos on platforms like YouTube or Instagram for others to see.

Tips for creating engaging travel vlogs:

• Keep it short: Aim for around 10-15 minutes per video so that viewers don’t lose interest.
• Showcase highlights: Focus on capturing exciting moments and beautiful scenery rather than mundane activities like packing bags .
• Add music: Include background music that complements the mood of each scene to enhance the viewer experience.
• Narrate: Share personal anecdotes about what made each moment special while providing context about locations visited during narration segments.

5. Make Audio Journals

An alternative option to a travel vlog is recording an audio journal – essentially narrating stories from different stages of their travels into voice memos stored digitally within devices such as smartphones/tablets/laptops etcetera.

These files may later be shared via email/social media platforms if desired. But the primary purpose is probably to allow you to have easy access to the files when reminiscing past adventures.

Benefits of audio journals:

• Easier to create: Simply hit the record button on your device and start talking about your experiences – no need for fancy equipment or editing software.
• More personal: Audio recordings capture the emotion in your voice, making it a more intimate way to document your travels than written text alone.
• Convenient: You can record an audio journal anytime, anywhere – even while you’re exploring new destinations.

Incorporating video or audio elements into your travel documentation allows for a richer storytelling experience that goes beyond traditional journaling methods.

Whether you choose to create captivating vlogs or intimate audio journals, these formats will help preserve cherished memories from each adventure with greater depth and authenticity than ever before.

My Favorite Travel Journal Prompts

To help you start filling those travel journal pages or recording narration for your travel blog, here are some of my travel journal prompts you can use in any travel journal format:

• What was your first impression of the place you’re visiting?
• Describe the local cuisine and your favorite dish.
• What was the most memorable experience of your trip so far?
• Write a letter to someone back home, telling them about your adventures.
• What are some cultural differences you’ve noticed between your home and the place you’re visiting?
• Take a photo of something that catches your eye and write about why it intrigued you.
• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from a local during your trip?
• Describe the landscape of the place you’re visiting and how it makes you feel.
• Write about a conversation you had with a stranger on your trip.
• If you could stay in one place for the rest of your life, would it be here? Why or why not?
• What’s the most unique souvenir you’ve picked up on your trip?
• Write about a challenge you faced during your travels and how you overcame it.
• What’s the most beautiful view you’ve seen on your trip?
• What’s the most unexpected thing that’s happened to you so far on your trip?
• Describe a local festival or celebration you’ve attended and your impressions of it.
• Write about a historical landmark you’ve visited and what you learned from it.
• What’s the funniest moment you’ve experienced on your trip so far?
• Write about a local tradition or custom that you find interesting.
• What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done on your trip?
• Describe a local artist or musician you’ve discovered and what you liked about their work.
• Write about a place that has exceeded your expectations and why.
• What’s the most challenging thing about traveling to this place?
• Write about a personal revelation or insight you’ve had on your trip.
• What’s the most interesting fact you’ve learned about the place you’re visiting?
• What’s the one thing you’ll never forget about your trip to this place?

Frequently Asked Questions Travel Journal Ideas

What should i write in my travel journal.

In your travel journal, you can include notes on your daily experiences, emotions, people you meet, food and drink discoveries, cultural observations, as well as sketches or doodles of places visited. You can also add ticket stubs, postcards, or other memorabilia to make it more personalized.

How do you start a travel journal?

To start a travel journal:

• Choose a journal : Select a journal that’s easy to carry and that you’ll enjoy using. Consider the size, cover, and paper quality.
• Bring the essentials : Pack pens, pencils, markers, and stickers to add some fun and personality to your journal. You can also bring a glue stick or tape to attach mementos from your travels.
• Set a goal : Decide on the purpose of your travel journal. Will you use it to record your experiences, keep track of your expenses, or collect recommendations from locals? Having a clear goal will make it easier to focus on what you want to write.
• Record your journey: Write about your travels every day, or as often as you can. Describe your experiences, your thoughts and feelings, and any new things you learned. Use your senses to describe the places you visit and the people you meet.
• Personalize it : Add some creativity to your journal by using different colors, drawings, and stickers. Take photos of your travels and include them in your journal. Your travel journal should be a reflection of your unique experiences and personality.

How do you make a cute travel journal?

To create an attractive travel journal:

Pick a visually appealing notebook with good-quality paper. Add colorful illustrations or stickers throughout the pages. Create themed layouts based on destinations visited. Incorporate washi tape borders around photos or souvenirs. Maintain consistent fonts/styles when writing entries. But most importantly, make it personal!

What should be the first page in a travel journal?

There are a few ways you could go with the first page. You can choose a more traditional route of including your name and contact information in case the travel journal gets lost. Or, you can go with something more creative. Write a poem that will serve as an epigraph to the journal. Or create a fun table of content. Or glue in your favorite picture from your trip. The sky is the limit with this one.

Wrapping Up & My Experience with Travel Journaling

So there you have it – some of the best travel journal ideas to get your imagination rolling for your next trip.

As we’ve seen, there are plenty of creative travel journal ideas to capture and reflect on your travels. From a traditional diary or scrapbook to an art journal or audio/video recordings, you can find the perfect way for yourself to document your adventures. Blank travel journals also make for amazing gifts for friends and family.

I’ve tried different formats over the years, from a simple diary to a multimedia journal with photos, sketches, and audio recordings. Each one has its own charm and captures a different aspect of my travels.

For example, when I traveled to Spain, I kept a food journal to document all the delicious meals I tried. I included descriptions of the dishes, the restaurants, and even the conversations I had with the chefs and waiters. This not only helped me remember the flavors and textures of the food but also gave me a deeper appreciation of Spanish culture and hospitality.

On another trip to Israel, I experimented with an audio journal.

Using an audio journal allowed me to capture the sounds and voices of the places I visited, and to describe them in a more immersive and vivid way. I recorded the calls to prayer from mosques, the chatter of vendors in markets, and the conversations with locals in cafes. I also included ambient sounds like birds singing in the park, the splashing of water, and the honking of horns in traffic. Listening to these recordings now brings back the memories and emotions of my trip in a unique and powerful way.

Through these experiences, I’ve learned that the most important thing is to find a format that suits your style and interests and to have fun with it. A travel journal should not feel like a chore or a duty, but rather a way to connect with your inner voice and creativity. But my journal has definitely become one of my favorite travel accessories I always take with me.

Whether you write, draw, paint, or record your travels, your journal will be a personal expression of your experiences, and a treasure to cherish for years to come.

Happy journaling and safe travels!

Alisa is a digital nomad, travel-lover, and life-long learner, always looking to connect and build community wherever she goes! If you want the best travel content, written from the heart, then stick around for some awesome content :)

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Travel Journal: Ideas, Tips, and How To Write a Travel Diary

• Travel Journal

Traveling has the potential to be wildly fulfilling. It exposes you to new cultures, different perspectives and unique experiences. The further you travel the more you are pushed out of your comfort zone. And the more you are pushed out of your comfort zone, the more you learn about yourself and the world around you.

One of the most popular types of journals is a travel journal. By having a travel diary, you can keep all these new experiences and knowledge in one place where you can reflect on them.

What is a travel journal?

Travel journals are a place where you can write about trips you have taken, what you learned during and the experiences you had. It is a collection of adventures, stories, memories and discovery.  It doesn’t matter where you're going or who you’re traveling with, an online trip journal can come anywhere. 

Why Write A Journal When Traveling?

There are many benefits of keeping a journal when traveling, but here are a few to start with:

Remember More

By writing down the things you want to do on your trip and the things you have done during it, you won’t forget the reasons you wanted to go and will remember more of your visit.

When traveling somewhere new, you will learn a lot about that place’s culture, customs and people. By having a place to write down your observations, you will absorb more of your surroundings.

Reflect More

A journal is a place to record new things you have discovered while exploring various places you visit. By having all these new findings in one place, you will be able to look back and reflect on what you have learned and apply it to other parts of your life.

How To Write Travel Journals: 5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Journaling

You don’t need to be traveling to Timbuktu to write a travel diary. Your writing can start with a family vacation or a weekend getaway. All you need is a destination and your holiday journal can begin!

1. Use your journal to plan your trip

Your trip journal can begin before your trip has even started. Use your journal to start planning the things you want to do. It can be anything from a cool restaurant you want to eat at, a hike you want to go on or different sights you want to see. Write down whatever is on your trip check-list, so you don’t forget it.

Once you know what you want to do, do some research and figure out the best way to do it. If you want to go see a special monument, figure out the best way to get there and put it in your journal. If you want to do some cool activities, write down the contact information of the people, places or tours that facilitate them. Your journal is also a great place to keep the contact information of your accommodations and transportation.

2. Write about what you imagine it will be like

Sometimes when you travel, your destination is wildly different than what you expected. Maybe you expected the local food to be bad and it turned out to be delicious. Maybe you imagined the town to be smaller than it actually is. Maybe you thought you would be more comfortable with the language. Whatever it is, think about writing it down before you arrive. It will be interesting to compare these predictions to what you actually experienced.

3. Write during your trip

It is always easier to remember things when they are fresh in your brain, so try and write as much as you can while traveling; every day if you can. Your journal entries don’t have to be long, but let them highlight what you feel was most important or exciting. How did you feel during your visit to the local market? What did you smell, taste and hear? Did you learn something new from the person you spoke to at the bar? Were you surprised by the clothes people were wearing? What was the view from the top of the mountain like? Before you go to bed, try and recall what you did that day, what you thought and how you felt. This will serve as a great way to remember more from your trip, but will also help you reflect and grow from what you encountered.

4. Add pictures to your journal

Even though your journal is meant for writing, pictures are still worth a thousand words. Combining pictures with your first-hand accounts of what they represent, or what happened when they were taken, will make for an even more comprehensive narrative of your travels. Don’t worry about glueing or taping anything either. Penzu allows you to upload pictures straight into your online travel journal, so you can keep your pictures and words connected and organized.

5. Write about your trip after you leave

Since you write about your trip before you arrive, you should also write about it after you leave.

• What was it like?
• What did you learn?
• What surprised you?
• What disappointed you?

It is important to reflect on your travels, so you can retain new understandings and apply them to future adventures. This is also a great way to learn about yourself, other people you may have travelled with and how you can grow. Step back from all the things you did and try to see the big picture. It may surprise you.

10 Travel Journal Ideas To Inspire You

The blank pages of your travel journal may not be serving as great inspiration, but your new trip should! Here are 10 travel journal ideas to get those creative juices flowing, kick-start your writing and help you get the most out of your travels. We hope these journal prompts help!

1. Why are you going?

Not every trip needs an explanation and not every vacation needs a justification. People travel for all sorts of different reasons or for no reason at all, but if your travel has purpose, write about it. Even if you’re traveling for the sake of it, that is a reason worth talking about too.

2. Write about your expectations.

As we mentioned above, expectations can wildly differ from reality, especially when going somewhere you’ve never been or going with someone you have never travelled with before. Jot down what you think the trip will be like, or hope it will be like.

3. What are you going to do?

Write about the things you want to do, the sights you want to see, the music you want to dance to, the food you want to taste. Writing it all down will get you excited and help you not to forget.

4. Write about the people.

Did you meet anyone new? Did you make a new friend? Were the locals welcoming? Did you learn something new from a stranger? Did you learn something new from a friend? People can really make a trip. Whether you came with them, or met them there, write about how the people you encountered affected your experience.

5. Write about the food.

Just because you call it your travel diary, doesn’t mean it can’t double as a food diary . If there are any foods you loved, dishes you hated or recipes you can’t live without, write them down to remember them all. Maybe some new fare you tried will influence your tastes when you return home.

6. The ups and the downs.

What did you like most about the trip? What did you like the least?

7. Write about yourself.

Reflect on the new experiences you had, what made you uncomfortable and what enticed you. Did you learn anything new about yourself on the trip? Did being somewhere else expose something you hadn’t seen in yourself before? Traveling can help people grow. Think about your journey and if it helped you grow in any way.

8. Write a travel guide.

If you knew friends were going to the same place, what would you tell them to do? Write down your recommendations and the stuff that should not be missed.

9. What would you have changed?

Is there anything about the trip you would have changed? Is there anything else you wish you did? Anything you wish you didn’t do? Write about your travels and how you can improve them for the next time you go away.

10. Where do you want to go next?

We all have a wish-list of places we want to go. Write yours down and try to start checking them off.

Using Penzu for Your Travel Journal

Penzu’s journal software allows you to access your journal from any computer, smartphone or tablet. Penzu will be your travel journal app ; all you need is your mobile phone or tablet and can write in in it, with or without wifi. You never have to miss an entry or forget a moment, as Penzu can come with you around the world. No internet necessary.

Now that you know what to write in a travel diary and how to write one, all you need to decide is where to go. Pick a place get start your online journal today!

There's no time like the present - start your free online journal today!

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Gain Clarity and Purpose as You Get Closer to Jesus

How to Setup Your DIY Prayer Journal for to Improve Your Prayer Life: Prayer Journaling for Beginners

July 30, 2020 Comments : 2

Prayer Journal?  Thinking of starting one but don’t know how or where to start?

On today’s post, I would like to share with you some tips and ideas on how you can set up and create your own DIY prayer journal. You’ll find prayer journaling ideas for beginners in case you are confused how to begin this journey.

In my previous post, I shared some tips on How You Can Improve Your Prayer Life based on Jesus’ Model. 

In this post, we are going to focus on Two Main Keypoints:

• What is Prayer Journal and Different Examples of Prayer Journals I Have Used Over the Years
• How to Set Up Your Own Prayer Journal

Prayer Journal is a form of praying where you write down your prayers and talk to God.

I have been keeping a prayer journal for many years. I have been prayer journaling even before I knew what the term is.

It really helps keep my life in order and my priorities right. 

My prayer journal has evolved over time as I mature in Christ. 

Let me show you different kinds of prayer journals I have used over time:

First: The Old School Style – Notebook

This is just a free form of prayer journaling where you basically write down your thoughts like you are writing in a diary but you are addressing God.

This is the type of prayer journaling I did for so many years especially when I was just starting and not even a Christian yet.

To be honest, If you looked over my old journals, the pattern is mostly “me,me,me”. It is all about my prayer requests. 

Because when I was young, I always thought that prayer is like that. It is about asking God for what you want Him to do for you.

This is mostly one-way communication because I am always the one talking and not really hearing anything from God.

Second: Prayer Journal with Prompts

This is a journal where there are prompts for you to fill in. It has sections so it will motivate you to think and reflect. 

There are many journals out there but I like the part where it has suggested Bible reading. 

This type of prayer journal has helped me gain more structure in my prayer routine especially when I wanted to grow in my prayer life.

Third: Prayer Binder

What I like about Prayer Binder is the flexibility it gives. You can print lots of Free Printables online and create your own based on different categories you want.

The only downside I had when I was using binder is that it’s too bulky for me. But I learned from that and decided to use a smaller type for War Binder I created on this post.

Fourth: Digital Prayer Journal

This is also the same as the Prayer Binder. There are printables that you can fill in online and then print them if you want.

Or what I did – I simply open a Word Document and just type whatever it is that I want to tell God. It is like my “old-school notebook” model but you are doing it digitally.

I think I only did it for a few weeks since I prefer writing down things when I am journaling. I also do not like to keep opening my laptop every time I want to pray.

Fifth: Back to Old School Notebook

I used different journals over time and they all helped me in some ways but I realized that as I mature in Christ, then my journal should also be able to cope up with that.

My predicament for the past few years is that my prayer tends to be repetitious. I feel like I am just writing the same stuff I wrote a few days ago. 

Then I realized that my prayer life seemed to be just one way. There is no dialogue between me and God. 

I don’t hear much from Him because I don’t give Him a chance to speak to me. I prayed earnestly that God will reveal Himself more to me.

And so last year up to this year, my prayer journal has always been a regular notebook like this.

In the past, I still kept a prayer list for thanksgiving, forgiveness and requests but they are in a different journal. 

I also created my War Binder which I shared in this video. I decided to create sections for Worship, Thanksgiving, Forgiveness and Prayer Requests so I don’t have to keep writing them over and over. I can just recite them every time I pray.

As of this posting, I keep a simple notebook for my daily prayer journal. I do my daily Bible reading first then choose a Scripture that spoke to me the most. Then I reflect on that Bible verse and pattern my prayer after the verse.

I would honestly say that this type of prayer journaling is what drew me closer the most to Jesus.

It is focused more on reflecting on His Words and how I can evaluate my life in light of the Scripture. 

It is continuously asking myself how is this verse relevant to my life and what is it prompting me to do?

It is more of like probing and really digging into what Jesus is telling me here.

Now, let’s move on to the second part. 

How to Set Up Your Prayer Journal

First, Decide on What Medium To Use

As you can see from my examples, Prayer Journal can come in many forms. 

Choose one that you can commit to . Do not be pressured on which one to choose because your journal might evolve and change as you mature spiritually.

Remember that a prayer journal isn’t meant to be another tedious item to keep track of. It’s meant to be something to inspire you to write a letter to God. 

You can buy or repurpose something you already have at home.

Second, Decide on What Categories to Include

If we’re going to look at Jesus’ example, you can include categories like:

• Thanksgiving
• Friends and Loved Ones
• Church and Neighbors
• Nation and the World
• Deliverance
• Bible Verse

You can also add optional things like:

• Space for Prayer Tracking to see what prayers have been answered and when and how they’ve been answered.
• Maybe you can draw, doodle or just braindump what is in your mind at the moment that is trying to hinder you from approaching God

You can do it in different ways. You can divide your notebook or binder into different categories just like what I did in my War Binder.

For instance, all your worship is in one category, all your prayer requests on the next and so on. 

You can choose if you want to do it daily or weekly.

Some people also like to divide it by day. So for instance they have Sunday to Saturday and then they have headings and empty boxes for each category. 

If you decide to use binder, always check online for free printables or invest on some.

It really depends on what you feel will work best for you in your situation. You can always modify it any time.

Third, Define a Theme for Your Prayer Journal

What is it that you would like to accomplish with your journal?

Is it to keep track of your prayer requests so that eventually you can have these “stones of remembrance” of God’s faithfulness in your life?

Is it to help you concentrate while you pray?

You see, it doesn’t matter if you repeat your prayer. If that’s how you communicate with God effectively, then that’s okay! Because as you spend more time with God, you’ll mature and eventually your prayers will evolve as well.

By defining your theme and what you are aiming to develop, it is easier to set up your prayer journal on how it will work best for you. You will also know what tools to use to match your goal.

Fourth, Use Your Prayer Journal

Okay you did not go through all these trouble just to keep your prayer journal in the corner, right? 

So now, let’s follow Jesus’ tips. Go to your secret place and start using it. 

At first you might find  it weird but as you get used to it, you will be able to adjust, add, remove or transfer things in different journals or binder. 

You can add stickers, use colorful pens, whatever it is that will inspire you to keep writing. Do not forget that the main purpose is to draw closer to God and talk to Him. 

You just have to keep doing it for quite some time until you find what works and not. 

Now, remember that having a prayer journal doesn’t mean you can’t pray your usual prayer. Of course you still can. I still pray at night until I fall asleep. I still pray before I drive. I still pray when I create videos and blog posts.

The beauty of keeping a prayer journal is establishing a routine and gaining clarity by seeing things on paper. You can be free without any judgment while you are pouring your heart out to God.

Now for your assignment, go through your office supplies and try to think how you can repurpose it as Prayer Journal. 

Please comment down below and tell us:

“What sections do you have or plan to include in your prayer journal?”

Hopefully this inspires you to create your very own prayer journal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hi! I’m Kaye, a journal enthusiast. My blog is dedicated to sharing practical tips to help you get closer to Jesus and grow your faith. Read along!

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February 22, 2022 at 12:55 pm

Thank you for your blog. I too have journaled for many years. Since I was 14 and I will soon be 70. It was in 1993 that my journaling turned into prayer journaling. This was the year my daughter was killed. Through journaling my prayers to God, He delivered me from the darkness of the mental anguish and trauma I suffered because of her death. I now help to create prayer journals for others as gifts. As you have stated, my journaling has evolved over time. It is a precious time I commune with Him everyday. I ask God to bless your ministry as you share about prayer journaling with others.

March 4, 2022 at 2:11 am

Thank you so much for sharing Vicki. That must been a truly hard time for you I imagine. So happy to hear you found a way to cope up through prayers and journaling. They helped me in my depression as well.

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Creative Gratitude Journal Prompts for Travelers

D o you go on amazing travel adventures? Besides photos, how are you capturing those memories and reflecting on all the good things you experience in these different places? Recording your experiences in a journal or travel diary is a great way to cherish those travel memories. That journal can be used to not only keep memories , but express your gratitude, too. Gratitude journal prompts can help travelers reflect on their experiences and foster a deeper sense of appreciation for their journeys. In this blog post, I’m sharing some gratitude journal prompts for travelers. 

This site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website at no extra cost to you.

What is a Gratitude Journal?

A gratitude journal is a personal diary or notebook in which individuals regularly write down the things they are grateful for. It’s a tool that promotes a positive outlook and mindfulness by focusing on the blessings and positive aspects of life. Keeping a gratitude journal involves acknowledging and recording moments, experiences, people, or things that bring joy, contentment, and appreciation.

Here’s how a gratitude journal typically works:

Daily or Regular Entries:  Many people choose to make daily entries in their gratitude journal, but the frequency can vary. Some may write in it every evening, while others might opt for weekly or even monthly entries.

Reflecting on Blessings:  In each entry, the journal keeper reflects on the things they are grateful for. These can range from small, everyday occurrences to significant life events.

Specificity:  Effective gratitude journaling often involves being specific about what you’re thankful for. Instead of writing, “I’m grateful for my family,” you might write, “I’m grateful for the laughter and support of my family during our picnic today.”

Expressing Emotions:  In your journal, you’re encouraged to express the emotions associated with your gratitude. How did these blessings make you feel? Did they bring you happiness, peace, or a sense of fulfillment?

Recording Progress:  Over time, a gratitude journal serves as a record of your personal growth, perspective shifts, and evolving sources of gratitude.

What are some benefits of keeping a travel gratitude journal?

Keeping a gratitude journal specifically for travel can have several benefits that enhance your travel experiences and your overall well-being. Here are some of the benefits of gratitude journaling: 

Increased Mindfulness:  Gratitude journaling encourages you to be fully present in the moment. You become more aware of the details, experiences, and people you encounter during your travels, which deepens your overall travel experience.

Enhanced Appreciation:  By actively acknowledging and writing down the things you’re grateful for while traveling, you develop a heightened sense of appreciation for the places you visit, the cultures you encounter, and the experiences you have.

Positive Outlook:  Gratitude journaling shifts your focus toward the positive aspects of your journey, helping you see the silver lining even in challenging situations. This positive mindset can lead to a more enjoyable and optimistic travel experience.

Stress Reduction:  Keeping a gratitude journal while traveling can act as a stress management tool. It helps you stay grounded, even when facing unexpected obstacles or travel-related stressors.

Deeper Connections:  Gratitude journaling can prompt you to reflect on the interactions and connections you make with locals and fellow travelers. This can lead to more meaningful connections and a greater appreciation for the diversity of the people you meet.

Memorable Keepsake:  Your gratitude journal becomes a cherished travel keepsake. It allows you to preserve the memories, emotions, and insights you gather during your travels, ensuring they stay vivid and meaningful long after the journey ends.

Cultural Understanding:  Gratitude journaling encourages you to reflect on the cultural aspects of your travels. By appreciating the local customs, traditions, and practices, you gain a deeper understanding of the places you visit.

Positive Travel Planning:  Reflecting on your past travel experiences through your journal can inform your future travel plans . You can use your gratitude journal to remember your favorite destinations and activities, helping you make informed choices for your next adventure.

Increased Joy:  Gratitude journaling can lead to an increased sense of joy and contentment during your travels. It helps you focus on the small, everyday joys that often go unnoticed.

Preservation of Memories:  While travel photos capture moments visually, a gratitude journal helps you capture them through words and emotions. This can be particularly valuable when reflecting on your adventures in the years to come.

Personal Growth:  Reflecting on what you’re grateful for can lead to personal growth and self-discovery. It can help you gain insights into your values, priorities, and the things that truly matter to you.

Cultivation of Positivity:  Over time, gratitude journaling can cultivate a habit of positivity in your daily life, not just while traveling. This practice can help you maintain an optimistic and appreciative outlook in all areas of your life.

Incorporating gratitude journaling into your travel routine is a simple yet powerful practice that can significantly enhance your travel experiences and the long-term impact of your journeys. It allows you to see the world through a more appreciative and mindful lens, fostering a deeper connection to the places and people you encounter.

What are Some Examples of Good Travel Journal Prompts?

Not quite sure of the type of journal entries you should write? Let me help you out. Here are some travel journal writing prompts to help you get your creative juices flowing. 

• Reflect on the specific experiences or moments from your travels that made you feel thankful today.
• Write about a destination that left a lasting impression on you and why it holds a special place in your heart.
• Recall a time when a local or fellow traveler went out of their way to help you or show kindness.
• Describe a memorable dish or dining experience that you enjoyed during your travels.
• Share your awe-inspiring encounters with nature, like a stunning sunrise, majestic mountain range, or serene beach.
• Write about a unique cultural practice or event you witnessed, and how it enriched your understanding of the local culture.
• Recount a meaningful interaction or friendship that you formed with someone you met during your travels.
• Express gratitude for someone who shared their knowledge, insights, or skills to enrich your travel experience.
• Reflect on a difficult moment during your travels and the lessons you learned from it.
• Describe a piece of art, architecture, or historical site that evoked strong emotions and appreciation.
• Recall a quiet moment when you found peace and tranquility, whether it was while meditating, strolling through a serene garden, or simply enjoying a peaceful view.
• Share your curiosity about a particular cuisine or ingredient that you’d like to explore further in your culinary journey.
• Discuss a book, travel blog, or article that motivated or influenced your travel decisions and mindset.
• Write down a travel-related quote or saying that speaks to your heart and explain why it holds significance.
• Share your thoughts on your future travel plans and what you’re looking forward to in your upcoming adventure.

Feel free to use these prompts in your gratitude journal during or after your travels to capture the essence of your experiences and maintain a sense of appreciation for the beauty and lessons that travel brings into your life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is travel gratitude journaling, and how does it differ from a regular travel journal?

Travel gratitude journaling goes beyond documenting your experiences—it focuses on cultivating gratitude by noting the positive aspects of your journey. It’s a more intentional and mindful approach to travel journaling.

Why should I step out of my comfort zone and start my own travel gratitude journal?

Stepping out of your comfort zone allows you to appreciate new experiences and details you might overlook. A travel gratitude journal is your personal space to reflect on the best moments, favorite things, and daily prompts that enhance your journey.

What’s the best travel journal for gratitude practice?

The best travel journal is one that suits your style. Whether it’s a leatherpress journal, a bullet journal, or an online travel journal, find what resonates with you. High-quality journals with blank pages offer creative freedom.

How can I involve family members in my travel gratitude journal?  

Encourage family members to contribute their thoughts, draw pictures, or share gratitude prompts. It’s a fun way to create a collective travel story and capture memories together.

Are there creative travel journal ideas to make my entries stand out?

Absolutely! From documenting ticket stubs and business cards to writing in a different language or adding random photos, there are endless creative ways to enhance your travel logs.

What are some daily gratitude journal prompts for travel?

Incorporate prompts like “favorite food discovery,” “new people I met today,” or “little details that made me smile.” These prompts help you focus on the positive aspects of your journey.

How can I maintain a habit of gratitude during my travels?

Integrate gratitude into your daily routine by setting aside a little time each day for your travel journal. Use prompts, write about simple things, and make it a regular practice for a grateful heart.

Start your travel gratitude journal today for a great time, wonderful memories, and a grateful heart on your next adventure!

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Some Jews keep a place empty at Seder tables for a jailed journalist in Russia

Nina Kravinsky

A poster from a social media campaign started by Wall Street Journal journalists for Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia during a reporting trip. Wall Street Journal hide caption

A poster from a social media campaign started by Wall Street Journal journalists for Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia during a reporting trip.

As Jewish people prepare to celebrate the first night of Passover, some plan to leave a seat open at their Seders – the meal commemorating the biblical story of Israelites' freedom from slavery – for a Wall Street Journal reporter recently jailed in Russia.

Agents from Russia's Federal Security Service arrested Evan Gershkovich a week ago in the Ural mountain city of Yekaterinburg and have accused him of espionage. The Wall Street Journal denies that allegation, and on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had "no doubt" that Gershkovich was wrongfully detained. This is the first time Moscow has detained a journalist from the US on espionage accusations since the Cold War.

"It feels like an attack on all of us," said Shayndi Raice, the Wall Street Journal's deputy bureau chief for the Middle East and North Africa.

"We're all kind of in this state of 'how can we help him, what can we do,'" Raice said. "It's really horrific and it's just terrifying."

Raice is one of several Jewish journalists at the Wall Street Journal who have launched a social media campaign advertising that they will keep a seat open at their Seder tables for Gershkovich. They plan to post photos of the empty seats on social media.

The tradition of leaving a place open at the Seder table isn't new. Raice says that going back decades, many Jews left seats open on behalf of Jewish dissidents imprisoned in the Soviet Union.

Now, she's bringing the idea back, to raise awareness about her colleague who has been held by Russian authorities since March 29.

"We want as many people as possible to know who Evan is and what his situation is," Raice said. "He should be somebody that they care about and they think about."

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, president of the Scottsdale, Arizona-based Jewish nonprofit Valley Beit Midrash, has joined the effort to encourage other Jews to leave an empty seat at their Seder tables for Gershkovich. He shared the campaign poster on Twitter and has talked about it in his Modern Orthodox Jewish circles. Yaklowitz's own Seder table will include a photograph of the jailed journalist, as well as a seat for him. He also plans to put a lock and key on his Seder plate – a dish full of symbolic parts of the meal that help tell the story of Passover.

Yanklowitz says the lock and key represent confinement – Gershkovich's confinement, but also as a theme throughout Jewish history.

"We have seen tyrants," Yanklowitz said. "We have seen tyrants since Pharaoh all the way up to our time with Putin. And these are tyrants that will only stop with pressure and with strong global advocacy."

The Wall Street Journal says Gershkovich's parents are Jews who fled the Soviet Union before he was born. His lawyers were able to meet with him on Tuesday, nearly a week after his arrest. Dow Jones, which owns the Wall Street Journal, said in a statement that the lawyers tell them Gershkovich's "health is good."

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Travelers Taproom selling property, seeking new investors

• Tiare Solis
• September 12, 2024

Travelers Taproom , a local bar nestled between Cherrydale and Travelers Rest, has listed its property for sale for $950,000 with commercial real estate agents Watershed GVL.

The Poinsett Highway business is not closing, but it is seeking additional investors.

“That building has a ton of potential for some for other things, tons of room for a kitchen,” said co-owner Jerry Davis. “We’d love to expand the parking and that kind of thing, and having a partner with deeper pockets would help.”

Davis said the listing was meant to generate conversation with a potential investor to continue to operate the local “third space” and maybe even expand. Davis and his co-owner, Steve Roe, are “regular Joes” with full-time other jobs, so with the right partner the space could realize its full potential.

As an added factor, the business recently renewed its liquor liability insurance and found that its premium went up 110%, an issue which has been cited by multiple local businesses that have closed in the past two years. Davis said he is sympathetic to others that have seen even more starkly skyrocketing spikes.

Ultimately, Davis remained optimistic about keeping the doors open.

“Oh, we’re nothing but fight,” Davis said. “We don’t give up. Not around here. We’ll do whatever we got to do.”

Travelers Taproom is located at 2624 Poinsett Hwy. between Greenville and Travelers Rest. It is open all week: Monday through Friday from 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 2 to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m.

Those interested in property can reach out to Joseph Fuduric at 864-346-7643 or Cameron Smith at 910-495-6055.

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Travel journal, Let the adventure begin in MOSCOW: A travel notebook to write your vacation diaries and stories across the world (for women, men, and couples) Paperback – January 8, 2020

Traveling the world is one of the amazing things to experience in our life, and to be able to capture those moments through writing gives the whole experience a charming positive touch

our journal has a unique design and it will be your best companion through your adventures!

write about joy, laughter, the amazing people that you will meet, and the delicious food you will taste!

write about the things you've done, fall in love with your journey and discover all the secrets of the world.

Happy travelling!

• Print length 120 pages
• Language English
• Publication date January 8, 2020
• Dimensions 6 x 0.28 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 1657737292
• ISBN-13 978-1657737297
• See all details

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (January 8, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 120 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1657737292
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1657737297
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.3 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.28 x 9 inches

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Find more information about

at the Center for Jewish History:

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• cite this article

Marshak, Samuil Iakovlevich

Suggested reading, translation.

(1887–1964), poet and writer. Samuil Marshak’s father, a soapmaker, descended from a family of rabbis. His mother was the daughter of the Vitebsk government rabbi, in whose house Marshak began to study Hebrew at the age of six. Marshak’s talents later drew the attention of the art historian Vladimir Stasov and the writer Maksim Gorky.

From 1904 to 1906, Marshak lived at Gorky’s house in Yalta. Studying at the gymnasium in that city, Marshak became friendly with young Zionists , whose worldview informs his early poems and translations. He entered literary society as a Russian Jewish poet, writing in Russian about Jewish topics for Jewish audiences. In his poems, he mourned the death of Theodor Herzl (“20 Tammuz”; 1904), and called for readers to abandon “the low cowardice of their fathers” and “prepare themselves for battle” (“Skhodka” [The Gathering]; 1906). He also translated Ḥayim Naḥman Bialik ’s Zionist poem “El ha-tsipor” (To the Bird; 1906).

From 1906 through 1914, Marshak maintained ties with the Po‘ale Tsiyon movement. He published poems and translations in the journals Evreiskaia zhizn’ (Jewish Life) and Molodaia Iudeia (Young Judea); in the anthology Pesni molodoi Iudei (Songs of Young Judea); in the weeklies Evreiskii mir (Jewish World) and the Zionist Razsvet (Dawn); and in the Safrut (Writing) anthologies (1917–1918). In 1911, as a journalist for Vseobshchaia gazeta (General Newspaper), Marshak visited Palestine. He wrote about his experiences in travel sketches, some of which appeared on the pages of Russian Jewish journals and in a verse cycle titled Palestine (1916–1917).

Marshak’s pre-Soviet verse demonstrates the ways in which he was established in both Russian and Jewish cultures. In his verse of 1905–1909 he often makes use of biblical subjects and images, and of events from Jewish history, as is evident in his “Iz prorokov” (From the Prophets), “O, rydai” (Oh, Weep), “Kniga Ruf’” (The Book of Ruth), “Inkvizitsiia” (The Inquisition), “Iz evreiskikh legend” (From Jewish Legends), and others. In addition, he translated the biblical Song of Songs and the poetry of Bialik, Zalman Shneour , and David Shimoni.

Indeed, the poetics of much of his early verse reflects the image structure of biblical texts. In his first Sionidy (Zionides) anthology, published at some point between 1907 and 1910 but since lost, Marshak uses the Song of Zion genre, inspired by the medieval poet Yehudah ha-Levi and revived in Russian Jewish poetry of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by Leib Jaffe (Leyb Yafe) and Shimen Frug . At the same time, Marshak was enormously drawn to Russian literature and visual arts, particularly to the poets Aleksandr Pushkin, Ivan Bunin, and Aleksandr Blok.

In addition to his contributions to the Jewish press, Marshak wrote for Satirikon, Novyi zhurnal dlia vsekh (Everyone’s New Magazine), and for the newspapers Kievskie vesti (Kiev News), Birzhevye vedomosti (Stock Exchange Journal), and Peterburgskii kurier (Petersburg Courier).

After the revolution, however, he stopped using Jewish literary themes. It is possible that he himself destroyed his Zionides anthology (while the main Russian libraries have the Zionist journals from the 1890s in which Marshak published, the issues that should include his poems are all missing). The path he abandoned as a Russian Jewish poet, silenced at the first hint of Soviet intolerance, anticipated the fate of Russian-language Jewish literature, a form that ceased to exist at the end of the 1930s.

After the revolution, Marshak turned to children’s literature . As editor in chief of the state children’s publishing house in Leningrad, he attracted the most talented children’s writers—people who had no patience for formulas, sentimentalism, and moralizing. Marshak’s dynamic, witty poems introduced children to the world of nature and simple things. From the 1920s until the present day, they have remained as beloved popular children’s reading. Nonetheless, in 1937, Marshak’s publishing house was liquidated and many of the writers arrested.

English translation, which had engaged Marshak’s attention from 1913 (when he studied at the University of London), became the mainstay of his life beginning in the 1930s. He introduced Russian readers to English and Scottish folk poetry, to Shakespearean sonnets, and to poetry by Blake, Burns, Keats, Browning, Wordsworth, Byron, Kipling, and others. During World War II, he wrote satirical pamphlets, poems for posters, and captions for newspaper cartoons.

In the last decade of his life, Marshak turned to lyric poetry. Under the repressive conditions of the Soviet system, he could not write about the problems of Jews; however, his Jewish identification came through in a variety of ways. Among his works with such themes were translations from Yiddish, including “Pesni getto” (Songs of the Ghetto; 1941–1943); he also wrote the poem “Pamiati Mikhoelsa” (In Memory of [the Yiddish actor Solomon Mikhailovich] Mikhoels ; 1948) and “Dobroe imia” (A Good Name; 1946), dedicated to Sholem Aleichem ; he also donated a large sum of money to send Jewish orphans from Lithuania to Palestine. A later example of his connection to Jews is evident in his verse rebuke to Aleksei Markov for the latter’s antisemitic attack on Yevgeny Yevtushenko’s poem Babii Iar ( Babi Yar ; 1961).

During the thaw of 1957–1961, Marshak wrote the autobiographical story “V nachale zhizn” (At the Start of Life; 1960), covering the years of his Jewish childhood. But in the most complete eight-volume collection of his work (1968–1972), the verses that he had written for Jewish publications from 1904 to 1918 are hardly represented.

Mikhail Leonovich Gasparov, “Marshak i vremia,” in O russkoi poezii (St. Petersburg, 2001); M. Geizer, “Ia vspominaiu krai otsov (S. I. Marshak),” in Russko-evreiskaia literatura XX veka (Moscow, 2001).

Rita Genzeleva

Translated from Russian by Alice Nakhimovsky

Interstate 75 shooting: 911 calls paint chaotic scene near London, Kentucky

Travelers on Interstate 75 near London, Kentucky, are surrounded by the massive Daniel Boone National Forest , dense with trees, hills, cliffs and ravines. Last Saturday, that tranquility was shattered leaving people on the road bloodied, scared and afraid, as recently-obtained 911 calls show.

While vehicles sped past, shots were fired into traffic. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a line of cars with shattered windows and visible bullet holes.

"I've been in law enforcement here for 48 years, and I can never remember a situation such as this in our little county here," said Gilbert Acciardo, public affairs deputy with the Laurel County Sheriff’s office.

Authorities have since found an AR-15, loaded magazines and a car registered to Joseph Couch, who is now the suspect in the ongoing investigation and manhunt.

Acciardo described the initial scene as "chaotic" for officers tasked with deciphering various reports on what happened near Exit 49, some of which turned out to be false.

Chaos would also describe the experience for the I-75 commuters who pulled over with the shot-out windows and bullet-filled exteriors emergency responders came across.

Victims of the I-75 shooting reported serious injuries and vehicle damage to 911 dispatchers, according to calls The Courier Journal obtained Tuesday.

"I love you so much," a man said after he told 911 dispatchers he and his wife had been shot at in their vehicle. "I love you so much. I love you so much. Don't go anywhere. Deep breaths. Deep breaths."

"Please," the woman cried.

At another vehicle, a man rushed to help a woman he told dispatchers had been shot in the hip.

"She's gushing blood, bad," he said.

Another victim can be heard moaning from the pain of a gunshot wound she said was in her leg.

"Please, please, please," she told a 911 dispatcher.

"An ambulance is on the way," the dispatcher from the London-Laurel County 911 Communications Center said. "They're coming."

Five people were shot but none were fatally wounded. In total, 12 vehicles received damage from bullets.

Dispatchers received so many calls that they had to make several brief, advising those who reported injuries they should apply pressure to their wounds as EMS headed to the scene.

"They're coming as fast as they can," a dispatcher told one caller.

While the interstate fully reopened to traffic after a three-hour closure , some daily activities have not returned to normal yet. Area schools were closed Monday and Tuesday. Churches reported lower attendance Sunday as the manhunt continued.

Once captured, Couch faces multiple charges of attempted murder and first-degree assault.

Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at [email protected] or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter

More: How the rugged Daniel Boone National Forest is complicating search for I-75 shooting suspect