A vital component of prayer journaling
by Bill Noles Jr.
Have you ever watched a romance movie that you had seen before and you knew how it ended? You’re content and confident that there will be a happy ending! Or how about viewing a recorded sports game knowing ahead of time that your favorite team had won? You’re more enthusiastic about the game and have more confidence in the ability of your team!
That’s the way David felt in Psalm 108:1 – “My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being.”
David had experienced answered prayer many times and was rejoicing. He knew from past experience that the Lord would answer his prayer. In the same way, keeping a written record of what God has done in your life strengthens your relationship with Him and renews your confidence that the Lord will answer your prayers for yourself, your family and the nation.
Previously in Psalm 57, David had been chased by Saul who was trying to kill him. He prayed to God and his prayer was answered. Saul was taken out of the picture and David ultimately became king over all Israel.
When the Edomites were attacking Israel in Psalm 60, David again prayed to God, this time for his nation, and his prayer was answered yet again. The Israelites were victorious over an enormous, overpowering Edomite army. The book of Psalms is a written record of prayers, answered prayers and thanksgiving for those answered prayers.
Rev. Ray Noah, Senior Pastor at Portland Christian Center, states, “There is something about a past victory that gives you confidence going into a new battle today. When God has helped you in the past – given you victory over the enemy, supernaturally supplied your need, provided a spiritual breakthrough, or seen you through when there seemed to be no way through – you pray a little different in the next crisis. You go to Him with greater assurance, firmer expectation and deeper peace than you might otherwise.”
Today, recording your victories of answered prayers is easy with a prayer journal. It allows you to keep track of your prayers and look back at spiritual events in your life and in the nation. It serves as a reminder to thank the Lord for those answered intercessions. Two ways to enhance your journaling experience:
- Write your prayers in your journal leaving a few empty spaces between entries. That way you can return and place scripture or other information that may come to you at a later time. You can also write in the date of answered prayer and any other information that might be important to you.
- Make a separate section in your prayer journal titled “Answered Prayers,” where you keep track of God’s responses. Or you can keep a running list in the front or back of your journal. Whatever you choose, you’ll be able to readily access your list of answered prayers.
Understanding the power of answered prayer and the importance of a prayer journal will not only strengthen your walk with Jesus. It will help guide you through the toughest decisions, including the upcoming national elections.
As you pray over a situation, Pastor Noah instructs, “Call to mind the mighty acts of God from your past and let the Holy Spirit birth confidence within you for the present. What God has done for you yesterday – because He is the unchanging and dependable God, and because He loves you with an everlasting love – He will do for you today and again tomorrow.”
With your prayer journal in hand:
- Continue to thank the Lord for answered prayers.
- Ask God to grow your faith in Him and give you more confidence when you pray.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your decisions.
Bill Noles Jr. is an entrepreneur, author and writer. Married for 30 years, he is a father of two sons and grandfather of three children. He and his wife Diann live in Tucson, AZ.