Journaling 101

Journal Exercise:

This message popped up on your computer screen or arrived in your mailbox: Today, as one of God’s undercover agent, you performed several deeds that will forever affect the course of humanity.

Wouldn’t that be thrilling? Well, it’s true actually. One life can make a tremendous difference. One phone call, one kind word. A friend of mine almost committed suicide, but stopped because her mother came up to check on her. Many times though, people don’t realize how much their actions are affecting others. So it’s hard to say what is happening in eternity’s light.

So think back over your day. As one of God’s undercover agents, how did you represent Him? Recount your day, think of all the times you talked with people. Pretend that your journal is the official report. Don’t let the small things slip your attention. Did you help your neighbor pick up the piece of mail that had fluttered away from him? Did you speak to the new kid everyone else ignored? Or did you just smile at someone who looked like they were in a bad mood. Focus on the small details.

If you like, take a guess at how what you did affected these people. Put yourself in your shoes. Write another journal entry focusing on how this one small action affected them. Sounds impossible? It isn’t. A Japanese woman who came to America arrived as a hardened atheist. The family she stayed with were Christians, but their kind talk and actions only made her throw up more barriers. But their little daughter broke through all those walls with just a simple conversation. In my own experience, I have often been cheered by a stranger’s kind smile or when someone stops me to say, “Good job.” The little things can often have far more dramatic results than we ever realize.

If you didn’t do so well on your secret mission, don’t worry. Each day is the beginning of a new one. So plan to act it out more tomorrow and be sure to record the results in your files.

Random Prompt:

To use this, just choose one of these two phrases and write whatever comes to your mind. Maybe it ties into something that has happened to you, something you learned, a dream you had, or something you hope will happen. Or maybe it’s totally made up. If possible, try to spend at least five minutes with each phrase and have fun.

Choosing wrong rights or out of the paper bag

Bible Verse:

I’ll give you a Bible verse and now I want you to write what you think about this verse in your journal. Simple and a great way to dig deeper in God’s word.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:7