Developing a Prayer Journal
I use a 120-sheet spiral notebook as a prayer journal. I divide it into two sections set apart with tabs. The first section (80 sheets) is used for my personal journal entries to God. The second (40 sheets) is for my prayer list. I enter thoughts into my personal journal almost every day.
Section 1: Personal Journal Entries
1. Write the date (include the year) at the beginning of each entry.
2. Write your thoughts to God. Praise Him. Tell Him your frustrations and joys. Confess your sins. (Don’t worry about the order, spelling, or grammar.) If you do not feel like talking to God, tell Him. Always praise Him whether you feel like it or not.
3. Read verses of Scripture and record what you have read (indicate book, chapter, and verse). The Scriptures you record each day may be from a study you are doing, a systematic reading of a book of the Bible, or a topical study.
4. Reflect on what you have recorded. In your own words, write these verses as a prayer back to God.
5. Record any insights you have gained from this Scripture. As God’s Word permeates your thoughts, He often reveals sins that you need to confess. Write down what He is saying to you about that sin, ask for His forgiveness and power to change. If new praise erupts, record that. This time with God prepares you to enter your time of praying for others using the prayer list section below.
Section 2: Prayer List
Allot several pages for each category of your prayer list, marking each with a separate tab. Include pages for your husband, children, their spouses, grandchildren, extended family, friends and others, missionaries, your church, your children’s churches, for the unsaved, yourself, and so forth.
Your categories will reflect your life. I write Scriptures on each person’s page. Those verses guide my thoughts. As you use Mother’s Prayer and Woman’s Prayers you will find Scriptures you might use. I also ask each individual for their prayer needs.
Record the date of each request. Be sure to record the answer.
Here is something I did when my grandchildren were small: I traced the palm of his/her hand on the page with his/her name. As I did this, it was a visual reminder that their grandmother was praying for them.
Adapted from: Maddox, Sarah O.; Webb, Patti. A Mother's Prayers(p. 20). Agustin Agency.