## Intro [(00:00:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=14s) - Writing out prayers has been beneficial for the soul and communication with God, and this practice is not limited to sophisticated Christians or those who are very disciplined, but can be helpful for anyone, including the ordinary Christian, as it helps to overcome weaknesses in prayer and faith [(00:00:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=14s). - The practice of writing out prayers has been a long-standing one, with a collection of journals dating back to college days, including a notebook from 1993, which contains prayers, words of praise, and spiritual experiences [(00:01:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=62s). - The journals contain a variety of entries, including poetic praises, spiritual experiences, and written-out prayers, which serve as a reminder of the importance of prayer and faith [(00:01:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=84s). - Writing out prayers can be a spur to pray, especially when one is not praying sufficiently, and it helps to force oneself to speak to God and trust in His salvation [(00:01:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=102s). - The practice of writing out prayers also helps to overcome lack of faith, as it provides a physical record of prayers, allowing one to trust that God has heard and will answer them, and to leave concerns at the throne of grace [(00:02:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=123s). - By writing out prayers, one can remind themselves that they have indeed prayed for something, and this can help to strengthen faith and trust in God's power and grace [(00:02:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=146s). ## Richly personal [(00:02:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=158s) - The richness of the spiritual relationship with God and the richly personal nature of this relationship makes prayer journaling an appropriate practice, allowing for a deeper connection with God as a heavenly father [(00:02:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=158s). - Prayer journaling involves reveling in God's love, similar to writing love letters to a spouse, and is a way to express amazement at the personal nature of God's love [(00:02:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=175s). - The practice of prayer journaling helps to acknowledge and appreciate the unique and personal love that God has for each individual, despite being part of a large global community of believers [(00:03:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=195s). - The idea of prayer journaling was influenced by Augustine's [[Confessions (Augustine) | Confessions]], which had a significant impact and inspired the practice of writing down prayers [(00:03:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=222s). ## A prayer to God [(00:03:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=223s) - The book "Confessions" by [[Augustine of Hippo | Augustine]] is a collection of writings that includes books one through eight, with the latin text on one side and the english translation on the other, making it a powerful and beautiful read, especially in good translations [(00:03:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=223s). - The "Confessions" is written as a prayer to God, with Augustine occasionally acknowledging that the book will be read by others, and at times addressing the readers directly, asking them not to judge him negatively for sharing his past experiences [(00:04:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=252s). - The book begins with a prayer to God, where Augustine praises God's greatness, goodness, and wisdom, and acknowledges humanity's desire to praise God despite its mortality and sin, with Augustine stating that God inspires humanity to praise Him because He made them for Himself [(00:04:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=275s). - Augustine's "[[Confessions (Augustine) | Confessions]]" is a personal and intimate account of his life, where he confesses to God and recognizes Him as his savior, with the book being a testament to God's power and Augustine's devotion to Him [(00:05:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=306s). - The "Confessions" highlights the idea that humanity's hearts are restless until they rest in God, and that God's creation, including humanity, longs to praise Him, with Augustine's writing serving as an example of this longing [(00:04:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=299s). ## Statements of praise [(00:05:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=324s) - Statements of praise are found in old journals, such as one from 1993, which contain daily prayers that express praise and gratitude to God, including phrases like "eternal father strong to save" and requests for mercy and grace [(00:05:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=324s). - These journals also include quotations from scriptures, which is appropriate for expressing praise, and examples can be seen in phrases like "look on me lord and take not your spirit from me", a reflection of something King David said [(00:06:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=364s). - The act of going to God in prayer often brings up feelings of praise in the soul, as it is a natural response to understanding God's greatness and the greatness of His praise, and this is evident in the journals [(00:06:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=379s). - The journals also express the happiness found in God, which is a common theme when talking to God and understanding His greatness and the greatness of His praise [(00:06:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=385s). ## Happiness in God [(00:06:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=401s) - Reflecting on experiences of God's grace is crucial, and writing them down in a journal can help individuals remember and appreciate the unique delight God takes in them [(00:06:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=401s). - The love and acceptance of God can be thrilling, and it is essential to understand why His love is unique and how it can bring joy to individuals, even when they feel their minds are limited in comprehending the wonders of His grace and gospel [(00:07:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=425s). - It is vital to affirm that God is the Father who loves His church, and at the same time, each child of God should celebrate the marvelous love that the heavenly Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit have for them individually [(00:07:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=445s). - Writing in a journal can be an effective way to reflect on and celebrate the love of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and it allows individuals to acknowledge and appreciate the unique relationship they have with each of them [(00:07:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=457s). ## The language of Augustine [(00:07:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=472s) - The language of [[Augustine of Hippo | Augustine]] is reflected in personal reflections, as seen in a prayer journal entry from September 10, 1993, which begins with praise for God's majesty and fatherhood [(00:07:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=472s). - The prayer journal entry expresses admiration for God's perfect rule and anticipates a future time when all nations will confess God's blessedness and profess glory, honor, and power to the Trinity [(00:08:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=482s). - Writing prayers out in a journal is a personal and confidential act, not intended for publication, but rather as a means of communicating honestly with God, including confessing sinfulness and crying out for mercy [(00:08:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=503s). - The act of prayer journaling is not focused on producing well-written models of English or publishable content, but rather on expressing genuine thoughts and emotions to God [(00:08:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=508s). - The confidential nature of prayer journaling allows for sincere and heartfelt expressions, including [[Confessions (Augustine) | confessions]] of sin and requests for God's mercy, which are written solely for God's eyes [(00:08:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=522s). ## Pastors prayer journal [(00:08:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=530s) - Prayer journals as a pastor contain a variety of prayers, including those dealing with personal struggles and stresses, such as the pressure of preaching on Sundays, and the need for God's assistance in delivering sermons, even after they are finished [(00:08:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=530s). - The journals also include celebrations and expressions of gratitude, as seen in an entry from October 4, 2005, where the writer praises God for the beauty of nature, including the sky, roses, and trees, and acknowledges God's omnipresence and ability to enjoy every part of the world at once [(00:09:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=550s). - The prayer journals demonstrate a personal and intimate relationship with God, where the writer can express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and find comfort and joy in God's presence, as evident in the writer's statement of being glad to be alive in God's world and able to inhabit a part of it [(00:09:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=576s). ## Personal nature of prayer [(00:09:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=587s) - Writing out prayers can help reveal the personal nature of this act, much like writing a love letter to someone, and this personal aspect is important for individuals to express their love and feelings to God [(00:09:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=587s). - A professor once questioned whether one really loves God, despite embracing reformed theology, and writing in a journal can serve as evidence of this love, as seen in a personal entry from November 1, 2005, where the writer expresses their belief in God's love [(00:10:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=607s). - Most prayers written in a journal are personal and not meant to be shared with others, and journals can also contain other personal items, such as lists of life goals, which can be interesting to reflect on later in life [(00:10:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=647s). - Writing out prayers can be a helpful discipline, especially when having trouble praying or when faith is weak, as it allows individuals to express their thoughts and feelings to God and leave them at the throne of grace [(00:11:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=706s). - The act of writing down prayers enables individuals to reflect on the personal nature of their prayers, express their love for God, and communicate with Him in a more intentional way, which can be a beneficial practice in addition to speaking prayers [(00:12:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=728s). - Writing out prayers can be a way to celebrate one's love for God, praise Him, and ask for things that are needed, and it is encouraged to find a journal or notebook and use it to pray and express one's feelings to God [(00:12:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog&t=775s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWeGBSyyog?si=qxAtaKfTml_wasu8)