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I’ll be honest with you; my prayer and Bible study time isn’t all it ought to be. I hate to admit this, but deep down inside I want you to think that I’ve got it all together—that I get down on my knees and I have this powerful communion with God. That’s not the truth, though.
Lately when I pray my mind’s all over the place, and it’s even worse when I read my Bible. I have to keep telling myself, “Focus!”
Every morning I spend an hour praying and reading my Bible. I don’t really want to know how much time I’m actually praying and reading the Bible, and how much time I’m thinking about who needs to practice spelling that day or wondering if I should get more highlights in my hair.
The thing is, I’ve been in this place before and even found a remedy for the “distracted during devotions syndrome.” I’ve just been too lazy to do it. The remedy: a prayer and Bible study journal.
I started using a journal for devotions when I had several small children and never any “quiet time.” I found that I could focus on my prayers even in a room full of people—even small noisy people. And it’s not just me—several friends have found that just using a journal transformed their study time.
I mainly used my journal for prayers. I’d just write a letter to God. Others use their journals to take notes in while they read the Bible, and some do both. I guess I thought that I outgrew my need for a study journal, but I haven’t. I’m off to find my notebook—and dust it off.
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
~ Psalm 119:18
Cherishing the Moment 