When I hear the word “diary,” my mind flashes back to middle school. I envision floral patterned notebooks with heart shaped locks that girls would keep in their backpacks. Within the depths of those pages, we men can only speculate what was written. Whatever it was, you can bet that it was written with Jelly Roll pens and in bubble letters (if you don’t know what Jelly Roll pens are, ask someone born in the 80’s). If you ask me, I would be willing to bet that there was very little substance, diary entries mainly consisting of who was cute and multiple games of M*A*S*H*.

Why do I bring back the nostalgia of our earlier years? It is because I have a confession to make. I too keep a diary. It may not be covered in stickers of the backstreet boys or photo booth pictures of my friends and me, but it is nonetheless a diary. However, I choose to call it by a much manlier name – a journal (also, every entry is signed in blood…just kidding).

All kidding aside, over the last two years I have begun to practice the art of journaling, and I feel that it is something worth sharing with you. I will start by saying what it is not. It is not a log of events, each starting with “Day X, today I went to the store, went to school, saw Billy…” and I digress. It is not a notepad or receptacle for your to-do lists, laundry lists, hot-or-not lists, grocery lists, Christmas lists, again digression. Think of journaling as a way to connect yourself and God in print, like writing a letter. Instead of praying to God in my head, or thinking quietly about the differences between sanctification and salvation, I get out my leather-bound journal, a pen, and begin to write out my thoughts (in poetic prose of course). Over a few pages, I pour out my thoughts to myself, my thoughts to God, and my prayers.

I find that there are many benefits to journaling. I find myself maintaining focus in my times with the Lord. Before I get into the Word, I often will start by journaling. With prayer, you can sometimes get distracted or worse, fall asleep! However, when you are journaling, all you have to do is keep writing. I find that in these times, thoughts come out that I had never paid much attention to, doubts and fears that I rarely address come to light, and prayer requests are easier to keep track of. Some find that it can be beneficial to respond to a recurring question every week. Pastor Mark Driscoll says that when he journals, once a week he answers the question, “What are the evidences of God’s grace that I have recently seen?” He responds to this question as a reminder of the unmerited love that he receives from the Lord every day. I think I will take his advice and follow suit.

So if you have time today, sit down and write a letter to the Lord. I think you will find it relaxing and focusing to share your heart with the Lord in a very tangible way! This may sound more appealing to women than men, but I assure you men – it is very manly to journal. I eat raw meat for breakfast, do push-ups, and then journal every day (ok not every day…), and I feel very confident in my masculinity! Try journaling my friends – you may just fall in love with it!