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 We all have problems. One day might be a wonderful one filled with fun and gratifying things. The next day might be filled with really bad things happening.
This shouldn’t surprise us as Jesus said:
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer.
I have overcome the world.
John 16:33b
 What do we do when bad things happen? Even if you are a firm believer in the Lord Jesus, you might find your thought life derailed if too many rocks fall on you at once.
The best advice I can give you is to always spend time with Jesus. Keeping a prayer journal is a wonderful way to have devotionals. It helps to keep you focused and also opens up your heart to hear God’s word. A prayer journal can be much like a diary but instead of writing to yourself you’re pouring out your ideas to the Lord.
On this page you will find various aspects of journaling being covered:
Free Prayer Journaling Printables
Why should you make room for Jesus in your life daily?
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Preparing our hearts for His Word
Free Prayer Journaling Printables
 I have created some printables that will help you with directing your Christian journal.
Remember that these are just helps. They are in no way a rule.
You need to discover what fits your own personal way of keeping a prayer journal.
I hope these printables will help spark some ideas and motivate you in your prayer time:
Prayer Journal Printable
Prayer Request Tracker
Why should you make room for Jesus in your life daily?
 If something is taking up that time you seriously need to stop and analyze what can be eliminated from your life so that it doesn’t take away from time with Him. Nothing should get in the way of your relationship with your heavenly Father.
Sometimes people trust their previous “Biblical knowledge” to keep them strong.
 Studying the Word is essential but it does not replace daily time with Jesus. Even if you’ve memorized the entire Bible, if you don’t spend time in His presence, when problems come around you might find yourself completely out of God’s will.
Remember when Jesus told the “Parable of the Sower”?
Pay attention to the following verses:
And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Mark 4:18-19
The seeds are the Word of God. We want the seed to grow and produce fruit. Notice that the thorns that Jesus is referring to are the cares of this world. We need to remove those thorns before they take out the word of God in our hearts. It’s a decision that has to be made. Make room for the Word of God to fill your heart day by day.
Even if you have a lot of biblical information in your brain, if you don’t consciously make the decision to spend time in His Presence daily, the cares of this world will choke the Word out of your heart.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
You see, being a Christian is not about thinking that you are more spiritual than others. It’s not about being “churchy”. It’s not about being religious. What is it about then? It’s about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s a daily thing to follow Christ.
Even Jesus himself spent time praying to the Father and He is God!
  Having a prayer journal will help your spiritual life a lot. If you journal your thoughts you can keep track of what’s in your heart.
Preparing our hearts for His Word
Personally I have 2 moments to my prayer journal. There’s the moment where I simply write to the Lord what I am feeling. I pour out my heart to Him. It’s kind of like writing a letter. Sometimes my thoughts may not be in complete alignment to His Word, but once I get those thoughts out, I can read them and figure out what is true and what is not.
 Then there is the second part of my journaling. I read and figure out what is not in alignment to the Word. I also identify my personal prayer requests in these moments.
So I let Him minister to my heart when I do my prayer journal. Some people restrict themselves way too much during their prayer time. This won’t help them grow spiritually.
It’s important to be free when journaling. Speak to your Father about what you are going through and what you need to get better at. Speak to him through your writing.
God’s word is here for a reason and that reason is to guide us and to take us to the right place.
So journal away to get closer to God and His joy and happiness.
Please feel free to share your own thoughts or ask for help if you need it in the comment section below.
Blessings to you,
Eren Mckay
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Tyy Ward
Hey Eren,
I love your site! Great topic. I will be sharing your site with my wife as I feel this will be a great encouragement to her. She has her own blog on the topic of being a conservative mom and I know she could use some of the inspiration you share here.
Eren Mckay
Hi Tyy-
I hope these articles an resources are helpful to your wife. I think that as Christians we need encouragement from each other. We need to build each other up. Our enemy is working hard each day to tear us down so we need to unite as a body to strengthen each other spiritually. This is the vision that the Lord has given me with this blog. To encourage, to uplift, to motivate each other in our walk with Him.
Thanks for your kind words,
Blessings,
Eren
Tyy Ward
Hi Eren,
Thanks for your reply. I just showed my wife your blog and encouraged her to get involved with your site. You can check her site out at http://www.theconservativemom.com. I’m sure she would love any feedback you might have for her.
She is a stay-at-home mom and though it has been very hard on us financially, we are doing all we can to keep her home and raise our 3 kids. The toughest part has been everyone telling her to get a job and she feels beat down by this, but we are holding steadfast on this and praying that God will take care of the details.
I can already tell she will find some encouragement from your site. I have bookmarked it in her favorites.
Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
Tyy
Eren Mckay
Hey Tyy,
I took a look at your wife’s site and it look awesome. I have also been a stay at home mom since my kids were born. Couldn’t stand being away from them. So I completely understand what she’s going through.
Believe me- I totally understand.
If she wants to be notified when I write more things on the site then she can also sign up to our Christian newsletter on the top right.
The Lord has been pressing upon my heart to start the Embracing Home Radio Show. Mostly for encouragement and solutions to problems. I just got a new microphone for it so I’m excited.
Blessings to you and your family,
Eren
Jason Capshaw
Eren,
Great post. I am going to start using the prayer journal. I have been wanting to track my prayer answers. Great way to build up your faith and have a thankful heart.
Gives me an idea for a web application…We should talk
Nessa
Hi,
I wrote an article about prayer journaling, and I spoke of you in one part. I included your prayer journal print-outs and gave you full credit, including your name and this site addie. Hopefully this is ok with you. Adorable print-outs, btw! God bless.
Eren Mckay
@Jason – Tracking the answers is very important for us to see clearly God’s hand working in our lives. We sometimes forget all that He has done for us. I wonder what the web application would be – would love to talk
@Nessa – Thanks for linking to me. That really helps spread the word about the resources. We all need help to grow spiritually and hear His voice and the more people that know about the resources, the better.
Blessings,
Eren
Derekia D. Williams
Hello,
I have been journaling off and on all of my life. But here recently I have started a prayer journal. I love it I must admit that I have not been tracking prayers and making sure all of my thoughts align with God’s Word but I am happy that I found your site because I have gained some knowledge by reading it. It is good to see that Christians are everywhere. Thank you for the encouragement.
james edward gerard fox
please pray to dear jesus for me to get back all i lost and a lot lot more – also for a complete miracle in my life as well as my mind and body healed and to please take out the tormenting unclean spirit inside me for good – amen
i suffer from anxiety and depression and bad asthma i get panic attacks and blackouts and my mind/thinking is disordered please help!