Exploring Peace with Whitney R. Simpson
  • Home
  • About
    • About Whitney
    • Contact
    • Testimonials
  • Whitney's Books
  • Community
  • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Blue Coast Retreat
    • Middle TN & Area Retreat Locations
    • Supplements Shop
  • Services
    • Event Request
    • Retreats
    • Spiritual Direction >
      • Client Consent Form
    • Yoga >
      • Waiver

Praying with Your Pen

8/19/2015

 
Picture
Journaling. You either love it or….you don’t. It’s true. When asking others if they journal, they often tell me of the notebooks stacked in their closet. Or, they roll their eyes and insist journaling is not for them! While I’m inconsistent in how often I journal, journaling is vital to my prayer life. And I believe it was the first spiritual discipline I embraced as my own. I’m not sure if it was church camp or Sunday School, but somewhere along the way I learned about writing "Dear God" letters in lieu of “Dear Diary” letters. In my struggling teen years on through adulthood, I’ve poured my heart out to God on paper. I remember clearly the three ring binder where I kept those first love letters to God. And, I’m pretty certain I wrote in green ink on those pages (I do still use colored ink, it seems to liven things up a bit). Journaling has taught me more about myself over the years than any other spiritual discipline. There is wisdom in reading the words that come from your heart to God and I believe they give clarity.

Here’s the secret, writing letters to God does not have to be eloquent or complicated. Pick up your pen (or pencil or head to your keyboard) and share your heart. Your "Dear God" letters may simply be bullet points on a list, they may be sketches on a page, they may not even use a pen/pencil and instead stored in a “cloud” electronically. 

This week, as you spend time with God, consider writing one or more “Dear God” letters.
Consider sharing with God things like: how scripture is speaking to you in this season, where you see the holy in the world around you, the truth of your relationships, your daily triumphs or struggles, and the dreams of your heart.
 

God knows. But, do you? Be BRAVE. Pour out your heart to God.

If you regularly journal, consider exploring your previous prayers (or journal consistently for a week then review to notice any patterns or prominent longings of your heart). How have your prayers changed? What prayers have been answered? What prayers continue to tug at your heart? 

Watch for research this week (I'll be posting links on social media) about WHY journaling is good for the soul (and the brain). In the meantime, just write.


If you've stumbled here for the first time, welcome! On Mondays through this Fall, I'm posting a list of scriptures for reflection as well as a different way to pray each week. Pray one scripture or pray them all, this is simply an invitation to journey deeper as we explore God's peace together. Click here to find out more and join us on the journey.

Peace, Whitney

Comments are closed.

      How about a Monthly Dose of Soul Care?

    Subscribe

    Whitney R. Simpson

    Picture

    RSS Feed





    Click to connect:

    Categories

    All
    Advent
    Anxiety
    Aromatherapy
    Art
    Beads
    Body
    Book
    Book Launch
    Bookshelf
    Breath
    Breath Prayer
    Centering Prayer
    Christmas
    Community
    Contemplation
    Devotional
    Discernment
    Disciplines
    Downloads
    Dreams
    Embodiment
    Energy Work
    Enneagram
    Equality
    Essential Oils
    Everbloom
    Family
    Favorite Things
    Fear
    Food
    Giveaway
    Giving Back
    Guest Post
    Guided Meditations
    Healing
    Healthy Habits
    Inspiration
    Journaling
    Justice
    Kombucha
    Labyrinth
    Lake Junaluska
    Land Blessing
    Lectio Divina
    Lent
    Life
    Listen
    Love
    Meditation
    Mindfulness
    Ministry
    Mission
    Music
    Mystics
    Neighbors
    Older Adults
    Peace Seekers
    Podcast
    Poem
    Poetry
    Prayer
    Prayer Of Examen
    Quotes
    Reading
    Relaxation
    Rest
    Retreat
    Rule Of Life
    Sabbath
    Sacred Ordinary Days
    Scripture
    Silence
    Simplicity
    Simplify
    Small Groups
    Solitude
    Soul Care
    Spiritual Direction
    Spiritual Formation
    Spiritual Friends
    Trafficking
    Upper Room
    Walking Meditation
    Wild Goose
    With God In Every Breath
    Women
    Wool
    Yoga
    Yoga Nidra



    Content @ 2010-2023 
    Whitney R. Simpson

    Exploring Peace Ministries, LLC

Join the Community
​Listen to the Podcast
Find Whitney's Books 
Practice Yoga with Whitney
​Contact Whitney






​

​© 2025, Exploring Peace Ministries, LLC / Whitney R. Simpson
Picture
Photo from lululemon athletica
  • Home
  • About
    • About Whitney
    • Contact
    • Testimonials
  • Whitney's Books
  • Community
  • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Blue Coast Retreat
    • Middle TN & Area Retreat Locations
    • Supplements Shop
  • Services
    • Event Request
    • Retreats
    • Spiritual Direction >
      • Client Consent Form
    • Yoga >
      • Waiver