Is the concept of a prayer journal biblical?

Prayer journals are certainly a biblical concept though not commanded. Writing down prayers can help with focus, reflection, and remembering God’s faithfulness, though prayer can also be spoken or silent.

what does the bible say?

The Old Testament contains many examples of written prayers. The book of Lamentations is filled with numerous heartbreaking prayers over Jerusalem’s fall to the Babylonians, as is the book of Psalms that includes personal prayers from King David (Psalm 72:20) and Asaph (Psalm 77:11-12). Scripture also contains stand-alone examples of written prayers that involve everything from thanksgiving to grief to confession. First Kings 8:15-21 presents a joyous prayer in which Solomon gives God praise and thanksgiving over the ark of the covenant being brought into the temple, whereas 2 Chronicles 35:25 mentions King Josiah’s death and Jeremiah’s written lament over it. Some prayers combine different aspects of prayer. For example, Nehemiah 9:5-37 covers Jews’ praise, confession, as well as supplication post-exile. Daniel 9:4-19 includes confession and petition in his prayer during his captivity in Babylon. Lastly, the New Testament’s most famous prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, is recorded in Matthew 6:9-13, and many people today still write out and memorize this prayer in their prayer journals.

from the old testament

First Kings 8:15-21 records Solomon’s prayer of praise and thanksgiving when the ark of the covenant was brought into the temple.
When Judah’s good king, Josiah, died, the nation mourned. Second Chronicles 35:25 documents that, “Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah . . . they are written in the Laments.” Jeremiah’s mournful plea to the Lord was written and recorded. However, that particular prayer has been lost to history.
Nehemiah 9:5-37 records the Levites’ prayer of praise, confession, and supplication after the Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem.
The book of Psalms is a book filled with personal prayers, much like a prayer journal. In fact, Psalm 72:20 concludes a collection of psalms saying, “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.” So we know these psalms were originally prayers that David wrote out for the Lord.
Asaph, another psalmist, wrote in Psalm 77:11-12, “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Writing out those deeds in a prayer journal is a wonderful way to remember, and slowing down to engage in writing them out helps us meditate on God’s work.
The book of Lamentations is filled with prayers of mourning after Jerusalem had fallen to the Babylonians.
Daniel 9:4-19 records Daniel’s prayer of confession and petition to the Lord while in captivity in Babylon.

from the new testament

Jesus taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9-13: “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’” Recorded prayers throughout the Bible can be used as examples to follow when keeping our own prayer journals.

implications for today

A prayer journal is simply a written record of one’s prayers. It often contains heartfelt praise, earnest thanksgiving, sincere confessions, and specific requests, and how God hasanswered certainrequests. Because prayer journals are personal, they are often kept private. Writing out one’s prayers can help writers stay focused while bringing their hearts before the Lord. Writing prayers can help clarify writers’ thoughts and feelings as they express their deepest concerns. Having a written record of ways God has answered those prayers can be an encouragement during later seasons of struggle. While Scripture supports writing in a prayer journal, it is not the only biblical way to pray. The Bible records people writing their prayers, but also speaking their prayers aloud. They pray standing before a crowd (1 Kings 8:22), face down in privacy (Matthew 26:39), together as a group (Acts 12:12), among other ways. Furthermore, sometimes the Bible shows people praying silently (Genesis 24:45; 1 Samuel 1:13; Nehemiah 2:4). When we don’t know what to pray or how to pray, Romans 8:26 assures us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. So whether we write, speak, or think our prayers, we know the Holy Spirit is also praying for us on our behalf.

Recap

understand

Prayer journals are biblical, though not required.
Writing prayers helps us focus, reflect, and remember God’s faithfulness.
Prayer can be written, spoken, or silent.

reflect

How could keeping a prayer journal help you focus and reflect on your relationship with God?
How do you prefer to pray, and how does this help you stay connected to God?
How might reviewing past written prayers encourage you during challenging seasons of life?

engage

How do the written prayers of David, Daniel, and others inspire our own practice of recording prayers?
How can writing prayers complement other forms of prayer, such as speaking aloud or praying silently?
How does seeing God’s faithfulness in past prayers shape the way we approach Him with current requests?