Nothing has helped me personally connect and pour my heart out to Jesus more than journaling.
I think when people hear journaling it conjures up your 11 year old self writing your guts out in big chunky handwriting. Probably splatting big crocodile tears on the pages or doodling in the margins.
Grown-up journaling might still have some of that innocent sweetness to it, but it is incredibly powerful and therapeutic. There's a bunch of science behind its powers that I won't get into here but if you give it a good google you'll find it.
I can't recall when my adult journaling started or why but it was a very long time ago, in my late 20s I think. I needed an outlet to get my feelings out, something personal where I wasn't worried about saying the wrong thing, hurting feelings or the look of judgement in the eyes starring back at me. I was already journaling before I met Jesus. It was a combo of writing about my life, worries, and questions but also me messing around with my intuitive skills. I'll write another post about the dangers and joys of intuitive skills.
What I can tell you is that journaling is my #1 way to connect with Jesus from when I was a brand new baby Christian to a more mature one now. My journal time with Jesus is sacred. For me its between 7-8pm, every day. Everyone tends to say journal in the morning and that's cool, but for me in those early Christian days I would hear the Holy Spirit speak to my heart and say come spend time with me. I'd check the clock, 7:00pm on the dot. After time, it became a habit and now a day won't go by between 7-8p where I don't get the stir to go write.
I'm sure you're saying EVERYDAY NO MATTER WHAT? For me, yes. Here's the thing, it becomes a major highlight of your day, maybe the best part. It becomes a nonnegotiable. Treasured time to sit in the peace of Jesus and pour out your truths.
I didn't feel a stirring of answers in my spirit right away, it took time and consistently showing up to build that muscle. Ever so slowly with practice I did begin to get answers, comfort, pushes, conviction but mostly love. If I hadn't committed to it consistently I'm not sure it would have grown to where it is now. No it wouldn't have. I think Jesus likes a little chasing, He's always making us feel special, why don't we return the favor and show He's worth chasing!
God will reach you in the best manner that suits you. Mine was through writing, it's how I hear Him best, maybe it could be for you?
Take the time, it'll be worth it. I start every write with Hi Beautiful Jesus, and treat it like I'm talking to my best friend, because I am.
