If you were here with us last week, we talked about Getting More Use from your Prayer Journal instead of starting one and letting it sit on a shelf, forgotten, after just a few entries. At the end of that article, I mentioned (in passing) how prayer journaling helped me show more fruit of the Spirit (as seen in Galatians 5:22-23 of the Bible).
First, let’s look at the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 defines them as, “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”.
The more I use a prayer journal, the more I have found that I’m learning (and practicing) more of the fruit of the Spirit.
Can You Learn the Fruit of the Spirit with a Prayer Journal?
If your prayer journal is aptly named, then absolutely I believe the answer is a resounding YES… because it’s more than words on a page. It’s a connection with our Lord and Savior, a conversation with the Creator.
How does it work?
It’s likely at least slightly different for everyone, but in my particular case, as described last week, I have started using my prayer journal to write out what is upsetting/irritating/causing anger in me (you can read more about that HERE).
By writing out those issues (instead of trying to deal with them in the moment), I am giving myself a chance to cool off, think, pray, and regroup.
That shows love to the other person because I’m not lashing out – I’m taking time to collect my thoughts and respond appropriately.
Joy and peace, I’ve discovered, are both often found when I treat others kindly, and with respect – but they are also found in our Savior when I have that open conversation about what’s on my mind through prayer journaling.
Forbearance (defined as “patient self-control, restraint, and tolerance” by Oxford Languages), goes hand in hand with those as well as the next ones.
Kindness, goodness, and gentleness .. these are the fruit of the Spirit I’m learning by praying through the decisions on whether to confront an issue or let it go because it simply isn’t important.
Although it seems pretty evident, self-control is established by learning to wait through prayer journaling when problems arise, too.
Learning Faithfulness
You might’ve noticed a fruit of the Spirit missing from the ones listed above. Faithfulness.
I’m learning faithfulness in prayer. Faithfulness in building relationships (including with my Savior) because I’m not turning to someone else in anger, simply having quiet words with the Lord.
Do you use a prayer journal to connect with the God of the Bible, and if so, have you experienced the benefit of learning the fruit of the Spirit? Let me know in the comments below!
Christian, wife, “hybrid” mama, I run the site All Behind A Smile to help others like me.
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