I started journaling every day in June 2023. It helps me process my day and let go of thoughts that get stuck in my head that don’t necessarily need to be heard by another person.
I put it at the end of my day with reading my Bible and, for the last 5 months, journaling prayers, too.
Another thing I started last year was writing scripture in the back of my journals. I write down verses that are encouraging or challenging as I come across them in my Bible reading.
When I wasn’t sure where to read, was worn out from a long day or a hard season, or just needed encouragement, I would visit the back of my journal and read these verses.
I really loved how they flow through different themes and that each time I read them I was – and still am – encouraged in my faith.
I’ve recently finished the journal with these pages at the back. This post is both to share them with you and to make it simple to re-read them when and wherever I need them.
I pray these speak to your heart like they have to mine.
All verses quoted are from the New King James Version.
“Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalms 4:4, 8
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Romans 11:29
“Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.”
Psalms 31:24
“For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”
Romans 16:19-20a
“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle—”
Psalms 144:1
“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.”
Job 5:17
“Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
Mark 9:50b
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
II Timothy 4:2
“The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.”
Proverbs 16:23
“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
I Corinthians 14:40
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:14
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalms 16:11
“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”
Psalms 17:15
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.”
Psalms 27:13
“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”
Ephesians 5:18-21
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
II Corinthians 2:14
“And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.”
II Corinthians 8:10-12
“The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
Ecclesiastes 7:8