How to Start A Prayer Journal

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Are you looking for simple instructions on how to set up a prayer journal?

I’ve been using a prayer journal for years now and loved that it’s something I can put together myself. It’s been a really great way for me to keep my eyes on God as I’m dealing with life and it’s hardships. When I am going through the thick of it, God has always met me so intimately in the pages of my prayer journals. Those are the moments I feel held. 

There’s just something about the honesty and vulnerability that comes from us when we share our brokenness or frustrations in a safe space to the God who hears and mends.

Why do you need a prayer journal?
How do you make a prayer journal? And how do I write down my own prayers?

In this post, you’re going to learn how to use a prayer journal to build your relationship with God. I’ll share step-by-step instructions as well as, prayer journal examples, tips, and fun ideas that I use to help cultivate a prayer life. Find our prayer journal templates here when you’re ready to get started!

Why Do You Need A Prayer Journal?

Do you ever find yourself wanting to pray but not really knowing what to say?

Have you ever started praying and realized a couple of minutes into it that your mind was totally distracted and you aren’t even praying anymore?

Those are two of the reasons I started using a prayer journal. Writing out your prayers is a great way to overcome everyday prayer obstacles.

Not only that it’s a really good way to get started with intercessory prayer. Most people don’t realize when we journal and pray on the behalf of others we are acting as intercessors. I think it’s the coolest that a personal prayer journal doubles as an intercessory prayer journal.

How do you make a prayer book? Let’s work through that next!

How Do You Make A Prayer Journal? What Materials Do You Need?

My first prayer journal wasn’t fancy. I literally picked up a .99 cent composition notebook at our local grocery store and honestly, that was enough.

What I like about the diy prayer journal is that I can make it my own. You can use prayer journal templates, but you don’t have to. You can make it fancy, but you can also keep it simple. The choice it yours!

These are the basic materials I use to put together my prayer notebook:

• A three-ringed Binder or Notebook
• Prayer Journal Pages (these ones are printable!)
• Dividers (optional)
• A Bible (for scripture references)

How to Set Up A Prayer Journal In 3 Simple Steps

1. Set up your dedication page.
2. Add your daily prayer pages.
3. Add the prayer journaling prompts

Start With Your Dedication Page

I find this to be a really fun way to begin the “prayer journey”. I know that sounds cheesy; stick with me.

Think of the dedication page of your prayer journal as a creed or an anthem. It’s your commitment to prayer and what you hope to gain from it. It could be a letter to yourself, a prayer to God, a Bible verse, or a mission statement. Years from now when you return to your journal, your dedication page will be the first one to wow you. It’ll flood your mind with all the memories of how God met you in those special times no matter how great or how difficult.

If you don’t have room for a dedication page, write it down on a notecards and clip it into your journal.

How to Create Daily DIY Prayer Journal Pages

Step one: Grab a blank sheet of paper. Make space at the top of each page to record the date and weekday.

Step two: Under the date and weekday make three columns and label them events, people, praise. These columns serve as reminders to pray for key people and key events happening each day, and also as a reminder to give glory and praise where glory is due.

Adding Prayer Journaling Prompts

Prayer journaling prompts guide you in how to pray. They prompt you to think about things you might otherwise overlook. You can find a list of simple prayer prompts here.

Sometimes we sit down to pray and have so much on our minds prayer seems impossible. In cases like that I love using these prayer journaling pages! They help me navigate the stuff I’m going through while reminding me about the truth of God’s love for me even when life gets hard. I find myself being far more transparent when I’m using the prayer journal pages than I have ever been without them.

And voila! Your prayer journal is ready to use! 

Tips For How to USE A Prayer Journal

Now let’s walk through how to prayer journal using these pages.

Start your prayer time by filling out the front of the Daily Prayer page.

Write the date and day of the week on the top and then work your way across the 3 prayer columns.

What events are happening in your life, family, and community? Write them down in the events column.

What people is God bringing reminding you to pray for today? Who do you know that is in need of prayer? Who has specifically asked you for prayer? Write those names in the people column.

What do you have to praise and be thankful for? Write those down in the praise column.

Use the bottom half of the page to pick ONE topic of prayer to focus on. Write it down and turn the page over. The back of the page is where you’ll write down your own prayer for each prayer topic.

How Do I Write My Own Prayer? Prayer Journal Prompts to Help!

Written prayers act as a living record of what God is working in your life. They become testimonies of God’s faithfulness and usher us into remembrance of all that God has accomplished on our behalf. Sometimes that’s just the kick our faith needs.

How do I write my own prayers? I keep it real and I keep it simple, and I use prayer prompts to help me stay on track. 

Some days are less structured than others. Sometimes my journal entry is more of a recap of my conversation with God. That’s beautiful too. When we study what the Bible has to say about prayer we learn there is actually a lot of freedom when it comes to how we pray. The blueprints we do find primarily address the condition of our hearts and motives, so we really don’t have to be too concerned with how to start writing a prayer or how to organize your prayer. We simply pray.

But if you’re like me and you want to find a way to avoid feeling scatterbrained, the prayer journal prompts below can help you stay focused and pray intentionally.

Prayer Prompts for Family:

• Write down the names of each person in the family.
• What big family decisions do you have to make?
• Are there any birthdays coming up?
• What conflicts are you working through as a family?
• How is school going for your kids?
• What goals do you have as a family?
• Each family member’s relationship with God.
• Your marriage and friendship.
• Conflict resolution.
• Family influence.
• Personal struggles.

Prayer Journal Prompts for Work/Ministry:

This section is for business and ministry-focused prayer. Some people like to separate these into different categories. I see them as one and the same. The workplace is a mission field. Your mission field is your workplace. The goal is to make disciples in both places. Here are some ways you can be praying for your work and ministry.

• Projects
• Team Members
• Leadership
• Company needs
• Opportunity to serve and share the love of Jesus
• Non-believers in the workplace
• Integrity in the workplace
• Growth
• Challenges at work

Prayer Journal Prompts for the Community:

• Local Schools
• Local Church & Church Leadership
• Local Government & Community Leaders
• Events
• Non-believers
• Neighborhood friends and strangers.
• The voiceless / people in need.

Journaling Prompts for the Nation:

• God to be recognized among the nations
• Missions & Evangelism efforts
• National Government & Leaders
• Conflict Resolutions
• Act justly & with integrity
• Wisdom from the ground up
• “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done”

Weekly Reflection Prayer Prompts:

• What has God been talking to you about this week?
• What has He shown you about Him in the Bible?
• How has He asked you to pray?
• What step of faith is He asking you to take?
• What do concerns do you need to bring to Him?
• What do you want to thank Him for?
• How have you witnessed God’s love this week?

PRO TIP:  As you read and study the Bible, begin collecting Bible verses that speak to each prayer focus. This will provide you with scripture to stand on as you pray for various pieces of your life. Our DIY Journal Kit comes will 100 Ready to Use Scripture references to help you pray Scripture-inspired prayers over the different areas of your life.

What Do You Do With Old Prayer Journals?

I keep mine! It’s always amazing to look back at an old prayer journal and be reminded of how God was present and active is in our lives. Just like Scripture is a testimony of the goodness of God, so is your prayer journal. For that reason, I hold onto mine. I have them in a keepsake box. Maybe one day I’ll pass them on to my children or grandchildren. I like the idea of journals leaving a legacy and imprint on the generations to come.

MORE Creative Prayer Journal Ideas

If you’re creating your own prayer notebook these are some prayer journal ideas and prompts you might consider.

• Bible Study Notes.
• Specific prayers for people and events.
• Bible Verses that you are praying in agreement with. In short, prayer strategies are an outline of the things God has called you to pray for along with the scripture He’s given you to lean on. Learn how and why to create prayer strategies in this post.
• Disciplines you want to grow in.
• God-given goals and ambitions.
• Praise and Thanksgiving. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves just how great and loving the God we serve is.
• Art journaling

Prayer Journal Apps

If writing by hand isn’t your thing and you’d rather create a journal online or through a prayer journal app; these websites can get you started.

• Online Prayer Journal provides both free and premium online prayer journal options.

• The Olive Tree App – This one is great for Bible study and as a prayer journal!
• Prayer List
• Pray On! – This app allows you to create prayer lists, organize prayers, start a prayer journal, and pray with friends in private prayer groups! It’s definitely worth looking at!
• Evernote is a simple note-taking app that can easily be used for a prayer journal.
• Prayer Notes: Ask, Seek, Knock (apple)

For journal pages that are ready to go, download our Prayer Journal Kit!

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