I argued with God When I felt him leading me to write.
I kept hearing him tell me to write, and I kept telling him I didn’t remember how.
One day, I walked into a bookstore and ran across Writing down the bones by Natalie Goldberg. The book was about freewriting. Although it did have some references to other religions, I found that I was able to skip over those parts, and I learned to write.
I made freewriting a habit, and the past that was still bottled up within me came out on those pages. I cried buckets while writing about some of those things for the first time. Then, after I was done writing, and crying, I would read over what I had written. I would forgive if that was needed, then I would give the situation over to the Lord and put it into his hands.
There is great power in journaling our feelings, and then giving it over to the Lord. Instead of holding all those feelings inside we can release them onto the page.
To begin your own journaling, it’s good to start with prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your writing time, plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and over your writing time.
Reading the Bible first will fill your mind with truth. Then, begin to write whatever comes to your mind, just let it out for five, ten or even fifteen minutes.
Go over what you have written.
Is there anyone you need to forgive? Lift up your hands to heaven and say, “Father, in the name of Jesus I choose to forgive __________ for __________. I choose to put this person into your hands. They are your burden now, and not mine. Bring your healing balm and come heal my heart, In Jesus name.”
Is there a sin you need to repent of? Pray, “Father, in the name of Jesus I repent of ________ and I ask your forgiveness for it. I choose to recieve your forgiveness and cleansing according to 1 John 1:9. I also choose Father, to forgive myself, and release myself from any and all condemnation.”
Lift these things up to the Lord and put them into his hands. Sometimes it helps to physically lift your hands up to heaven while you ask God to take them. Then, let them go.
It is good to end this time with worship. Sometimes what we’ve written about can be hard. Worshipping will lift our spirits and bring us back to a place of peace.
Journaling, along with forgiveness, repentance, worship and prayer carried me through many dark days.We are all in process. If you are hurting, God doesn’t want you to stay there. He wants you to move beyond the hurt to freedom. Sometimes it may look like a mountain stands between you and wholeness, but know that the Lord is good at moving mountains. He loves you, He adores you, and he wants you emotionally whole.
