If you haven’t had a chance to read this week’s devotion yet, be sure to stop for a moment now and click over and read it before reading this week’s journaling guide.
I separated the Devotion from the journaling guide to make it easier to use throughout the week if you print out the journaling guide. You can just slip this page in your journal and have it ready when you need it! I hope it helps.
The reflection questions/actions are based on the devotion for this week. And I have prayed about the direction to go with these, they are for me and my family as well as all of you. I hope you find them helpful. If they don’t fit you or your family’s journaling needs this week, as always, feel free to tweak them or create your own. I look forward to hearing how God is working in your life this week! You are in my prayers!
God’s call for us to LOVE Journaling Guide for Adults
Day 1– There are SO many, many passages and verses about God’s love for us, His call/command that we love one another, and ways we can live out this call to love. Take some time to flip through your Bible, feel free to use a concordance to find the passages that focus on love to help you. Pray about which passage or passages to write in your journal today. Create something beautiful with the passages or just write them as a journal entry…whatever works best for you. Take a moment to thank God for His love of us as individuals and ask Him for help as you begin this week of focusing on His love and how we love others.
Day 2– Take some time to re-read the passage(s) you wrote in your journal on Day 1. Then think about the ways God has loved you through others in your life…it might be through your family, spouse, children, friends, co-workers, neighbors, a stranger, or your sisters in Christ. Write down three examples of His love that come to your mind. Take a moment to thank God for each of those times and the people who He loved you through. Then take a little time to pray for each of them.
Day 3– Take some time to re-read the passage(s) you wrote in your journal on Day 1. Then think about three people you care about in your life. Think about how you show love to them. Write down some of the ways you show love to them. Thank God for each of them and ask Him to bless them and care for them.
Day 4– Take some time to re-read the passage(s) you wrote in your journal for Day 1. Take some time to think of a person who is hard for you to love who is in your life. Ask God to help you to start seeing that person through His eyes. Ask Him to help you to start praying for them…to help you start praying that He would bless them, protect them and provide for them. Ask Him to show them His love in a special way. Now I know that is hard. And it may take more than one day to work on this one. I know it has been hard for me to do when I have done this in the past, one relationship took six months of my learning to pray for them, but that relationship, which was with a family member, was healed because God softened my heart as I prayed for them and He helped me to forgive them. So today just take the time to begin praying for them. You may want to write about this experience in your journal.
Day 5– Take some time to re-read the passage(s) you wrote in your journal on Day 1. Take a few moments to ask God to lead you to someone who needs an extra helping of His love today. Ask Him to help you to see how you can share his love with them by reaching out to them in ways described in 1 Corinthians 13. This may be your spouse, children, friend, neighbor, a stranger, anyone who God brings to mind. Then act on it. Step out of your comfort zone and share God’s love by doing something to help them without getting anything in return. Write about it in your journal.
God’s call for us to LOVE Journaling Guide for Children
Day 1– There are SO many, many passages and verses about God’s love for us, His call/command that we love one another, and ways we can live out this call to love. Take some time to flip through your Bible, feel free ask your parents to help you to use a concordance to find the passages that focus on love to help you. Pray about which passage or passages to write in your journal today. Create something beautiful with the passages or just write them as a journal entry…whatever works best for you. Take a moment to thank God for His love of us as individuals and ask Him for help as you begin this week of focusing on His love and how we love others.
Day 2– Take some time to re-read the passage(s) you wrote in your journal on Day 1. Then think about the ways God has loved you through others in your life…it might be through your family, friends, classmates, neighbors, a stranger, or your friends at church. Write down three examples of His love that come to your mind. Take a moment to thank God for each of those times and the people who He loved you through. Then take a little time to pray for each of them.
Day 3– Take some time to re-read the passage(s) you wrote in your journal on Day 1. Then think about three people you care about in your life. Think about how you show love to them. Write down some of the ways you show love to them. Thank God for each of them and ask Him to bless them and care for them.
Day 4– Take some time to re-read the passage(s) you wrote in your journal for Day 1. Take some time to think of a person who is hard for you to love who is in your life. Ask God to help you to start seeing that person through His eyes. Ask Him to help you to start praying for them…to help you start praying that He would bless them, protect them and provide for them. Ask Him to show them His love in a special way. Now I know that is hard. And it may take more than one day to work on this one. I know it has been hard for me to do when I have done this in the past, one relationship took six months of my learning to pray for them, but that relationship, which was with a family member, was healed because God softened my heart as I prayed for them and He helped me to forgive them. So today just take the time to begin praying for them. You may want to write about this experience in your journal.
Day 5– Take some time to re-read the passage(s) you wrote in your journal on Day 1. Take a few moments to ask God to lead you to someone who needs an extra helping of His love today. Ask Him to help you to see how you can share his love with them by reaching out to them in ways described in 1 Corinthians 13. This may be your parents, friend, neighbor, a stranger, anyone who God brings to mind. Then act on it. Step out of your comfort zone and share God’s love by doing something to help them without getting anything in return. Write about it in your journal.
If you haven’t joined me in this Blessing Journal Challenge for 2013 and would like more information you can find out more here. And the rule is…you start with today! There is no “catching up” or guilt for not completing all the weeks. And what I share in the guides are just that…a guide…you journal about what the Lord leads you to write/create.
I am praying for each one of you as you journal through this week. I hope you find help and encouragement as you work through the questions this week.
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And please join me back here tomorrow night for a very special birthday tribute to Gina Marie who celebrates her 37th birthday on Monday, 2/11!!! She will be posting her Marriage article on Valentine’s Day this week instead so that she has the day off for her birthday!!!
Sitting at HIS feet with so much to learn,
Mary Joy
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