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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Bible Study and Prayer Journal: Part 1


God's Words:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 
~2 Timothy 3:16-17

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law...Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path...Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
~Psalm 119:18, 105, 133

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 4:6-7

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
~James 5:16b

Do you ever struggle with maintaining regular personal Bible study and prayer time? Do you feel the need to get more organized with your devotional time, so that you'll be motivated to actually do it? Instead of getting overwhelmed at the thought of studying the Bible and procrastinating it until the next day (or days later)?

And do you often tell people you'll pray for them, thinking you'll never forget the fervent prayer request they so passionately shared with you? Only to end up completely forgetting to pray for them. At all. Not even once.

Yeah.

As you can probably tell, I have plenty of experience here, folks.

So I don't know about you, but I tend to need some major help in these two areas of the Christian life. Ashamed to admit it, but it's nonetheless true.

And I knew I had to do something about it. Something that would be really, truly effective in getting me more in the Word and prayer.



Therefore, in my rather desperate effort to become more organized (and therefore that much more motivated) with my Bible and prayer time, I put together a Bible Study & Prayer Journal.

It's pretty, is it not?









And it perfectly matches my Bible Basket and Scripture Card File, as seen here in this photo.

I chose a blue, green, and white color scheme, which coordinates with the majority of my home's living area decor.


Now because I love my Bible Study & Prayer Journal so much, especially for how it has significantly helped me spend more meaningful time with the Lord, I thought I should share it with my readers to help you become more organized with your devotional time, too.






So if you would like to put together your very own Bible Study & Prayer Journal, here is what you'll need:


  • 1" or wider 3-ring binder with clear display pockets in the front cover and spine
  • 2 sheets of 8-1/2" x 11" printer paper (card stock works the best; take my word for it - you will thank me later)
  • 2 - 3-ring tabbed dividers with pockets (pockets are very important - I'll explain later)
  • 1 package 8-1/2" x 11" 3-hole punched filler paper
  • 1 - 3-ring top-loading clear poly page protector (optional)
  • 1 sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" scrapbook paper (optional)

I chose tabbed dividers that match my green and blue color scheme. It's the little things that make a girl happy.

Now for the very important steps, including a few delightfully helpful photos, to show you how you can make and maintain your own Bible Study & Prayer Journal.



Designing your Journal Binder Cover and Display Accessories:

First, you'll need to use one of the sheets of printer or card stock paper to make your Journal binder cover, which you will insert into the clear front display pocket of the binder.

You can make your binder display cover and tab inserts however you'd like.  Anything goes, really.  Go all out, girl!  Use whatever suits your fancy to make your Journal binder as appealing as you want it to be.  Coordinating scrapbook paper, ribbon, stickers, gel pens, feathers, die cuts, glitter. The possibilities are endless.


An earth-friendly, minimalist style works just as well.  Hand-write the cover with the blotchy ink pen and piece of scrap paper you find in your kitchen odds n' ends drawer.  Hey, this way you save money and a tree.  This style is a win-win.


But seriously, design your cover and accessories any way you like.  This is your Journal. And the best part of it is that you can always change out your design whenever the whim strikes. Then off to Hobby Lobby you go!


However, if you prefer a more simple approach and would rather use the binder cover and accessories that I have already created, or even revise it to your own liking, please feel free to download the document below.  It includes four separate parts that can be cut out for use in your Journal binder:

  • A front cover title (which you can glue onto your 8-1/2" x 11" piece of coordinating scrapbook paper - as shown on my binder - and insert that prettiness into the binder's front display pocket).
  • A title for the binder's spine display pocket.
  • A "Bible Study" tab label to insert into your Bible Study divider.
  • A "Prayer Journal" tab label to insert into your Prayer Journal divider.
Like I mentioned, there are 2 ways you can use this document:
  1. Click on the link below which will take you to Google Drive where this document is absolutely free for the public to use.  At the top of the web page there are several different options.  If you click on the "printer icon" you'll be able to print the document as I designed it.  I hope you like yellow and green!
  2. Or you may also use the document as a template to create your own personalized Journal binder cover and tab inserts.  First, you will need to have Microsoft Word (or another similar word processor software).  Next, click on the link below which will take you to Google Drive.  Then click on the "download icon" at the top of the web page, which will allow you to save the document to your computer.  Once you open the document on your word processor, make sure to "Enable Editing", which will allow you to revise the template however you want to suit your personal style.  If you don't have word processor software on your computer, no worries!  You can simply click on the "down arrow" at the top of the web page, which will give you several more ways to use the document with "Connected Apps". So, for example, if you already have a Google Docs account, then you can open the document with Google Docs, which is basically a free online word processor.  It may not have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Word, but it works great and it's free.  Gotta love free!
Bible Study & Prayer Journal Binder Cover with Tab Labels

    Here is a close-up of my binder's spine:


It takes a little careful pushing to get the paper inserted all the way into the spine's display pocket. Which is the #1 reason why I strongly advise using card stock paper as opposed to regular thin printer paper.  Printer paper will wrinkle up as you're trying to insert it into the display pockets and divider tab pockets.  You will most likely end up frustrated, grumpy, and with wrinkly inserts. Now who wants that?  Take it from me - just use card stock paper and make your life that much easier.

Now that you've got the outside of your Journal all nice and pretty, it's time to start working on the inside.

First, put your two 3-ring tabbed dividers with pockets into your binder.



Next, put in half the filler paper into the binder after each divider, so that you have two sections - one for your Bible Study Journal and one for your Prayer Journal.  No photo for this step since it should be a no-brainer.  You should be fine without a photo.  If not, you've got bigger fish to fry, my friend.



Now, insert the cut-out tab labels into the tab inserts, as shown here.  It doesn't matter which order you put them in.

I typically start my quiet time with Bible study and follow up with prayer, so that's why I personally have chosen to have my Bible Study section first in my binder. You can have your sections however you want; whatever suits your needs and personal routine best.


Since my Bible Study section comes first in my own binder, I will share the steps for this part of the Journal first.  But you will have to wait until my next post for those instructions!  I plan to post Part 2 later this week.



In the meantime, girl, go find all the supplies you need and get started putting your Journal together!  Target, here you come!  They have some super cute office supplies right now.  No, they are not paying me to give them a sales plug.  In my dreams!

Until then, I am praying for you as you take these steps to spend more meaningful time with the Lord.  God loves a seeking, obedient heart and He will bless you abundantly with the priceless treasures found in His Word!

In Christ,

Suzy

6 comments:

  1. Love this! I will be setting one up soon!!!!

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    1. Thank you! So glad you are going to make one!!

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  2. Thanks for the push to finally get me to do this! I can't wait to get started!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I totally understand the need for more motivation! Yay, I'm so glad you're excited, too!!

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  3. This is just what I need, so Target here I come...more time with God in 2016.

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    Replies
    1. Ha ha, that's awesome! Thank you for sharing this with me. So excited for you to grow in the Word and get to know its Author better! God bless you as you seek Him more and more!

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