Have you ever wished you could discover journal tips for connecting with Jesus, but struggled to know where to start? Or maybe you’ve tried journaling before but felt overwhelmed by blank pages staring back at you?
I get it! I used to want to journal as a way to release and let go, but I also felt stuck. As midlife Christian women navigating teenagers, young adults, work responsibilities, and everything in between, finding meaningful ways to connect with God can feel challenging. But here’s what I’ve learned about journaling – it’s one of the most beautiful ways to spend intentional time with the Lord.
Today, I want to share my favorite journal tips for connecting with Jesus that have transformed my quiet time from rushed and scattered to peaceful and purposeful. These simple practices have helped me cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus, even in the busiest seasons of motherhood.
Why Journaling is a Beautiful Way to Spend Time with the Lord
Before we dive into the practical tips, let me share why journaling has become such a treasured part of my relationship with Jesus. When life feels overwhelming – when your teenager is struggling, your young adult needs guidance, or you’re simply exhausted from giving everyone else what they need – journaling becomes a space where you can process everything with God.
Unlike verbal prayer (which is wonderful too!), journaling slows you down. It forces you to be present, to really think about what you’re feeling, and to invite Jesus into the details of your daily life. It’s like having a heart-to-heart conversation with your best friend, except that friend knows exactly what you need to hear and loves you unconditionally.
Journaling also creates a beautiful record of God’s faithfulness in your life. When you look back at entries from months or years ago, you can see how He answered prayers, provided strength during difficult seasons, and guided you through decisions you thought were impossible.
My Top 3 Favorite Journal Tips for Connecting with Jesus
Over the years, I’ve tried countless journaling methods, but these favorite journal tips for connecting with Jesus have consistently drawn my heart closer to God’s. Not to mention, they have helped in shaping a heart of gratitude in my life. They’re simple enough to do even on your busiest days, yet powerful enough to transform your perspective and deepen your faith.
Journal Tip #1: Write 3 Things That Made You Smile Yesterday
This might seem simple, but it’s incredibly powerful! When you intentionally look for moments of joy from the previous day, you’re training your heart to notice God’s goodness even in ordinary moments.
Maybe it was:
- Your teenager actually laughing at your joke
- A text from your college kid sharing something funny from their day
- Finding a parking spot right when you needed it
- The way the morning light came through your kitchen window
- A friend sending an encouraging message at just the right time
These small moments are actually God’s blessings to you throughout your day. When you write them down, you’re acknowledging His presence in the everyday details of your life. This practice shifts your focus from what went wrong to what went beautifully right, and it reminds you that God is always working for your good.
Journal Tip #2: Write 3 Things I’m Thankful for Overall
While the first tip focuses on yesterday’s specific joys, this practice invites you to zoom out and see the bigger picture of God’s blessings in your life. This is where you can express gratitude for the constants – the people, experiences, and gifts that you might take for granted in the daily rush.
Your gratitude list might include:
- Your relationship with Jesus and the peace it brings
- Your children, even when they’re challenging (especially your teenagers who are learning to navigate the world!)
- Your health, your home, your ability to provide for your family
- Friends who understand this season of life
- The growth you’ve experienced through difficult times
- Simple pleasures like morning coffee, good books, or worship music
Gratitude has a way of recentering our hearts. When we regularly acknowledge God’s goodness in our lives, it becomes harder to stay stuck in worry, comparison, or discouragement. This practice reminds you that even in difficult seasons, you are richly blessed.
Journal Tip #3: Write a Letter to the Lord, Pouring Out Your Heart
This is where journaling becomes deeply intimate and transformational. After you’ve focused on joy and gratitude, you’re in the perfect heart space to have an honest conversation with Jesus about everything you’re carrying.
Pour out your heart about:
- Your concerns for your children and their futures
- Decisions you’re wrestling with
- Dreams you’re afraid to voice
- Fears that keep you awake at night
- Hopes for your family, your marriage, your personal growth
- Questions about God’s plan for this season of your life
Write as if you’re talking to your dearest friend – because you are! Jesus wants to hear about your daily struggles, your deepest longings, and your honest questions. Don’t worry about having perfect theology or eloquent words. Just be real.
This is also a beautiful space to ask God for wisdom, strength, peace, or whatever you need for the day ahead. Ask Him to help you be the mom, wife, friend, and woman He’s called you to be.
The Beautiful Transformation
When you consistently practice these journal tips for connecting with Jesus, something beautiful begins to happen. You start seeing God’s hand in your daily life more clearly. You develop a heart of gratitude that sustains you through difficult days. Most importantly, you create space for ongoing conversation with Jesus that extends far beyond your journaling time.
Your relationship with God becomes less about checking off spiritual tasks and more about genuine friendship and trust. You’ll find yourself talking to Him throughout the day, noticing His goodness more readily, and feeling His peace more consistently.
Your Invitation to Transform Your Bible Study
If you’ve never tried the H.O.L.Y. Method for connecting with Jesus through Scripture, I want to encourage you to join the waitlist! You don’t need perfect circumstances or a flawless schedule – just a willing heart and 30 minutes.
The goal isn’t perfection; it’s connection. Some days your quiet time will feel deeply meaningful, other days you might struggle to focus. Both are beautiful offerings to God, and both matter in building your relationship with Him.
Ready to finally break the guilt cycle and discover consistent, joy-filled Bible study? I’d love to support you on this journey! If you’re tired of starting and stopping Bible reading plans and want a method that actually works with your real life, join the waitlist for The Purposefully Living Experience.
This transformational 3-day intensive launches in 2026, and I’m already so excited to walk alongside women who are ready to move from guilt to grace in their quiet time with Jesus. We’re a community of sisters who understand the Monday-motivation-Wednesday-guilt cycle and are ready to break free from it once and for all!
[Join the Waitlist – Be First to Know When Doors Open!]
You can also check out some helpful FREEBIES HERE!
Sweet friend, God sees your heart, He knows your struggles, and He loves spending time with you. What a beautiful gift that we can connect with Him through something as simple as pen and paper!
With love and enocouragement,
Trina
