How Scripture Journaling Can Help Your Child Grow in Faith

As Christian parents, we all want our children to develop a deep and meaningful relationship with God. We want them to understand His love for them and to follow His teachings throughout their lives. One powerful tool that can help us in this goal is scripture journaling. While there are many types of bible journaling methods this one focuses on “the word”.

What is scripture journaling?

Scripture journaling is the practice of writing down your thoughts, reflections, and insights as you read and study the Bible. It can help you to connect more deeply with God’s Word, to better understand its meaning, and to apply its lessons to your life.

Why should we encourage our children to try scripture journaling?

There are many benefits to encouraging our children to try scripture journaling, including:

1. Deepening their understanding of God’s Word: When we take the time to reflect on what we read in the Bible, we can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
2. Helping them to apply biblical truths to their lives: By reflecting on what they have read and considering how it applies to their own lives, children can learn to live out the teachings of the Bible in practical ways.
3. Encouraging them to develop a personal relationship with God: As children spend time reading and reflecting on God’s Word, they can develop a deeper connection to Him and a greater appreciation for His love and grace. They will begin noticing things around them more.

How can we get started with scripture journaling?

Getting started with scripture journaling is easy! Here are a few simple steps to follow:

1. Make a journal or buy one. In the beginning, I let the kids decorate their own normal notebooks that they kept for scripture journaling.
2. Choose a passage to focus on (this can be a fun activity for everyone in the family to do): Encourage your child to choose a passage of scripture that speaks to them, or use a study guide or try a devotional book to help them choose a passage.
3. Read the passage carefully: Encourage your child to read the passage slowly and carefully, paying attention to the words and phrases that stand out to them. (this can also build up their vocabulary)
4. Reflect on the passage: Ask your child to think about what the passage means, and how it applies to their life. Encourage them to write down their thoughts, questions, and insights.
5. Pray about what they have learned: Encourage your child to spend time in prayer, thanking God for His Word and asking Him to help them apply its truths to their life.
6. Revisit their journal regularly: Encourage your child to revisit their journal regularly, to review what they have learned and to continue to reflect on God’s Word.

Example of scripture journaling:

Here is an example of how scripture journaling might look in practice:

1. Choose a passage to focus on: Let’s say your child chooses Psalm 23 as their passage.
2. Read the passage carefully: Your child reads Psalm 23 slowly and carefully, paying attention to the words and phrases that stand out to them.
3. Reflect on the passage: Your child reflects on the passage and writes down their thoughts and insights. For example, they might write:

“I love how Psalm 23 talks about God as our shepherd. It reminds me that He is always watching over us and taking care of us, just like a shepherd takes care of his sheep. I also love how it talks about the green pastures and quiet waters – it makes me feel so peaceful and safe.”

4. Pray about what they have learned: Your child spends time in prayer, thanking God for His Word and asking Him to help them apply its truths to their life. For example, they might pray:

“Dear God, thank you for Psalm 23 and for reminding me that you are always with me. Please help me to remember that you are my shepherd and to trust in your guidance and care. Amen.”

5. Revisit their journal regularly: Your child revisits their journal regularly to review what they have learned and to continue to reflect on God’s Word. Over time, they might notice patterns or themes in their reflections, and begin to see how God is working in their life through His Word.

Another example of scripture journaling might be to focus on a particular theme or topic, such as love or forgiveness. Your child could choose several passages of scripture that relate to that theme, and write down their reflections on each one. For example, if they were focusing on forgiveness, they might choose passages like:

• Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
• Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
• Ephesians 4:31-32: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Your child could then write down their reflections on each of these passages, and think about how they can apply the teachings of forgiveness to their own life. If they’ve been unkind to someone they could think of acts of kindness they could do for them.

One more thing my kids would write down are words that stood out to them or a word that they studied.

Encouraging our children to try scripture journaling is a simple yet powerful way to help them grow in their faith. By taking the time to reflect on God’s Word and apply its teachings to their life, they can deepen their understanding of God’s love and develop a closer relationship with Him. So why not encourage your child to try scripture journaling today? Who knows what amazing insights they might discover as they dive into God’s Word!