Ever since I shared my prayer journal free printable pages on the blog I’ve been getting a lot of emails and questions. Many of you wanted to know more about the binder pictured in the post and more details about how I set up my prayer journal notebook. I’m thrilled that so many of you are excited about setting up your own prayer journal and I’m happy to share more details about mine with you today.
Creating a Prayer Journal Notebook:
I’m going to start out by saying I spent a lot of time contemplating how to set up my prayer journal notebook. I searched online bookstores and even visited some bookstores in person in hopes to find a journal to use for my prayer life. When I couldn’t find anything in stores that I liked I started researching online for ideas on how to make my own. I was surprised to learn there are so many different methods to organizing your prayers and truthfully, I kind of agonized over it. There are people who organize their prayers by the day of the week, some write out prayers as if they’re writing in a journal (like a letter to God), some organize prayers by the person they are praying for (think husband, children, etc). The most difficult part of creating a prayer journal notebook for me was deciding on the set up.
Finally I decided to stop wasting time and just start one, so that’s what I did. I picked up a plain notebook at Walmart, added tabs for a couple of simple sections on prayers and scriptures and got started. I even got a little crafty and decorated it with some Washi tape to make it look pretty. I was well on my way, but in time I realized it just wasn’t working for me. I admit I’m a perfectionist, so any time I made a mistake in this bound notebook and had to use white out or mark through something it drove me insane. Seriously, I want things to look nice and I just couldn’t deal with it. I wanted a prayer journal notebook I’d enjoy using and a simple cheap notebook just wasn’t it.
That’s when I designed the prayer journal pages with the intention of putting them in a 3-ring binder. I finally made a decision and decided to make sections for Prayer, Praise, Scripture, Study and Notes. Let me share some info on the sections I created:
Sections in my Prayer Journal Notebook:
Prayer
This is the section I keep my monthly prayer journal pages along with some typed up and handwritten prayers for me and my family. There are blank pages in this section where I write down scriptures to pray over my family and situations, too. Any info I print out on prayer to use for inspiration goes in this section.
Praise
I like to begin all of my prayers with a time of reflection, praising God for who He is and all He has done. In this section I jot down praises and scriptures (mostly from Psalms) to encourage me to praise Him in all things.
Scripture
This is where I write down verses that stick out to me in my Bible study time or scriptures that I want to memorize.
Study
This section is where I keep track of anything that stands out to me during my Bible study time. It’s a place for me to jot down any notes I want to keep. I also keep some printables in this section that are related to Bible study methods or the Bible study I’m currently working on.
Notes
Finally, there is a note section. This is where I journal my thoughts about what I’m learning through my prayer, Bible study and quiet times. Here is where I journal about my life, what I’m learning and what I’m seeking to learn. It’s a place to air my thoughts in written form and I always feel a release after I do this.
Remember you get to choose the sections for your notebook. You can organize your prayers daily, by family member, by prayer concern, whatever works for you. I’m simply sharing how I created my notebook for you to use as a guide in creating your own.
Details on my binder:
Even though I had originally planned on using a 3-ring binder, I decided to go a different route. Since I’d purchased a discbound notebook for planning and note-taking and fell in love with the system, I decided to buy one to use for my prayer journal notebook. I purchased the Martha Stewart Discbound Customizable Notebook from Staples and I’m so glad I did. It’s perfect!
If you haven’t heard of the discbound system, let me share with you the top 3 reasons I love it.
- The binder lies flat when closed or open, unlike a 3 ring binder.
- You can easily add, remove or move the pages around with no rips or tears. Yay!
- They’re pretty. What can I say? I love the colors and options out there!
You can find out more about the discbound system and where to purchase binders HERE.
Final thoughts on creating a prayer journal notebook:
Creating your own prayer journal notebook doesn’t have to be complicated. It really only takes a few simple steps:
- Choose your binder
- Decide how you want to organize your prayers.
- Create sections in the notebook based on how you’ve chosen to organize it.
- Start using your notebook!
If you’re like me and a little unsure of how you want to organize your prayers right now, my advice would be to just try something. If it doesn’t work for you, you can do like I did and easily start over. Remember there’s no right or wrong way here. What’s important is that you are taking step towards God. I know He is pleased to know you want to spend more time in conversation with Him and your life will be blessed from your time with Him.
I am very pleased to have found your website. I am 63and have had a full life so far and I am looking for many more adventures. I consider raising children an adventure! I have been very sick the past year and I keep very close to God without Whom I would not have survived. And I do mean that literally. So I felt comfortable right away when I started reading your blog.
I quilt for Ronald MacDonald House and my first passion is cross stitch. I belong to a wonderful church with an amazing community. I have 3children, Juliet, Johanna an Andy. I have 4grandchildren. Ryan,Kate, Josh and Jake. They are my heart and my light.
I sometimes am awed by the things they say. Truly,God speaks through children. Well, it’s late. I will look you up in the morning. Take care, Becky
Hi Becky,
I am so happy you found my website, too! I think it’s great you enjoy quilting and cross stitch. I haven’t cross stitched in years but I always enjoyed it, too. I haven’t ventured into quilting yet, but it’s something I want to try.
Have a blessed week,
Christie
Love your ideas! I have been thinking about how to go about a prayer journal/book, too. I like the way you organize yours and I like the type of book you bought from Staples. I am going to give it a try. I like to write, so I would like to try and write my prayers down, too. Thanks again for the cool ideas!
Good luck creating your own prayer journal. I’m so happy you found mine for inspiration. Let me know how it goes!
I love this idea and I went and grabbed a binder just like yours. I’m wondering how you made the print outs go into the binder.
Hi Bonnie,
I used a discbound hole puncher on my pages after I printed them so they would go in the binder.
I hope you enjoy your prayer journal pages!
Christie
just wondering how to print off the prayer journal paper
Michelle, it is in the free printable library for subscribers. Once you’re subscribed to the newsletter you’ll receive the link and password to the library. You can then download this journal and all other freebies there.
What size is your discbound notebook
I use the large size that holds 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper.
One thing I like about journaling is the ability to go back in 5 years and see how God has brought me through difficult situations and seasons. How do you store these once they are full?
I have a surplus of discbound notebooks so I can transfer them into other notebooks for safekeeping.
Love this idea! Is there a way to do the printables for the smaller disc bound notebook size? I wasn’t sure if I would just need to scale them down or something different.
Thanks!
Hi Amanda,
Yes, you can scale them down. When you go to print, under the printing properties you can choose to change the size of paper to half letter, which is 5 1/2 X 8 1/2. Another option is to reduce it by percentage, you should see it in printing properties, too. For the small arc notebook it should be reduced by 62%. Then all you have to do is trim it to fit your notebook.
Good luck!
Christie
I am so happy I found your blog! Thank you Jesus! Like you, I wanted to bible journal, but was overwhelmed with process. Thank for your blog, and now I can get started!
Antoinette, I’m so glad this post helped you. I’m so glad you’re starting a prayer journal, and I know God will meet you right where you are. Blessings! Christie
I love this idea of journaling and I’ve been using it a lot. Would it be ok to feature(link) your article and ideas on my blob? It needs to be spread around! 🙂
Of course, that would be awesome! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing. Where can I buy the binders
You can buy them at Staples.
Christie, I love how you organize your prayer journal. I’m going to include it in a prayer journal round-up for my readers! I’m seriously considering the Disbound notebooks and journals, so I appreciate your help and input with this.
I’m so thankful you found this post useful. I think once you try discbound you’ll never go back! 🙂
I finished my prayer journal in the11by8 size for I needed, room to write not cramped. I done mine with decoration like in most journal but with expressions and pictures and prayers to the Lord. My first journal was more of a smaller journalin memory of my husband on all my church notes about the Lord which I crave more and more these notes were from the time my husband got saved ,baptized and started going to church on Sundays with me. I have a great preacher Dj Edwards who preaches the word and all about our Lord, which inspired me to keep going to church . Our church is on live stream at 10am central time.If like to watch sometime on Facebook also its on You tube The River Worship Center..Now back to prayer journal I enjoyed . I thinking of a new journal but haven’t decided yet how I want to plan it yet but working on it. Thank you for your advice on prayer journal it was good . have a Blessed Day.
Your blog is an answer to prayer. This past week I have felt led to provide a prayer journal for my
congregation (men, too). I will create an example and then let them sign up for one or choose to
make their own. This way I can publish a prayer reminder list monthly or even more often if necessary.
Hi! I love your prayer journal layout. I’ve researched many and I think your structure will help me.
I was wondering which hole punch you use for the Martha Stewart disc bound notebooks. I have the smaller one. I would love to use your printables and add things that are important to me in my notebook. TIA!
Hi Clara, I have a TUL discbound punch that I use, but I think the Happy Planner and Staples ARC punches work as well.
Hi I love love the prayer journal and have printed out the information and put it in my discbound notebook; I was wondering though is there a version or template to which I could change out a couple of things or really add a couple of things.
I would even be willing to pay for that version where its editable because I have looked HIGH AND LOW for the perfect prayer journal and yours is the one….
Thank you in advance
Renee, I’m sorry but I don’t have an editable version at this time. Email me and let me know what changes you want to make. I will keep it in mind when I revise the current version. Thanks!
Ok, I want to do something in effect to make an area to pray for my son daily but
Keep that separate maybe like on one sheet ( to
Make copies of) as to maybe one day he wants to keep it for himself when I’m
Gone…or even do husbands same way 🤷♀️.
If you do/can make it editable I would be open to purchase that from you…still trying
to make it workable daily ..love love the template though