If
you ever struggle with anxious or negative thoughts, you are going to love what
Truth Journaling will do for you! I first learned about Truth Journaling from Barb Raveling. This
type of journaling is based on John 8:32 where Jesus tells us that the truth
will set us free.
First I'll show you four
things Truth Journaling will do for you, and then I'll walk you through the
simple process and show you an example so you can start Truth Journaling in
your own life. I even designed a FREE printable Truth Journal just for you!
4 Things Truth Journaling
Will Do For You
1. Truth Journaling will
help you take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor.
10:5) and stop any thoughts, dead in their tracks, that come into our mind
which are contrary to:
God’s promises
Who we are in Christ
God’s will for our thought life (Phil. 4:8)
2. Truth Journaling will transform you by the renewing of your mind (Romans
12:2) as you set your mind on the truth of God’s Word.
3. Truth Journaling will
make it clear which feelings are not based on the truth of Scripture, so
you are not deceived and believing something contrary to the Bible.
4. Truth Journaling will
enable you to build an arsenal of Bible verses to counter any thoughts that are
contrary to Scripture, and turn your thoughts back to what is true.
How To Truth Journal
Step 1. Freely write out
what’s weighing on your heart and mind
Step 2. Number each
sentence.
Step 3. Now starting at
the first sentence, one by one, hold each sentence you journaled up to the
truth of God’s Word and determine what is really true based on Scripture.
Step 4. Under each sentence, correct any wrong
thinking and pair your statement with a correlating Bible verse. If your
statement does line up with the truth of God’s Word, write under it a
correlating Bible verse testifying to that truth.
Example:
"Ugh! I am not
looking forward to today. I have so much to do, I’ll never get it all done! I
feel so overwhelmed, I don’t even know where to start. I need a miracle!"
1. Ugh! I am not
looking forward to today.
Truth: Though
today is going to be a very busy day, this is the day that the Lord has made I
shall rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24) God will surely help me. “So do
not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
(Isaiah 41:10)
2.
I have so much to do; I’ll never get it all done!
Truth: I
do have a lot to do, but as I am faithful to commit my work to the Lord and
seek His help, He will be faithful to help me do the impossible. With me it’s
impossible, but with God, all things are possible. (Mathew 19:26) Commit your
work to the Lord, and your
plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)
3. I feel so
overwhelmed. I don’t even know where to start.
Truth:
I feel overwhelmed because my eyes are focused on the problems before me,
rather than on the promises, faithfulness, and character of my God. The LORD is
my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am
helped. (Psalm 28:7) If I ask God for wisdom, He will surely show me
the best way to order my day. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask
God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be
given to you.” (James 1:5)
4 I need a miracle!
Truth: God
is the God of miracles and nothing is too hard for Him! As I seek Him, I will
not lack any good thing (Psalm 34: 10). He will be faithful to supply whatever
I need, as I need it. “And my God will supply every need of
yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil.
4:19)
FREE PRINTABLE TRUTH JOURNAL
-----------------------------------------
Truth
Journaling When Your Short On Time
If
I’m struggling with something and want to truth journal, but am short on time,
I can simply use the list method. For instance, if I’m trying to discipline
myself to eat healthier, and I’m feeling discouraged that it’s such a
challenge, to quickly truth journal with the list method, I simply begin by
asking myself, “Why am I finding it such a challenge to eat right?” Then I
simply list why I believe I’m struggling to make good food choices. For
instance:
1.
It’s hard to say no to my favorite foods, because they are so tempting!
2.
Eating healthy will mean I will miss out on my favorite foods—especially during
the holidays.
3.
I’ll have to adopt a new way of eating, which will take time and commitment,
and my life is already busy enough as it is.
4.
It will take a very long time before I’d ever see any results.
5.
I will have to learn different cooking methods and new recipes to become
skilled at making yummy meals that are healthier.
List
the truth based on correlating Scripture
1.
It’s hard, but not impossible! “No temptation has overtaken [me] except such
as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow [me] to
be tempted beyond what [I am] able, but with the temptation will also make the
way of escape, that [I] may be able to bear it “ (1 Cor. 10:13)
2.
Yes I may miss out on some unhealthy favorites, but just because I can eat them
doesn’t make them beneficial to me. "Everything is permissible for
me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for
me"--but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Cor. 6:12)
3.
Adopting healthy eating habits will take hard work, but it is a guaranteed
win. “All hard work brings a profit.” (Proverbs 14:23)
4. It will take a while before I see results, but results will inevitably come
if I stick with it and don’t give up. I can do this through Christ (Phil. 4:13)
because “His divine power has given [me] all things that pertain to life and
godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3) In Christ, I am fully equipped to do what I need
to do to see results and maintain my new good habits. God is calling me to
endure. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
5.
It may be a challenge, to learn healthier ways of preparing foods and building
a collection of new healthier meals, but it is not impossible. “I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13) If ever I
lack wisdom in preparing these meals, I can ask God and He will be faithful to
direct me to the information I need. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask
of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given
to him.” (James 1:5) Whatever I may need to adopt a healthier eating lifestyle, the Lord will
abundantly provide. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the
riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”(Phil. 4:19)
----------------------------------------
FREE PRINTABLE TRUTH
JOURNAL
-----------------------------------------
If you were blessed by this article, please leave a comment or share with your friends and family on social media.
