Journal the Word Bible {Book Review and Giveaway}

Last month, I wrote a short series on Scripture journaling. I love journaling while I study God’s Word. I use a personal journal and take notes in my Bible; I also created these Scripture Journaling Worksheets to share.

I’ve never had a journaling Bible, though, so, I was pretty excited when I got the opportunity to review the new NKJV Journal the Word Bible by Thomas Nelson.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I would like it. Study Bibles are my preference, and I have three in different translations. I like the extra notes, explanations, and cross references a study Bible offers. Plus, I’m not much of an artist, so I didn’t anticipate producing beautiful artwork while I read.

Regardless, I wanted to give it an unbiased try. After I flipped through and got a feel for it, I started reading…and I kept reading, without stopping and without going back and forth between the text and study notes. I made some notes in the lined margins, and even tried some minor artwork with colored pencils.

I have to say, I like it! I received the Large Print version, which means my eyes don’t feel strained, especially if I’m reading at night.

With any Bible, there are pros and cons, depending on personal preference. Here are my pros and cons of the NKJV Journal the Word Bible.

Pros:

✽Nice size and a thick hard cover

✽Large print (10-pt font) easy on the eyes

✽Jesus’ words in red print

✽Thick, cream colored pages

✽Wide, lined margins for notes, journaling, or artwork

✽Elastic band around the Bible and ribbon marker

Cons: (These are not really cons unless you’re expecting a study Bible.)

✽No concordance

✽No study notes

✽No cross references

If you’re looking for a journaling Bible in either the NKJV or KJV, the Journal the Word Bible by Thomas Nelson might be just what you’re looking for. It would also make a great gift!

To celebrate the release of the Journal the Word Bible, Thomas Nelson has graciously sent me a copy to giveaway! 

This giveaway is for the NKJV Journal the Word Bible in Large Print. To enter, leave a comment on this post about your Bible journaling habits, or if you’ve yet to try it. On Friday, November 18, I’ll randomly choose a winner. Please include your email so I can contact you. (Sorry, only U.S. residents are eligible.)

In Christ,

Laura 

(Note: I received a free copy of the NKJV Journal the Word Bible by Thomas Nelson in return for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links.)

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God’s Word Brings Light

I wasn’t going to write another post about Scripture journaling, but then I opened my Bible this morning to this verse. 

Every word you give me is a miracle word—how could I help but obey? Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Psalm 119:129-130 MSG (bold mine) 

And how could I not write about it? First in my journal, and then here to share.

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of women about journaling.

I said, “When we don’t make time to be with God in His Word, we miss His comfort, wisdom, strength, understanding, and rest. We can’t understand Scripture if we don’t spend time reading it, but it is God who enables us to understand His Word.”

God’s Word provides hope, comfort, perspective, guidance, and instruction. His Word gives us Light. The Light to guide our way.

If we don’t read or hear Scripture, we won’t know what it can do for us…but without God, we can’t understand the full meaning.

God gives discernment and enables ordinary people like you and me to comprehend His Word.

God gives us the ability to feel His Word—and let it change our hearts.

Understanding doesn’t come all at one time. His Word is too great for us to ever completely understand it as He does. He knows how much we can take in each time we meet with Him.

He may lead us to a new verse, or to the same verse over and over, revealing a new layer of depth each time.

This morning, I opened to Psalm 119, and He led me to the above verses and to verse 125. 

I’m your servant—help me understand what that means, the inner meaning of your instructions. Psalm 119:125 MSG 

Each time He leads us to a particular verse, He’s speaking to us. It may be clear at the time why He led us there, like an a-ha moment. Other times, it’s only the beginning, and He will continue to reveal meaning in His time and His way. 

Dear Lord, every Word you give us brings Light into our lives. Light to guide us. Light to give us hope and perspective in this world we live in. You’ve called us, ordinary people, to be Your servants. Please show us what that means and how to live that out for Your glory and Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. 

In Christ,

Laura

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com]

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Journal to Grow

As I’ve been preparing a Bible study on journaling to share at an event this month, I’ve been sharing portions of the study here as well. Click here to read more in this series.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7 NLT (bold mine)

Remember the grade school science project of getting a seed to grow roots? I remember my daughter bringing home a little cup with a tiny little sprout. In class, she learned the seed needed light and water so it could grow roots, and she had carefully nurtured that little seed until it poked through the dirt.

The same is true for the roots of our faith. In order to grow, they need to be cared for and nurtured by spending time with God. They need Light and Living Water. And they need the nutrients from God’s Word.

Unlike the seed’s roots, the roots of faith aren’t always visible, and yet as they grow, they can be seen in different ways—how we trust and depend on God, how we love others, how we act and react in difficult situations.

As our roots grow, it changes us. With God, change always starts on the inside—in our hearts. Over time, it shows on the outside, where others can see it. {Tweet this}

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Ephesians 3:16-17 NLT

Where does journaling come in? It’s a way of processing what God is showing us in His Word as we spend time alone with Him.

I love looking back through my journal and notes in my Bible. I can see where I was, what He’s walked me through, and where I am now. It’s written proof of how I’ve learned to listen for Him and how my relationship with Him has grown deeper.

Journaling is a way of spending time with God, not only praying and talking to Him, but listening for His voice. When I hear from Him, I want to remember the moment—what He said and how I felt.

In the Old Testament, God told the prophets to write down everything He told them. (Jeremiah 30:2, Isaiah 30:8-9) 

Perhaps He’s asking us to do the same.

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 NLT 

Scripture Journaling Worksheets

In Christ,

Laura 

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Journal to Remember

A Scripture journal is different from a personal journal, and yet, Scripture journaling is very personal.

It’s personal because when we dig into God’s Word with Him, He reveals to us who He is. He opens our hearts and minds to what He wants to teach us. He might direct us to a particular verse we need at that moment. It could be a new verse He wants us to discover, or a deeper understanding of a verse we’ve read many times.

Individual one-to-one time spent with our creator is special and timeless. Just as you might take pictures to remember time spent with a loved one, Scripture journaling records time spent with God. It creates a memory of time spent together.

Throughout the Bible, God’s people were instructed to remember the times God was with them.

He told the Israelites to commit themselves to His commandments—to repeat them to their children, to talk about them while traveling and at home, to write them down and keep the writings with them. (Deuteronomy 6, 11)

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. Deuteronomy 11:18-21 NIV (bold mine)

Journaling Scripture fixes God’s Word in our hearts and minds. As we read Scripture and reflect on it through journaling, we learn. As we learn, we are able to share and teach. {Tweet this}

God directed memorials to be built to remember His miracles, and to teach future generations of His power and love. (Joshua 4)

We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:6-7 NLT (bold mine)

Someday, my journal, filled with Scripture and personal prayers, will be a memorial for my daughter. In it, she’ll be able to read the prayers I prayed for her, where my heart was when I cried out to God, and the research and notes I made as I dug deep into God’s Word. She’ll be able to read what I learned about God and what I learned about myself. And she’ll be able to share it with her children, teaching them what I tried to teach her.

Do you journal Scripture? What’s your preference—journaling through artwork or written word?

If you’d like to try Scripture journaling, but you’re not sure how to start, click here to download the free Scripture Journaling Worksheets I’ve created. 

Each sheet starts with a place to write the verse you’re studying, followed by word prompts, and extra space for notes, a prayer, or artwork. It eliminates the intimidating blank page, but also allows you to use the page as you choose so you can discover what works for you.

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with: Thought Provoking Thursday, #HeartEncouragement, Grace & Truth, #FreshMarketFriday, Give Me Grace

Scripture Journaling {and a Free Printable}

I didn’t used to journal. Any time I tried it, I was too particular. It took time to find a journal that was just right. My hand writing had to be perfect in blue or black ink, and a misspelling or a word crossed out drove me nuts. Because of the restraints I placed on myself, my journaling experience was more stressful than relaxing.

Over the years, although I’m not sure how it happened, I’ve gotten past all of that. I love my personal journal now. It’s filled with Scripture, thoughts, feelings, prayers, and notes and research on particular verses. I can go back to the studies I’ve done on my One Word for each year and remember where my heart was when I cried out to God through written word.

I also have several other journals which I use for taking notes on book studies. I have my own system now, which is more relaxed and enjoyable than I ever thought possible. I no longer worry about perfection and having it all planned out ahead of time.

I can’t fully explain what a blessing journaling has been for me. 

I know artistic journaling is super popular now, but for me, the written word is still my love language. No matter what your creative choice may be, journaling is something I recommend. It encourages quiet time spent with God alone and helps with remembering what you’ve read and studied. {Tweet this}

I also know how intimating a blank page can be when you’re not used to journaling. What do I write (or draw)? What Scripture verse do I start with? Are there rules or guidelines to follow?

Here’s what I do…

• I read God’s Word.
• I pay attention to any words that jump out of a verse.
• I discern how a verse makes me feel and what my first thoughts are.
• I read any study notes pertaining to the verse in my Bible and think about what that verse means for me. What is God showing me? It may be a promise He’s reminding me of or something in my life that needs to change.
• From there, I might look for related Bible verses and write those down, or I may use a little bit of artwork. (For me, that means something simple like hearts or stars.)

God invites us to join Him in His Word. He opens our eyes, hearts, and minds to understand His Word, and reveals what He wants us to see or learn at the moment He chooses. {Tweet this}

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:45 NLT

To see what God wants to show us in His Word, we have to spend time with Him reading and studying Scripture. 

Take notes in your Bible. Use your favorite journal or treat yourself to a new one. Even a spiral notebook can be a useful journal.

I’ve also created Scripture Journaling Worksheets you can download and print.

Each page starts with a place to write the verse(s) you are studying, followed by word prompts to get you started, with extra room for notes, a prayer, or artwork.

It eliminates the intimidating blank page, but also allows you to use the page as you choose. Discover what works for you.

What’s been your journaling experience? If journaling Scripture is new to you, are you ready to give it a try? What’s holding you back? Click here to try the worsheets I've created.

In Christ,

Laura

[Photo credit: K. Rath]

Linking up with: #RaRaLinkup, Coffee for Your Heart, Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, #FreshMarketFriday, Moments of Hope, #HeartEncouragement, Give Me Grace, #DreamTogether Linkup