- How To Bible Journal: A Beginner’s Guide To Bible Journaling
- Bible Journaling: Make it Meaningful
- Top 25 Bible Journaling Accessories
- Bible Journaling: More Creative Ideas
Bible Journaling is writing, coloring, taking notes, and in other ways creatively expressing yourself in your Bible or in a notebook alongside your Bible. In the first post of this series we discussed how to get started with Bible journaling. Today we delve more deeply into how to make it meaningful for you.
I want to stress that you don’t have to spend a lot of money and be naturally creative to be “good” at Bible Journaling! On the contrary, what matters here is your desire to spend time with God and in His Word.
Isaiah 55:11 tells us,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Every moment we spend in God’s Word is worthwhile.
Journaling Bible, pages by Elizabeth Chu
Marilyn Davis Journaling Bible Page
How Can I Make My Bible Journaling More Meaningful?
Adapted from Vintage Grace by Contance Denninger (Be sure to check out Connie’s awesome blog by clicking here.)
- Every choice you make in your life brings you close to God or further away from Him. Picture your life with a cross at the center. Focus on making choices each day that bring you closer to the cross, not further away from it. Bible journaling can be one activity that brings you nearer to the cross.
- If you are baptized this is a reminder of the work of the Holy Spirit who is living and active in you. You are a sanctified child of God.
- Focus on moving from head knowledge to heart knowledge. Our goal is to have a relationship with our Savior, Jesus.
- Educational research has taught us that most people learn best when they are doing (kinesthetic learners). Coloring, drawing, and other activity helps engage learning in a meaningful way.
- Bible Journaling can be one way to bridge the communication gap of a new generation and create interactive communication. Our society appreciates visual communication. (Think about Pinterest and Google that give immediate, visual feedback). Visual prayer offers a way for us to interact with God’s word in a meaningful, expressive way.
- In ancient times, stained glasses windows were a way to teach a Biblically illiterate people the stories of the Bible. Today, many people are Biblically illiterate. Bible journaling is a new way of drawing people back into God’s word.
- There are not right and wrong approaches. Personal preference is the guideline. Prayer is the umbrella. Start with a verse from that Sunday’s worship service or a favorite devotion and go from there.
Journaling Bible, pages by Elizabeth Chu
Is it Okay to Cover Up God’s Word with Artwork?
Journaling Bible, pages by Elizabeth Chu
You’ll quickly discover one of the biggest controversies within the Bible Journaling community is around whether it’s okay to cover up God’s word with artwork.
Some people choose to only put artwork in the blank margin space, some might write over, mark, or circle the text, while others don’t mind if words are covered up with paint.
Many people choose to see their journaling Bible as unique because it allows them to connect with God’s Word in a new way that draws them back day after day. (How can that not be good?)
Most of us have multiple Bibles available, as well as the internet, for referencing the text itself.
The bottom line is to show respect for all ways of thinking.
Be kind.
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them…
~Thomas Cranmer, 1549
Elizabeth Chu Journaling Bible Page
Trust in the Lord Bible Journaling Kit
Have you seen our new Trust in the Lord Bible Journaling kit? This beautiful kit is based on the feedback of 200+ Bible journal artists who shared with us what they would most like to see in a Bible journaling kit. The kit includes materials for 30 or more days of Bible journaling.
Click here for more information about the Trust in the Lord Bible Journaling kit.
I’m not Creative or Artistic. This Can’t Work for Me, Can It?
Adapted from Bev Wicher
Wrong!
- Even if you just write your thoughts or prayers in the margin, you are connecting with God’s Word.
- Bible journaling is not about “exhibition,” rather it’s about “consecration” of your time with the Lord.
- The Bible’s very first verse tells us that “in the beginning God created.” You are created in God’s image. He created you to be creative, and you are….in whatever way His Spirit moves you to think and respond to His Word.
- Admire the work of others but don’t compare – remember He loves YOU beyond compare!
- Your journaling is an act of worship between you and the Lord.
What Supplies Do I Need?
Beyond the basics (click here to see a list of the basic supplies you need), try some of these ideas:
Helpful books on the subject of Bible journaling:
Writing in the Margins by Lisa Hickman
Illuminated Journaling by Jann Gray
Praying in Color by Sybil MacBeth
Favorite Products:
Sticko Sweetheart Gold Script Alphabet Stickers
Coloring Book of Cards and Flowers
Super Doodle Gel Pens
Colorful Blessings – Cards to Color and Share, or trim and tape to Bible or journal
Creative Expressions – Cards to Color and Share
K & Company Bible Quote Sticker
Sticko Stickers – Scripture
Who We Are in Christ – stickers
Carson Dellosa Christian Love Verse Stickers
Carson Dellosa Names of God Stickers
3X Glitter Washi Tape, Toeo...Shop on Amazon
Thank you to my mom, Jeanette Rorabaugh, and Bev Wicher, pastor’s wife from the Eastern LCMS district, for their wisdom, insights and ideas for this series of posts.
Do you Bible journal? How do you make your time more meaningful?
- Bible Journaling Ideas: How to Get Started
- Bible Journaling: Make it Meaningful
- Top 25 Bible Journaling Accessories
- Bible Journaling: More Creative Ideas
Get a Free Bible Journaling Kit Now!
Journaling guide & reading plan for strong faith.
Can’t we just buy a bible already done….just asking
Hi Lupe, I would suggest checking out the Beautiful Word Bible. It’s not all done but many of the pages are already decorated.
I can’t imagine ever wanting to cover the words in my Bible, and I admit to being taken aback by the very thought. Since watching a video of someone doing just that, and feeling pretty strongly that it was just plain WRONG, I’ve given it some thought. A Bible is a physical thing, a cover, some glue, stitching maybe, paper, and ink. The WORD, however, transcends any words we humans print on paper. The WORD of God is holy, supernatural, life changing, soul changing. A physical Bible is precious, of course. Just ask a Christian in China, worshiping in secret, learning the Scriptures from other believers, but seldom, if ever, seeing or touching the Holy Bible. He yearns for one of his own. The bottom line is not what a Bible is – paper, glue. The bottom line is what the WORD is — holy and powerful beyond measure, living, not confined to a mere book. Just don’t expect to find me glueing stuff over the words in MY Bible!
Great job Sara!