20 Encouraging Entries From My Journal

Journaling has always been a powerful practice for me. These encouraging entries speak life to my heart as I reflect on my thoughts.

And I journal how God speaks to me in prayer, worship or His Word.

Depending on the current season of life, it’s often therapy for my soul.

So I’m letting you look into my personal journal for 20 thoughts I hope encourage you.

Some thoughts the Lord reminded me that He gave me in the past, but are helpful in the present.

While others are new inspiration from the Lord.

Entries are heartfelt, authtentic, and vulnerable.

Encouraging Entries: Wholeness And The Cross 

(1.) When life’s disappointments attempt to become my unwelcome friend, I remember Jesus calls me friend. Because He’s my best friend (John 15:5).

(2.) If people add injury to my pain, they are broken people in need of wholeness from Christ. Broke people break people. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (ESV)

(3.) I must cling to the only sure hope in the darkness. Jesus. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 (ESV)

(4.) Lord, place the cross and the blood of Jesus between me and the enemy, and between me and difficult people and circumstances. There’s nothing Your redemptive blood doesn’t cover. And there’s nothing it can’t redeem. 

I must cling to the only sure hope in the darkness. Jesus. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 (ESV) #hope Share on X

Promises and Power of Prayer

(5.) I’m so thankful for the power of prayer: that mountains still move, seas still part, mana still rains from heaven, and because God can raise the dead, ashes turn to beauty again. 

(6.) Even if the world seems to stop spinning. Even if dark clouds seem to hijack sunny days. The Son holds the world and me in His hands (Psalm 95:4). The Son shines His face on me and gives me peace (Numbers 6:25:-26). And the Son rises with healing in His wings and with new mercies every morning (Malachi 4:4, Lamentations 3:22-23).

(7.) Lord, I know all your promises are “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ. So help me trust that there are countless and hearty yeses and the loudest Amens on my path (2 Corinthians 1:20).

(8.) God IS a good, good Father and I am confident goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23:6). Lord, as I walk through a valley, help me to turn and see the footprints of goodness and mercy behind me every step of the way. 

Encouraging Entries: Strength And Restoration

(9.) The Lord is my strength, my song, my salvation. The LORD is a Warrior. My warrior. (Exodus 15:2-3).

(10.) Lord, I’m claiming a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, that You may be glorified (Isaiah 61:3).

(11.) I’m chosen by God as a temple for His glory and His name to dwell. 

(12.) In Joel 2:25, the Lord promised to restore the years the locusts had eaten. And if you know the total devastating damage caused by locusts. How they consume everything in their path, any form of life and vegetation. If God can restore that kind of damage and death and nothingness back to life and wholeness, He can do it in my life.

Lord, I’m claiming a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, that You may be glorified (Isaiah 61:3). Share on X

Living Sacrifice And Grace

(13.) Romans 12:1-2 calls for me not to be conformed to this world. Instead, I’m called to offer myself as a living sacrifice. But it’s hard to be a living sacrifice when I keep crawling off the altar.

(14.) Sometimes I’m holding onto everything but Jesus. When I release the hurt, the pain, the fear, and what-ifs, then my hands and heart are open and free to hold onto the only One who matters.

(15.)  Whether it’s hard circumstances, unfulfilled dreams, strength for new things, or hope for the future: God is faithful as God. God is faithful to His callings on my life. God is faithful to me. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

(16.) Rules never saved anyone. Rule-keeping never provided grace. But the blood of Jesus covers my sins and provides amazing grace, saving grace. It’s not about rule-keeping, but obeying the Almighty God and His Word.

Encouraging Entries: Victor And Forever

(17.) The Christian life isn’t about “arriving” as if there’s nothing more to learn or overcome. It’s about arriving to a better place—a stronger place as a believer.

(18.) God’s always waiting with open arms. There are no better, safer, or stronger arms than the arms of the Almighty. 

(19.) In a spiritual battle, the enemy holds no power over me. Satan is not God’s equal, he is powerless before the Almighty who fights for me. 

(20.) Does anyone promise “forever” and really own up to it? Yes, Jesus! 

Does anyone promise “forever” and really own up to it? Yes, Jesus!  Share on X

Which of the encouraging entries spoke to you?

Last week we discussed, Why Not to Underestimate the Power of Prayer.

Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:

Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth) and Faith On Fire.

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© 2022 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved