Bible Notebook Journaling: A Gentle Way to Linger Longer in God's Word
There was a season when my quiet time with God felt fruitless but I didn't know why. I was faithful to show up each day. I read the passage and tried to put the pieces together. I said a rushed prayer, then moved on with my day.
It wasn’t until I began to slow down with a notebook beside my Bible, recording my thoughts on the verses, the prayers the Scripture inspired, and even the many questions I had, that I noticed God’s Word moving from the page into my heart.
I didn’t know that what I was doing had a name: Bible notebook journaling. I only knew that I was stressed, the brain fog was thick, and I was tired of going around the same Scripture mountains. Using a notebook to record what the Scriptures were speaking to me was the only way I could seem to remember things.
To be clear, Bible notebook journaling didn’t change God’s Word, but it changed how I responded.
Up to this point, the one thing I did right was to show up each day with an anticipation to learn more about God and grow in His wisdom. But it wasn’t enough. I wasn't a good student. I had to learn how to study, ask questions, research, connect the dots, and listen. Soon, Bible notebook journaling became my go-to way of spending time with God, my quiet place to linger, to wrestle with Scripture and my preconceived ideas, and to notice what the Holy Spirit was gently bringing to the surface.
What is Bible Notebook Journaling
Because you are recording what you are learning through Scripture, Bible notebook journaling is not a study method on its own. It is more of a supplement to reading and studying. It is a place that allows you to record your Bible study notes; those deep observations and challenging applications, the cross-references the Holy Spirit brings to mind, and word studies you feel led to do.
Bible Notebook Journaling and Creative Bible Journaling
If you go to Pinterest and type in “Bible journaling,” you will find two different practices under this umbrella term. One is the notebook journaling I have been describing; the other is creative or art Bible journaling. They are very similar, which is why the terminology has gotten a bit blurred.
Both are personal and allow you to engage with Scripture in a way that is unique to you. Both can involve colored pencils and markers, stickers and washi tape, and notes that stand out to you.
The biggest difference is that creative Bible journaling takes things a step further as you illustrate with acrylic or watercolor paints an image that speaks to your soul to capture the heart of a passage. Bible notebook journaling may include a few doodles, but its main focus is primarily on the written word, not on bringing the Scripture to life through illustration.
What Matters Most
Both types of journaling add value to your spiritual walk, but they do serve different purposes. However, you do not have to choose one over the other. Many people blend both by illustrating a phrase as they jot down a few study notes alongside the illustration.
The type of journaling you do is personal. Your style does not matter as much as finding a way to engage with Scripture in a way that is meaningful to you and helps you linger longer in God’s holy Word.
The Spiritual Benefits to Bible Notebook Journaling
Bible journaling provides a natural way to grow spiritually in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding as you slow down and meditate longer on Scripture. As I learned when I was struggling with brain fog, writing things down was a blessing that helped Scripture stick in my memory and anchored my concentration.
The biggest surprise to me was that this practice enhanced my mental health; instead of being depressed, frustrated, and feeling less than when I couldn’t remember or understand what I was reading, it brought joy and confidence as I recorded my responses to God’s truth.
Although I didn’t start out with this in mind, as my notebooks filled up with notes, song lyrics, and revelation, I was thrilled to realize I was creating a personal legacy of faith that I could pass on to my children and grandchildren. Long after I leave this earth, I want them to be able to see that I did not have it all together, that I struggled and grew in my spiritual walk with Christ Jesus just as they will struggle and grow. My notebooks have become a wonderful way to pass onto them a legacy of God’s faithfulness, love, and mercy.
Your Invitation to Step Closer
I will share more about how I journal and the supplies I use in a future blog post. But for now, let me leave you with this thought: having the desire to stay in Scripture longer is a beautiful sign that the Holy Spirit is drawing you closer. Because God created you, He knows you: your gifts, talents, desires, and how your brain works. If He is leading you to begin recording your observations and applications, Bible notebook journaling may be the gentle next step you didn’t know you were missing.
One of the reasons I believe so strongly in this practice is because Bible notebook journaling is something anyone can do. Artistic talent and creative writing ability are not required. It isn’t about creating a gorgeous Bible or doing things “the right way.” It’s simply creating space on paper for God’s Word to move from the page into your heart and out through your actions, one thought, one question, and one prayer at a time.
Over time, I ‘ve found that journaling has helped me fulfill James 1:19 as I slow down, listen more carefully, and process Scripture in a way that has deeply shaped my walk with God.
Because of this, the Lord has laid it on my heart to include optional journaling prompts in posts and monthly emails – not as a requirement, but as a way to help you think biblically and as an invitation to linger with Jesus just a little bit longer.
A Few Journal Prompts for a Gentle Next Step
These journal prompts are not meant to be completed all in one sitting. When you next sit down with God, choose a prompt that resonates with you and allow yourself the freedom to linger with God as long, or as briefly, as He leads. Record your reflections in your Bible or in a notebook.
As you sit quietly with God’s Word today, what word, phrase, or idea keeps drawing your attention? Write it down and ask the Lord why He may be highlighting it for you right now.
What does slowing down with Scripture look like in this season of your life? Ask God to show you how He wants to meet you in the margins of your day.
As you reflect on what you have read, what might God be inviting you to believe, release, or trust Him with more fully?
Write a prayer responding to God’s Word that you read today, not rushing toward answers, but simply acknowledging what His truth stirs within your heart.
