How to Deepen Your Faith with Bible Journaling
Have you tried Bible journaling? I’ve come to find that it’s a great way to learn more about God’s Word. Today I’m sharing tips for how to deepen your faith with Bible journaling.
I love the quiet before dawn, don’t you? There’s something special about beginning the day with God’s word (and without distractions!)
The stillness of morning prompts a spirit of worship yet with family members sleeping, the last thing I want is to break the silence and risk waking the kids with singing or verbalized prayer. Still, worship needs expression and one of the ways we can express worship is through Bible journaling.
How to Deepen Your Faith with Bible Journaling
Bible journaling is fairly new to me and doesn’t come naturally at all. I’m learning that Bible journaling isn’t about being creative, artistic, or perfectly pretty. It’s simply a humble (and quiet) expression of worship towards a perfect and holy God.
While my artwork will not win awards, journaling helps me in some profound ways.
- It helps focus my easily distracted mind
- It allows me time and space to understand, meditate, and clothe myself with the scripture I’ve selected
- It gives me an opportunity to be creative
- It combines mind with body movement
- It forces me to be still- that’s a big deal, lol!
- It helps me practice letting go of unnecessary standards of perfection and focus on giving thanks to God instead.
- It teaches how to deepen your faith in God
If you’d like to give Bible journaling a try, here are a few tips for getting started. Â May they free you from the trappings of creating a masterpiece and minimize distractions to be able to worship through artistic expression.
Gather a few supplies:
Feel free to search for supplies that you already have, including crayons, pens and colored pencils. Start with what you have, and build a special stash of supplies just for you to use during your quiet time. I like keeping all my supplies in my Bible Basket.
Beginner Bible Journaling basics include:
>> A set of Gel pens
>> Crayola Twistables
>> Colored pencils
>> a journaling Bible with space to journal and create (see below).
As your skill level increases, you may want to expand to a mixed media form of journaling that includes stamps, alphabet stickers, washi tape, stencils and even acrylic paint if you dare!
Select a passage:
Look in your current Bible and make a list of key verses and phrases that have impacted your life. I chose to illustrate my life verses first since they are the foundation for my life.
You may also want to choose verses that show God’s promises,  His commands to us or verses you pray for others.
Consider illustrating verses such as Galatians 5:22-23,”The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  With this passage you can do fruit of the spirit bible journaling, where you substitute a symbol for each of the fruit of the spirit and add a bold splash of color with this illustration.
The options for what to draw are endless, just be careful not to lose your purpose and the why behind your work – to deepen your faith with Bible journaling.
How to begin Bible journaling:
Once you’ve chosen a passage, this Bible journaling Guide can help you get started! You’ll find more than 60 step-by-step projects for bringing the scriptures to life via journaling. It’s a perfect fit for those looking for detailed instructions. Check out all the contents by clicking the image below:
Where should I draw?
There are many fabulous journaling Bibles on the market today, but one I like is The Beautiful Word Bible. I purchased this one for my daughter, who loves to draw but needs some ideas. (She can’t get those from me, ha!) With over 500 illustrated verses, this Bible helps Scripture come alive, sparks imagination, and allows ample space for creating your own designs.
Another personal favorite is the ESV Journaling Bible, which offers a 2- inch margin to help you create an artistic version of your favorite verses and prayers. This is the one I use because of it’s ample space for note-taking (see below).
Both Bibles are perfect for the novice and expert alike. If you don’t have a journaling Bible yet, just grab a spare notebook or journal, and you can begin an artistic worship experience today.
What if I make a mistake?
The fear of making a mistake is a concern for many who dream of dabbling in this art form, but there’s no need to panic! Simply use your mistakes as an opportunity to design something else instead.
In fact, the Bible journaling mistakes are a beautiful example of how God uses our mistakes for His glory. As our Creator, He’s an expert at turning our missteps into something beautiful!
As you embark on this new form of worship, don’t fall into the perfectionist trap. Embrace your talents, no matter how great or small, and use them to offer a humble act of worship to the One who sacrificed all.
Resources!
Below are several great kits to help you deepen your faith with Bible journaling. Each kit contains elements to trace, images, fonts, instructions, and more to get your creative juices flowing.
Trusting in God Bible Journaling Kit
Everlasting Hope Bible Journaling Kit
Celebrating God’s Promises Journaling Kit
Honoring the Spirit Journaling Kit
Feel free to share one of your favorite tips for how to deepen your faith with Bible journaling. We can learn from each other!
They all look fantastic! The Trusting in God is where my heart is at right now. Thank you!
I actually have The Beautiful Word Bible and have just been too timid to draw in it. I do art journaling all the time, but I haven’t been able to do it in the Bible yet. You inspire me, though, that even if I make a mistake I can change it into something different. I would love to win The Art of Bible Journaling! Maybe that’s just what I need to give me the push to get started. :)
Blessings to you!
I would love to win everlasting hope Bible journaling kit!?
Honoring the Spirit looks interesting for bible journaling.
Lovely idea!
Thank you so much xx
God bless you
Such a shame im from the UK :(
I would love to have the Art Of Bible Journaling book because I do not have a creative bone in my body. I still think of myself as a “baby Christian” even at age 71, only having come to Christ in the last 15 years or so, and I’m having a lot of difficulty UNDERSTANDING the true meaning of Scripture. I have been THRILLED to find your ministry and actively using tips I’ve discovered from you. God bless you for helping people like me.
I’d love the Celebrating God’s Promises kit!
I’ve started reading thru the Inspire Bible for creative Journaling. I’m enjoying the designs for me to color along with plenty of space for my own designs.
I’m a newbie so the Art of Bible Journaling would be awesome. Can’t wait to try this new and creative way to worship! I’m all ready with my erasable gel pens lol God bless.
id love to try the art of bible journaling! I’ve been wanting to try but didn’t know where to start!
thank you!
The art of bible journaling sounds like exactly wha I I need as I am not the least bit creative!
I’ve been looking at the Bible journaling resources, but I’ve been a bit intimidated to jump in. I would love a copy of the Everlasting Hope Bible Journaling kit. It was actually on my Amazon wishlist already! Thank you for such a fun giveaway!
I would love to win the Honoring the Spirit kit. Trying to strengthen my walk with Jesus