“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Ps 107:8-9)

I’ve written before about my gratitude journal. As a writer, I know it’s important to keep a journal to practice my craft. As a Christian, I know a journal can provide a way for me to look back and see God moving in my life. But even though I know these things, I have found it difficult to write consistently in my journal.

Several years ago, I started keeping a gratitude journal as a way to journal every day and focus on the good things in my life. While I’m not always faithful to note things in my journal every day, a quick glance through the journal shows me that God is faithful to provide every day.

Keeping a gratitude journal produces numerous results. Those who keep gratitude journals have lower stress levels. Gratitude journals help you focus on what really matters, and it allows you to gain perspective about what you have in life and what you can cut out. Keeping a gratitude journal allows you to become more aware of your blessings – and how you can be a blessing to others. When you’re feeling down, you can read back through your gratitude journal and see how many blessings you have.

You can keep a gratitude journal in a variety of ways, and there is no right or wrong way. You can designate a certain amount of time, say 10 minutes, to journal every night and look back over your day. Over time, you may want to increase the amount of time you devote to journaling. You can also list a certain number of things you’re grateful for each day or draw pictures of those things. Keep it as simple as you want, or be as detailed as you want.

I have journaled in a variety of ways over the years. At times, I’ve written about everything that happened in my day in minute detail in order to work through and attempt to understand what was happening in my life. Other times, I’ve just written a sentence or two to sum up my day.

For the last year, my gratitude journal has consisted of my naming one thing for which I’m thankful and then writing out a prayer as to why I’m thankful for that person or thing. Writing out my prayers has made me more aware of the relationship between my blessings and my God. This process has also helped me become closer to God. It has forced me to think more deeply about the things I have in my life. It also helps me remember the blessings. With every entry, I thank God as I remember how much he’s given me.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the blessings in my life. Help me to use my gratitude journal to focus on you and to become more aware of how you are weaving together everything that happens in my life. Amen.