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In case you haven’t noticed, prayer is invisible.
We can’t see it. Even when we say our prayers out loud, they are unseen. Because they are invisible it is hard to keep up with our prayerful transactions – confessions, petitions, revelations and most importantly, God’s guidance. There is no telling how many transactions take place between us and God throughout the day.
I just spent the past weekend at a local event called “Raise the Praise” – a free open-air concert of today’s Christian artists. Because I am personal friends with the event’s founder, I was able to get a VIP pass to meet Plumb backstage. I was thrilled to meet her!
I had set up a vendor booth to share my recently published book, Organizing Your Prayer Closet: A New and Life-Changing Way to Pray. It includes a 60-week structured prayer journal called the Prayer Closet Organizer.
As people stopped by to check out my wares and sign up to win prizes, I would share my book with them. (The winner of a free copy of my book is JANET OWENS!) When I showed off the Prayer Closet Organizer in one of my books, I noticed that they responded favorably because if I must say so myself, it is a neat idea.
But when I showed them a few filled-in pages from my personal Prayer Closet Organizer, they responded even more positively. They would stop what they were doing. They would listen to me tell them about how I can now see God moving in my life. They could see where I had made an entry, and then came back to it to enter a note of an answer or revelation. The main thing that sold my books this past weekend – visible prayer. Not only did I show them something they had never before seen, but something they hadn’t even realized they could have – until now. Until now they hadn’t even realized that they were missing the wonder of visible prayer.
I can tell you that structured prayer journaling is addicting. I am not just telling you this because I want to sell more books (even though, I do). I can say this because prior to publishing my book, I had been doing this for twelve years, and even if I had never published “Organizing Your Prayer Closet” I would still be doing it.
I can’t imagine not utilizing a structured prayer journal. I never want to have invisible prayers again! I can’t even imagine what it would be like to say a prayer tonight, to only go ten days from now, and have no clue as to what God had done. Would it really be that way? Yes. It would. Structured prayer journaling helps me to see how God is working not only with my prayer petitions, but everything else in my life. Prayer encompasses my total relationship with God. Everything going on in the Spirit-realm is related. I may have a praise 5 weeks ago, that has now translated into a call to act. A “no” from God 3 months ago may now be the very reason for I am getting a “yes” today.
I can’t imagine missing out on all those tiny, but significant details going on behind the scenes of my life. Structured prayer journaling frames each one of these moments with written words. I can go back and look at them anytime.
When we write our prayers down, it is like bringing things from the spiritual realm into our visual presence where we can now see the physical hand of God moving in our life.
If you want visible prayers, you can purchase my structured prayer journal, or create your own prayer journal. Check out my page of decorated Prayer Closet Organizers here! Here is a sample below:
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Author Gina Duke is a wife, mom and Director of Women’s Ministry at her local church. With a B.S. in Organizational Leadership, she is able to bring a clear word for authentic Christian living. Through her book, Organizing Your Prayer Closet: A New and Life-Changing Way to Pray (Abingdon Press), she imparts 1 Peter 4:7 with the gift of structured prayer journaling. If you would like to schedule Gina to speak on prayer or host a prayer journaling workshop, click here for more inormation. You may also follow her on Twitter and Instagram @TheGinaDuke.
Check out my video for Organizing Your Prayer Closet!
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I’m a big believer in writing out my prayers. I’ve seen so many answers when I’ve looked back on them, Gina, but even more, I’ve seen how God speaks to me more clearly this way. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a writer or if it is making that request “visible” as you’ve so wisely put it, but it’s always a blessing. Great stuff, my friend! I hope that your ministry thrives and thanks for linking up over at my place. 🙂
Beth,
Thanks for your comment. You are exactly right! I think the visibility of our prayers affords us the opportunity to go back and not only see, but understand what God has done from beginning to end. Consider the times He told others in scripture, “Write this down”. God is so good to us.
God bless, and I offer the same prayer for you and your ministry.
Gina
I’m next to you at Lyli’s. I think maybe it’s meant to be. I’d love to try your prayer journal and then maybe blog about my journey with using it. If that sounds like something you’re interested in maybe you can take a look at my blog and contact me?
Elizabeth,
Hi, Elizabeth! It was so late last night when I started linking up that I did not get to check out other bloggers’ posts, but I did notice your image and “just following Jesus” and thought, that’s a girl I need to check out. 🙂 I would love for you to share your structured prayer journaling experience. If you do, I will send you two free copies of “Organizing Your Prayer Closet” book. One for you and one for a give-away. I do have a 10-week study guide, too, if you wish to use it or only reference it. At some point, I plan to do a weekly spot via video about my journaling journey, but have not nailed down how I want to do it. Thank you! I am honored. I checked out your blog just now and love your writing style. I am more of a “get to the point” writer so I don’t have or use all the lovely words that I see so many real writers/bloggers use. Please let me know how you wish to proceed.
God bless,
Gina
Elizabeth,
That sounds great! I checked out your website and love it!
I am a writer and words written out become very powerful for me so all your suggestions are wonderful. I have learned not everyone hears God in this way so don’t like to record them. What a valuable tool they are missing! Coming over from Thought Provoking Thursday
Thanks for popping over Jean! I appreciate your insight and kind words. ~Gina
You are so right — it is good to write out our prayers. I’ve found it helps to write requests as I receive them. Facebook shares so many prayer requests, but I couldn’t remember them all. Now when I see a request, I write it down. Visual prayers. I’m eager to go check out your book. ~Pamela
Good Morning from your next door neighbor at Laura’s! I’m resonating with you as my journaling is simply a conversation with the Lover of my soul. And oh, what a journey we’ve been on together in the decade since I started putting pen to paper.
God bless your week … so good to meet you!
;-}
Thank you, Linda! We must be kindred spirits, for I, too, identify with Jesus as the Lover of My Soul! God bless!
I am so happy about knowing about this !! I have alreadystarting to write things down now!! God bless!!
That’s great, Sharon. I hope you come back and check out my structured prayer journaling posts sometime. God bless, ~gina
What a great idea! I don’t have the money to get your book. Do you have any ideas so I can make one for myself using things I have around the house? I often forget to pray & forget those I said I’d pray for. My therapist has suggested I journal as a way to deal with my depression & anxiety, especially since I do better with writing than speaking.
Great idea! You can always use plain notebook. That’s what I did for many years. God bless, ~gina
I have kept a prayer journal and also “scrapbook” my prayers. If I come across a scripture or picture that speaks to me, then I will “scrap” in right in. when you go back through your prayer journals, you can actually see 2 things – (or I can in mine). First, how God moves in your life, and second, the answered prayers. My husband and I prayed for 8 years for God to move in a situation, and it happened!!
Yassss, Lori! And Amen!!! I know what you mean. For those who do not prayer journal, I am afraid they miss the things you describe. To me, prayer journaling is bringing things from the spiritual realm into our visual presence so that we can physically see what and how God is moving. So thankful, he moved in your situation and for your commitment and endurance. Glory to His Name. Thank you for stopping by and sharing!
Gina this is so amazing! My husband and I are currently planting a church and wanting to encourage our church family to spend time doing exactly what your book talks about. I think it is critical in order for people to truly see God at work in their day to day lives and really grow in believing The Gospel! I’d love to start using your book to journal and like Elizabeth, even to blog about my journey on my blog. Praying that God will continue to spur you on to good works! I think this book is simply amazing!! Thank you!!
Kristin
Thank you, Kristin!!! I am glad you love it like I do. God laid this format out for me in 2001 and I’ve been using it ever since. I hope you enjoy it. Blessings to you and your church family! ~gina
I just ordered it and I’m very excited to get it on Saturday! Thank you!
Awesome! Enjoy!!! Feel free to check out my prayer journaling videos on YouTube.