How a Simple Notebook Transformed My Prayer Life
I’m just going to come right out and say it—I am not the journaling type. Stickers, highlighters, and fancy embellishments? No thanks. For me, they’re just distractions. But this one simple notebook saved my prayer life.
A Scattered Prayer Life
I had fallen into a pattern of shallow, fleeting prayers—quick, surface-level words without depth or rhythm. I’d constantly forget to pray for people. To keep from forgetting, I’d whisper a rushed, on-the-spot prayer and move on. My prayer life felt scattered, inconsistent, and honestly, powerless.
Have you ever started praying and, before you even say “Amen,” your mind has drifted to your grocery list or tomorrow’s to-do list? I have—more times than I care to admit. That’s exactly why I had to make a change.
I tried so many methods: mental lists, prayer apps, jotting down requests in my planner. But none of them lasted. When it came time to actually pray, my mind would go blank. Often, that led to either rushed, surface-level prayers or, worse, praying just for my own needs while neglecting adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and intercession for others.
The Power of a Simple Prayer Journal
That’s when I decided to keep a physical prayer journal—not an app, not my planner, but a separate, simple book where I could intentionally organize my prayers.
- It’s small and easy to keep out on the counter throughout the day—a key to success.
- It keeps me focused, preventing my mind from drifting to tasks or distractions.
- It allows me to track prayers—those still waiting for an answer, ones that the Lord answered, and prayers answered in unexpected ways.
But the way I set up my journal is what truly made all the difference.
A Structure That Aligns My Prayers With God’s Will
One of the biggest transformations in my prayer life came when I realized that prayer isn’t just about asking—it’s about showing God honor, confessing my sins, thanking Him, and then bringing my requests before Him. I never want to be like a friend who only reaches out when they need a favor but never stops to show gratitude.
Jesus shows us the structure of prayer in Matthew 6:9-13:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Using a Prayer Framework
I structure my prayer journal using the ACTS framework:
- Adoration – Worshiping God for who He is.
- Confession – Humbly repenting and aligning my heart with His. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.” (1 John 1:9)
- Thanksgiving – Acknowledging His goodness in all things.
- Supplication – Bringing my requests before Him, while ultimately desiring His will. “Not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Each section is separated by tabs that I can move around as I fill up the pages. My first tab is prayer requests, making it easy to jot them down as they arise. In the supplication section, I categorize my prayers by day:
- Monday – Immediate family
- Tuesday – Extended family and friends
- Wednesday – Church family (our church sends out weekly prayer request emails)
- Thursday – Bible study fellowship community (we get prayer request lists each week)
- Friday – My online community (which includes all of you!)
- Saturday – Leadership at all levels
- Sunday – Nonbelievers (Studying Revelation has given me an even greater urgency to pray for them!)
What About Spontaneous Prayer?
You might think this structure would make my prayers rigid—but that’s not what happens. Here’s my full prayer routine:
- Mornings begin with prayer—no journal, no distractions. Just me and the Lord. I use the ACTS model from memory but focus on humility and worship. I talked about this in my video on Jesus’ morning routine, but how we position ourselves in prayer matters—our physical posture can impact our prayer life.
- Throughout the day, I stay in a posture of constant prayer. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) If a friend mentions a struggle, I try to pray right then and there. If I don’t have the mental capacity at that moment, I write it down in my journal.
- At night, during my golden hour (no screen time before bed), I open my journal. This is my second deep prayer session of the day. I lift up those who have directly asked for prayer and those the Holy Spirit has placed on my heart. I also reflect on what God has already answered.
This system has given my prayer life both freedom and structure. It allows me to stay Spirit-led while ensuring I don’t forget to pray for what truly matters.
If you’re ready to create a peaceful, joyful home as a homemaker, I’d love for you to join my free workshop below. See you there!
