The Spiritual Discipline of Journaling

Today I was challenged by a passage in a book by Dr. Donald S. Whitney called Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed. In a chapter called "Keep a Simple Journal" he urges his readers to engage in the practice of keeping a journal. Why? Because 100 years from now, it is very likely that no one will even know your first name. Not even your great-grandchildren. For example: do you know your great-grandparents names? Eight of your ancestors and you probably don't know their names. What trace of their lives exist?

But if we will simply journal, 100 years from now there will be a record of your life. And not only that, it can be a spiritual record of your life: a testament to God's goodness and faithfulness in your life!

So, I feel challenged to keep this simple journal. For me, this blog functions best as that journal. The only question: will I be faithful to write?

For more reflections on this see Mark Batterson's blog here.