HOW TO DEVELOP A SPIRITUAL JOURNAL

BEGINNINGS

A journal is a helpful way of keeping up with our spiritual journey.
A spiritual journal is different from a regular journal. It is a written
record of personal reactions to spiritual matters.

I began keeping a personal spiritual journal several years ago, and
I have found it helpful in discovering God’s active work in my life.

I keep my journal with my Bible to record import new insights,
prayers from the Bible that have been helpful to me, and meaningful
passages from spiritual books I am reading. The importance of a
spiritual journal is that it gathers strength in helping us with our
daily spiritual life, especially if we write in it often. A journal of
spiritual materials grows more powerful as it is used.

HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS

Let me first suggest that you buy a journal that has a feel of
importance about it. I often go to a first class bookstore and buy a
journal that is made of genuine bonded leather. This type of journal has
a feel of permanence it, and it will last.

I have also found it helpful to include entries by date. This allows
quick retrevial of materials that have previously been entered.

A helpful way to begin a day entry is to write a brief sentence to
record and briefly describe events which are taking place in your life
that day. Describe anything which comes to your mind.

State the facts recent experiences as briefly as possible and make
them a matter of prayer concern.

WHAT SHOULD I INCLUDE IN MY JOURNAL?

Bible verses, sermon notes, or phrases that have a special meaning
for you. Explore your feelings as you study the Bible. Experiences that
have been meaningful to you should be added. New awareness of God’s
revealing himself to you should be included.

Quotes from books that are meaningful to you.

Any thoughts that come to your mind. Note any images that touch your
life. (Example: An eagle crossing the sky)

Note especially feelings you have. Write how you feel about events,
persons, ideas, and relationships.

What books are you reading? Keep a list of books you read. Write
phrases from these books in your journal.

Note “anything that rings a bell in your life” in your journal.

Every month summarize the month. What were key events that happened?

HOW SHOULD I BEGIN?

Write fast, write everything, include everything. Write from your
feeling, accept whatever comes to mind, and note it in your journal.

As you begin, ask this question: “What is the most important thing
going on in my life right now?”

Begin with an image. “This period of my life has been like a narrow
bridge.”

Write all “the feelings” you have in one day.

Keep photographs, news clippings, and notes of world events.

WHAT DEVICES SHOULD I USE?

Feelings, descriptions, reflections (re-looking at the past),
images, thought, and “whatever comes to mind” are what should be
included in your journal. Keep lists of events, past happenings, or
important events that have happened in your own life. Dialogue with
yourself. Carry on an imaginary conversation with yourself. This can be
helpful.

In summary, your spiritual journal is the key to developing your
spiritual life. Work hard with it and your life will be greatly
enriched.

If you desire further information about developing your own
spiritual journal, or you have examples from your own spiritual journal
you would like to share with me, please send e-mail to Dan Phillips
or call (U.S.) 615-790-7129.

Dan K. Phillips
109 Breckenridge Road
Franklin, Tennessee
37067

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP AND CONFERENCE LEADER

Dan Phillips is an ordained Baptist minister and futuristic
technologist. Formerly he built an international satellite network and
worked on the Apollo Space Program. He is a former pastor, a writer and
editor, and for 14 years worked as an educational religious consultant
for a major religious publishing house. For several years he led a
course titled “How to Develop Your Spiritual Life” at large conference
centers during the summer months. Time after time people shared how this
conference changed their lives. Spiritual Directions is a continuation
of this conference.

HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE RETREAT

Freddie Buechner tells the story of being in a cafe in Chicago and
overhearing one person asking another, “What is God doing in your life?”
He was overcome by the question, realizing how few people in our world
even consider such a question.

Spiritual Directions deals with just that important question. “What
is God doing in your life?” Or, another way of asking the question is to
say, “What is the shape of your life at this present moment.” Believing
that understanding where we are presently is the key to discovering our
future directions, a Spiritual Directions Weekend is a way of exploring
God speaking to us.

Key elements in a Spiritual Direction’s Retreat

• How to hear God’s voice
• How to develop your own Spiritual Journal
• Remembering when God spoke to us
• How to have a mini-retreat
• Reminders of God’s work in our lives

THOMAS MERTON RETREATS

Dan Phillips also leads retreats on the life of the poet and
spiritual writer, Thomas Merton.

Outline of a Thomas Merton Retreat

9 a.m. – Overview of Thomas Merton’s Life
9:45-11:15 A.M. – Time
for contemplative prayer, meditations from Merton, prayer, reflection,
rest, and silence.
11:15- 12:00 p.m. – A time of discussion and
sharing about Merton.
12:15 – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch in silence.
1:00- 1:30 p.m. – Meditation using works of Thomas Merton.
1:30 –
3:30 p.m. – Reflection, silence, rest, pray, nap, and journal writing.

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. – Video of the Life of Thomas Merton.
4:30 –
5:00 p.m. – Closing remarks and reflections.

JOURNAL WORKSHOP RETREATS

Developing journals has long been a part of Dan Phillips’ life. He
have kept journals for over 20 years. From spiritual journals to daily
journals, he knows how to help you begin a life changing journal that
will make a difference in your life.

PRIVATE RETREATS

Private one day retreats (including one night) are available on a
limited basis.

[Reproduced with Dan’s permission. Visit his excellent website –
http://edge.edge.net/~dphillip/Journal.html ].

Rowland Croucher