A couple years ago a started keeping a journal. Actually, I
have several notebooks that I write in, and they are in no particular order and there isn't much rhyme or reason to the system. It probably would have been better to
have one and start at the beginning and go to the end, but where is the fun in
that? Anytime I am reading, I have the notebook beside me to catch my
thoughts, jot memorable quotes, argue at length with the author, or apply what
I have learned. This has been a tremendous help in my devotional life by going
slowly through a book and writing down what I have learned or needed to apply
to my heart. You really should not read a book without a pen in hand.
The nice thing about doing this is going back through your notes. You can see how the Lord is bringing you along and remember things you forgot. I was reading through one of my journals and found this entry from a couple years ago when I was working my way through a puritan work.
Don’t hide your failures, faults, and sorrow from God. There
is a temptation to deeply bury our sin and our pain and to straighten up before
we go to God.
- You are not able to “hide” anything from God
- A Christian does not need to hide from God
- We do not need to fix ourselves before coming to Christ.
This is my temptation. That I’m too sad or to broken to
pray. But that is exactly when I need prayer most of all. I’m forgiven, loved,
and cared for by my Priest-King- Saviour. I shouldn’t try to atone for my own
sins with my tears and break the reed that Christ would not break. Yes,
confess. Mortify. Repent. But keep going till you reach the healing cross.
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