Bible journaling is a simple way to become a more active reader during your Bible time, it will also help you to further your understanding of the scriptures. There isn't a right or wrong way to journal your way through the Bible. It can be as simple or elaborate as you want, but there are some things to consider.
Journaling In Your Bible
If you are going to journal and doodle inside of your Bible, you are going to need a Bible with thicker pages and wide margins. You don't want your beautiful drawings to bleed through or cover up words on the other side. You might want to invest in markers that won't go through the page, or you might feel more comfortable with a good pack of colored pencils. As the pages of your Bible fill up with drawings, quotes, and thoughts your Bible will become a testament of the things you have read and learned along the way.
You can draw pictures that go along with the chapters you have read or write thoughts or ideas that you get while reading through your Bible. Think of Bible journaling as a step beyond highlighting. Highlighting special passages or things that stand out to you as you read your Bible helps you to go back and quickly find parts of the scripture that spoke to you. Bible journaling will do the same thing, but on a deeper level. If you found a few verses that really spoke to you and you decided to highlight them, when you flip through your Bible you might notice the highlighted areas. If you had journaled about the verse you will find the verses, but you might also find insight as to why you originally thought the passage was important. Sometimes an entire chapter may stand out to you. Instead of highlighting the entire chapter, you could draw around it.
Journaling In A Special Notebook
If the thought of writing or drawing in your Bible doesn't sound like something you want to do, then you can purchase a special journal or notebook that you like. While reading the Bible selection you pick for the day, find a key verse that speaks to you. Write out the verse in your journal and then draw and decorate the page as you see fit. You might want to write a little bit about your interpretation of the verse, or how you want to apply the verse to your life. The possibilities are endless.
If you like copying the verses, I highly recommend the 17:18 Journible series Bible Journals. Taking a book at a time, you will eventually have a hand-written, personally transcribed copy of the Word of God. What a treasure!
Children Can Journal Too!
Bible journaling is great for kids too. If you don't have a Bible study that you are currently using, you might want the entire family to get together and journal. You could read a few chapters each night as a family and then have each member of the family use their special journal and write or draw about the reading. It would be fun to see how each member of the family has different things that stand out to them. For the younger set, you may want to write a verse out for them and have them copy it and draw pictures around it. Write through the Bible is a fun way to do this!
Bible Art Journals
Lately there has been a big reawakening of adult coloring books along with art filled Bibles. The most recommended we've found is the Creative Bible or Inspire Bible. And our favorite pens to use are the micron archival ink pens. They come in several thicknesses or of course, there are always colored pencils too. The ones below are some of our favorites.
Want a simple journal and doodle coloring book with Scripture throughout? Check out our special Praises in Paradise exclusive coloring book It would be fun to see how each member of the family has different things that stand out to them. For the younger set, you may want to write a verse out for them and have them copy it and draw pictures around it. No matter how you decide to journal your way through the Bible, have fun, learn, and grow closer to the Lord. Do you have any special tools you like to use while journaling through the Bible?