A Prayer Journal Changed my Life

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY-CAPE COAST CAMPUS, 2022

How to Hear God's Voice is a practical book, that clearly trains Christians to experience dialogue with God. Teaching the use of vision, intuitive heart flow and journaling, this book has brought me to the place where I can daily record what the Lord is saying to me. The keys that were examined, discussed in detail, and I immediately applied to my life are: 1. How to recognize God’s voice as spontaneous thoughts. 2. Learning how to become still before the Lord. 3. Looking for vision as you pray. 4. Realizing the importance of two-way journaling. Many Christians consider hearing God's voice to be both biblical and part of daily living. But how can they discern between God's speech, their own ideas or feelings, and other voices, and what do they exactly mean when they say they "hear God's voice"? The impact of studying this book on my life is very tremendous. Learning how to hear God's voice and see Him in vision changed my life, and brought healing, deliverance, and anointing to expand the Kingdom. We must learn to still our minds and hearts to clearly hear God’s voice on a regular basis. Again, we must posture ourselves in stillness and peace to hear God’s communication. This is the most helpful strategy I have ever found for clearly hearing God speak to me. With this strategy, I can listen to more and understand more than in any other way. The key is to practice asking, then listening, and then writing down what comes to mind. I first learned this strategy from Dr Mark Virkler and have adapted it for myself. This dissertation concludes that Christian leaders should have reason to be greatly concerned about not hearing God’s voice. It then offers some suggestions about how spiritual deception can be minimised.

Qualitative Inquiry, 2017

2018

Pastoral Psychology, 2007

Journal of Religion and Health, 2021

This mixed study examined the benefits of spiritual diaries in Korea. Quantitatively, differences in spiritual growth and psychological well-being were examined in relation to the frequency of writing spiritual diaries among 385 participating adults. The group who wrote spiritual diaries ‘5–7 times a week’ had significantly higher scores relating to spiritual growth and psychological wellbeing than other groups across the outcome variables. Qualitatively, the study also explored the benefits of writing spiritual diaries among 37 adults. Three major themes using four focus group interviews, were identified: (a) the acquisition of godly habits, (b) a closer walk with Jesus, and (c) the fullness of God’s presence. These findings are particularly important for healthcare providers who want to facilitate patient self-care.

Words That Matter, 2019

This critical literature review considers how prayer is practiced throughout the course of life, why it is practiced, and the influences upon prayer behaviors throughout different life stages. Specific age groups considered include children, adolescents, undergraduates, adults, and elders. Comparisons and contrasts in prayer behaviors are made amongst all of the life stages. Issues of particular import include coping, health, psychological development, learning, and familial influences. It is specifically suggested that the development of one’s prayer life is not necessarily linear, and that a variety of factors contribute to the how and why of prayer throughout the life course. Future research for each life stage is suggested.

There is the now often cited cliché about " writing what you know. " I realize very well that one's own experiences may be less than fascinating to others. I also realize that in the excavation of memory it is sometimes possible to discover (or rediscover) connections and origins previously obscured, possibly forgotten. In another chapter here, on my prayer list, my once forgetting to pray and then remembering became a powerful tool for connecting others to God over a number years. The more I delve into my past, both in an earlier book and here, the more significant patterns I see, the more I find that one experience seems to build upon another. Looking at that tattered prayer list made me realize how much of life had gotten inscribed in that card with so many names. I was also reminded of how much mercy is at work in a life, even when one thinks it's all about one's own efforts. How many conflicts are accepted, not always resolved, how many gifts are seen as grace, when prayed over, and over, again.

Editon Consortium Journal of Philosophy, Religion and Theological studies

This study is based on prayer as means of spiritual growth in the Nakuru South Seventh-Day Adventist church. It is based on mixed methods of research design. It utilizes both qualitative and quantitative methods of research. The findings on this study indicated that prayer is a fundamental aspect of a believer’s spiritual growth. Living a prayerful life is a sign that one has an existing relationship with God and vice versa. As God responds to the prayers, believers in turn are motivated. The study ascertained that prayer was an essential means of spiritual growth, where a mean score of 3.769 was obtained. The study recommended that the clergy and church leadership needs to encourage, train, educate and instruct believers daily and regularly on prayer even in their homes. Furthermore, the church should form small prayer groups for purposes of praying together; hence this will nurture and mentor members more than in a large group.