Prayer notebook

Last week I decided to put together a prayer notebook. There are so many needs around me, not to mention the many prayers I continue to pray for my own transformation. I get overwhelmed with the number and gravity of the many needs that I begin to pray sporadically or stop all together.  

I am reading (again) Leanne Payne's book "Listening Prayer - Learning to Hears God's Voice And Keep A Prayer Journal"  I am using her ideas for the main sections but divided up my intersession and personal praying into days.  

This is in the front of my journal - there is always more freedom to be had...

This heads up my Word section.  This is the main section where I write down scripture, quotes and thoughts as I read each day.  

This heads up the next section in my journal.  Thanksgiving and Praise.  I write down, scripture, quotes, or verses from songs, anything that will aid in praising and thanksgiving.

This divider is in front of my Pray section.  I can keep track of scripture I want to pray over a particular situation or person.  I am trying to incorporate more scripture as I pray for others and myself.

Monday I pray for family and personal needs and requests; Tuesday I pray for friends; Wednesday pray for the world, missionaries and leaders, country, schools; Thursday is thanksgiving day; Friday I pray for spiritual awakening; Saturday I pray for special needs of the weekend and the sick; Sunday I pray for the church, the staff, lay leaders, classes, programs and events, outreach and ministry. This can be divided up however you choose and what works best for you.  I may change this as I begin to use it.

This divider heads up my repentance and forgiveness section. As I read scripture and God brings to mind things that I need to repent of, people that I need to forgive (including myself) I add it to this section so I can come back to it again...this is not always a one time event. This divider reminds me I am loved right where I am and that God is not disappointed in me in my messiness, he knows very well my messiness.  I am love in my messiness! Yes, he desires change, but he does not condemn. 

Leanne explains in greater detail how to use each section in her book.  It will enrich your prayer life and relationship with God in many ways.

Though I love journaling in a bound journal, I like the freedom and versatility a three ring notebook provides.  I can add pages and move them around as the need arises.  I also think it will provide easier access to verses and quotes I want to re-visit.

I just printed off 5 x 7 images of my journal pages on heavy paper and punched holes in them for my dividers.  I used post-it tags to write the name of each section.  I may use something more permanent, but this works for now.

I would love to know what you all use for prayer, devotional notebooks/journals.  Sometimes it takes a few go a rounds and the actual using of something to find out if it works.