This Lenten season, I’ve been working my way through the #NTDLent devotional, a collection of writings and verses to read and meditate on over the 40 days leading up to Easter. Each section begins with a devotional and is followed by five days of Scripture with space below each passage to brainstorm, create, pray, and/or write. What I’ve appreciated about this process thus far is that its relaxed and it allows for open communication with God – for me to present my heart to Him and for Him to in turn reveal Himself to me – just between us. In this way, I’m not simply reading another’s revelations, but am receiving my own. I’ve enjoyed beginning my days like this – drawing close to Him, inviting Him into my heart and life, and letting Him speak His promises and truths over each day.
While Lent is most commonly marked with the sacrifice of things in order to facilitate increased closeness and devotion to God, I decided to use Lent as an opportunity to take something on (vs. giving something up) to express my adoration and worship of Him instead. That something is ‘bible journaling.’
I’ve always been a note-taker, as evidenced by numerous journals on my book shelf and composition books from college, as well as folders and files I keep both at home and at work. As an avid studier of God’s Word, I have never hesitated to highlight scriptures and write notes in the margins, inside the covers, and on the blank pages at the beginning and end of each translation / version I own. Putting prayers, thoughts, revelations, and insights into writing on the pages of God’s Word somehow makes the Bible come to life for me, as well as applicable to my every day existence. As a girl who also enjoys making my own cards and who also used to do a lot of scrapbooking, it’s probably no surprise then that I’ve taken my love for creativity and writing to spend time with God and learn from Him in this season.
There’s a whole community of women artists out there on social media who are doing bible journaling, and I am in awe of some of their work. I am by no means a drawer or painter. My style is more in line with paper crafting – using embellishments and stickers and markers to further capture the beauty and essence of God’s truth.
Here’s a peek at what I’ve been up to …
My ESV Journaling Bible (custom cover made by me).
A full pack of supplies to get me through the 40 days of Lent, complete with stickers, embellishments, washi tape, arrow shaped paper clips, and markers.
Some of the passages I’ve captured in the past couple of weeks.
So far, it’s been a fun adventure in exercising my artistic spirit. As you can see, my “art” isn’t anything complicated, but it does make opening my Bible more thrilling as I work on crafting together pages of reflections and statements that are both colorful and inspiring.
This has been a very refreshing process for me the past few weeks, as it has allowed me to intentionally make space and time for those things that fire me up – faith, creativity, and writing – and spur me on to live life with purpose each and every day. It’s soul-care in the very deepest sense of the phrase and it’s been oh so good for this girl who desperately wants to cultivate more of this in my life.
There are many ways to commune with God in the Lenten season. I’d love to hear how you’re drawing close to Him in these weeks leading up to Easter and what things inspire you in your faith.
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I’ll be back on the blog in two weeks following a trip to Colorado to visit family.
Have a blessed week, friends! <3