Prayer Journal: How to Start, 50+ Prompts, Templates & Ideas

What Is a Prayer Journal?

A prayer journal is a notebook or digital space where you write down your prayers instead of (or in addition to) speaking them aloud. It serves as a record of your spiritual journey — capturing what you prayed for, what God revealed to you, and which prayers were answered over time.

Unlike a regular diary, a prayer journal has a specific purpose: to deepen your relationship with God through written conversation. It combines elements of gratitude journaling, spiritual journaling, and reflective writing into a practice rooted in faith.

The concept isn't new. Throughout history, spiritual leaders from Saint Augustine to Thomas Merton kept detailed written records of their prayers and spiritual insights. What's changed is our understanding of why it works — and how powerful it can be for mental and spiritual health.

Why Keep a Prayer Journal? 7 Research-Backed Benefits

Prayer journaling isn't just a spiritual discipline — it's supported by research in psychology and neuroscience. Here's what the science says:

1. Reduces anxiety and stress. A 2014 study in the Journal of Religion and Health found that written prayer reduced anxiety symptoms by 28% compared to a control group. Writing engages the prefrontal cortex, helping regulate emotional responses.
2. Deepens spiritual connection. Research from Biola University showed that participants who journaled their prayers reported 25% higher perceived closeness to God than those who prayed silently alone.
3. Improves emotional processing. Expressive writing, the foundation of prayer journaling, has been shown in over 200 studies to improve emotional well-being. James Pennebaker's research at UT Austin found that writing about deep experiences produces measurable health benefits.
4. Increases gratitude. Keeping a written record of blessings shifts your attention toward positive experiences. A UC Davis study found that people who wrote about things they were grateful for exercised 33% more and reported fewer physical complaints.
5. Provides tangible evidence of answered prayers. Looking back at old entries builds faith. You can physically see patterns of how prayers were answered — something that's impossible to track with spoken prayer alone.
6. Improves focus during prayer. Writing forces you to slow down and articulate your thoughts clearly. Instead of a wandering mind, you have a structured conversation.
7. Creates a spiritual legacy. Your prayer journal becomes a record of your faith journey that you can share with family, children, or future generations.

How to Start a Prayer Journal: 7 Steps

Starting a prayer journal doesn't require any special equipment or training. Here's a simple framework to begin:

Step 1: Choose Your Journal

You can use any notebook, but a dedicated journal helps create sacred space. Options include a simple lined notebook, a leather-bound journal, a digital app like Life Note (which offers AI-powered spiritual guidance drawn from the writings of history's greatest minds), or even a notes app on your phone. The best journal is the one you'll actually use.

Step 2: Set a Consistent Time

Most people find morning prayer journaling most effective — before the day's distractions take hold. Others prefer evening reflection. Choose a time you can protect at least 3-4 days per week. Consistency matters more than duration.

Step 3: Create a Simple Structure

Don't overthink it. A basic prayer journal entry can include: the date, what you're grateful for today, what's on your heart, specific prayer requests, and any scripture that speaks to you. Many people use the ACTS method (explained below) as their default structure.

Step 4: Start with Gratitude

Open every session by writing 2-3 things you're thankful for. This shifts your mindset from petition to praise and creates an atmosphere of worship. Research shows that starting with gratitude makes the entire journaling session more meaningful.

Step 5: Write Honestly

Your prayer journal is a private conversation with God — it doesn't need to sound polished or "spiritual." Write the way you actually think and feel. Raw honesty deepens the practice far more than eloquent prose.

Step 6: Record Specific Requests

Vague prayers are hard to track. Instead of "bless my family," write "I'm praying for Mom's recovery from surgery" or "asking for wisdom about the job decision." Specific entries let you clearly see answered prayers later.

Step 7: Review Regularly

Set a monthly or quarterly review to reread old entries. Circle or highlight answered prayers. This practice — called "prayer journaling reflection" — is where the deepest faith-building happens. Seeing patterns of God's faithfulness builds trust.

The ACTS Method for Prayer Journaling

The ACTS framework is the most widely used structure for prayer journaling. It stands for:

The ACTS method works because it balances worship with petition. Starting with adoration and confession prepares your heart before bringing requests. Many prayer journals use this as a daily template.

50+ Prayer Journal Prompts

Use these prompts when you're not sure what to write. They're organized by category to match whatever season of life you're in.

Gratitude & Praise (10 Prompts)

1. What are three blessings from today that I might normally overlook?
2. Which person in my life am I most grateful for right now, and why?
3. What attribute of God have I seen most clearly this week?
4. Write about a time when God's timing was better than my own plans.
5. What aspect of creation fills me with awe today?
6. Name something difficult that turned out to be a hidden blessing.
7. Which answered prayer from the past year am I most thankful for?
8. What gift or talent has God given me that I sometimes take for granted?
9. What's one small joy from today that I want to remember?
10. Write a prayer of praise based on your favorite Psalm.

Confession & Surrender (10 Prompts)

11. What am I holding onto that I need to surrender to God?
12. Where have I let fear override my faith this week?
13. Is there a relationship where I need to seek forgiveness?
14. What habit or pattern do I need God's help to break?
15. Write about a moment where you chose your way instead of God's.
16. Where am I trying to maintain control instead of trusting God?
17. What negative thought pattern do I need to release today?
18. Is there someone I need to forgive, even if it's hard?
19. What area of my life feels too messy to bring to God? (Bring it anyway.)
20. Where have I been putting something else in God's place?

Intercession & Others (10 Prompts)

21. Who in my life is going through a difficult season right now? Pray for them.
22. Write a prayer for your closest family member.
23. Pray for someone you've been in conflict with.
24. Who is a leader (in government, church, or community) who needs prayer today?
25. Write a prayer for someone who doesn't yet know God.
26. Pray for your children's or future children's character and faith.
27. Who has helped me recently? Write a blessing over their life.
28. Pray for someone who is grieving or in pain.
29. Write a prayer for your pastor, mentor, or spiritual leader.
30. Pray for a stranger you noticed today — the cashier, the person on the bus.

Personal Growth & Guidance (10 Prompts)

31. What decision am I facing that needs God's wisdom?
32. Where do I sense God leading me that feels uncomfortable?
33. What would my life look like if I fully trusted God in this area?
34. Write about a Bible verse that has been on your heart this week.
35. What spiritual discipline do I want to develop in the next 90 days?
36. How is God shaping my character through my current circumstances?
37. What does God's voice sound like in my life? How do I recognize it?
38. What dream has God placed in my heart that I've been neglecting?
39. If I weren't afraid, what would I do for God's kingdom?
40. Write a prayer asking God to reveal your next step.

Seasons & Circumstances (10 Prompts)

41. Write a prayer for the new year (or season) ahead.
42. Pray about a financial concern you're carrying.
43. Write a prayer for healing — physical, emotional, or relational.
44. Pray about your work and how you can glorify God through it.
45. Write a prayer for patience during a season of waiting.
46. Pray about a fear that keeps resurfacing.
47. Write a prayer for your marriage or future spouse.
48. Pray over a goal you're working toward.
49. Write a prayer for peace in a situation you can't control.
50. Pray over your home and the atmosphere within it.

Scripture-Based Prompts (5 Prompts)

51. Read Psalm 23 and rewrite it in your own words for your current situation.
52. Choose a verse from Philippians 4:6-8 and write a prayer based on it.
53. Meditate on Jeremiah 29:11 — what plans might God have for you right now?
54. Read Romans 8:28 and write about a situation where you're trusting God to work things out.
55. Reflect on Proverbs 3:5-6 — where do you need to lean not on your own understanding?

Prayer Journal Templates

Here are three ready-to-use templates you can copy into your own journal:

Template 1: Daily ACTS Template

Template 2: Weekly Prayer Focus

Template 3: Answered Prayer Tracker

Prayer Journal Ideas: 12 Creative Approaches

Beyond the standard written prayer, here are creative ways to keep your prayer journal fresh:

1. Scripture praying. Copy a Bible verse and rewrite it as a personal prayer. Turn Psalm 91 into "Lord, I take refuge in You today..."
2. Prayer mapping. Draw a visual map with yourself at the center and people/situations you're praying for around you. Add lines connecting themes.
3. War room pages. Dedicate pages to long-term battles — health, finances, prodigal children. Revisit and update monthly.
4. Gratitude counting. Try writing 1,000 gifts (inspired by Ann Voskamp's approach). Number each entry and watch the list grow over months.
5. Letter to God. Write your prayers in letter format: "Dear God, today I need to tell You about..."
6. Prayer doodling. Combine drawing with prayer. Sketch while you pray and let the images represent your heart's cry.
7. Color-coded entries. Use different colors for praise (yellow), confession (red), thanksgiving (green), and requests (blue).
8. Prayer walks journal. Walk and pray, then journal your observations and what God spoke during the walk.
9. Sermon notes prayer. After church, write a prayer based on the sermon's main point and how it applies to your life.
10. One-word prayer days. Sometimes a single word is enough: "Help." "Thanks." "Heal." Write it and sit with it.
11. Digital prayer journaling. Use an AI journaling app like Life Note for guided spiritual reflection — it draws from the writings of 1,000+ of history's greatest minds, including spiritual leaders like Thomas Merton and C.S. Lewis.
12. Photo prayers. Tape a photo of someone or something into your journal and write your prayer around it.

Research: Benefits of Written Prayer

How to Organize Your Prayer Journal

A well-organized prayer journal helps you find past entries and track answered prayers. Here are proven organization methods:

• Chronological (day-by-day). Simply write the date and pray. This is the simplest approach and works well for most beginners.
• Tabbed sections. Create tabs for different prayer categories: Family, Work, Health, Spiritual Growth, Others. Write prayers in the relevant section.
• ACTS divided. Divide each entry into the four ACTS sections with headers. This ensures balanced prayer every time.
• Prayer list + journal hybrid. Keep a running prayer list at the front of your journal (with dates requested and dates answered), and use the rest for free-form prayer writing.
• Themed days. Assign themes to each day of the week (see the Weekly Prayer Focus template above). This prevents repetitive prayers and ensures broad coverage.

Digital Prayer Journaling

While many prefer the tactile experience of pen and paper, digital prayer journaling has unique advantages. You can search past entries by keyword, set reminders for prayer times, and access your journal anywhere.

AI-powered journaling apps take this further. Life Note, for example, offers spiritual reflection guided by the actual writings of 1,000+ mentors across 20+ disciplines — including theologians, philosophers, and spiritual leaders. Instead of generic prompts, you get personalized guidance drawn from the wisdom of Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, C.S. Lewis, and others. A licensed psychotherapist called the experience "life-changing."

Whether you choose paper or digital, the most important thing is consistency over format. A prayer journal only works if you use it.

Prayer Journal vs. Regular Journal

Many people keep both. Your regular journal captures daily life; your prayer journal captures your spiritual life. Some combine them into a single practice — writing to God about daily life is a valid hybrid approach. For beginners, our guide to starting a journal covers the basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you write in a prayer journal?

A prayer journal typically includes gratitude, praise, confession, specific prayer requests, scripture reflections, and notes on answered prayers. Use the ACTS framework (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) for a balanced approach. There's no wrong way to pray — write whatever is on your heart.

How do I start a prayer journal for beginners?

Start simple: choose a notebook, set aside 10 minutes per day, and begin with gratitude. Write 2-3 things you're thankful for, then one prayer request. Don't worry about format or eloquence — God cares about honesty, not grammar. Build the habit first, then add structure.

What is the ACTS method of prayer journaling?

ACTS stands for Adoration (praise God for who He is), Confession (acknowledge mistakes), Thanksgiving (express specific gratitude), and Supplication (present requests). It's the most popular framework for prayer journaling because it creates balanced, structured prayer time.

Can I use a digital app for prayer journaling?

Yes. Digital apps offer advantages like searchability, reminders, and accessibility across devices. AI-powered options like Life Note provide personalized spiritual guidance drawn from the writings of theologians and spiritual leaders. Choose whatever format helps you pray consistently.

How often should I write in my prayer journal?

Daily is ideal, but 3-4 times per week is enough to build a meaningful practice. Consistency matters more than frequency. Even five minutes of written prayer is more impactful than skipping because you don't have 30 minutes. Start with what's sustainable and grow from there.