Faith and Soul Care | Grow Closer to God | How To Find Joy In Life Again | Spiritual Growth | Biblical Counseling | Christian Mindfulness

How does keeping a weekly Reflection Page in a prayer journal move us more towards a life of purpose and joy? This is part 2 of How Prayer Journaling Transforms Us; and today I want to share with you about writing down weekly reflections, specifically reflecting on areas where you are struggling and how you can take those struggles over to God. 

 

Resources Mentioned:  

Prayer Journal designed by Sherry:  https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Reflection-Journal-Gospel-Learning/dp/B0DTSWNN53

Women's Connection Cohorts: https://sherryelaine.com/cohorts

 

I am going to share some of my own use of these Weekly Pages.  For the first week of February, my reflection was this:

"I am tired, stressed, and unmotivated for no good reason."

For whatever reason, early February hit, and that’s exactly how I felt—tired, stressed, and unmotivated, and I was struggling with being in that space. But then, there’s also a place in the journal to write down a biblical truth that speaks into your struggle.

So I wrote: Jesus told us that every day has its own trouble. Of course, I had a lot of stress built up. And then, in my little nerdy self, I calculated: If I’ve been alive for this many years, how many days of trouble have I had? Turns out, I’ve had over 19,000 days of trouble in my life!

So of course I’m feeling tired, stressed, and unmotivated for no good reason, because that is what living each day in this crazy world tends to bring you – unless – unless – you are living intentionally and being mindful of caring for your mind and your soul

Resources Mentioned:

Prayer Journal Designed by Sherry Elaine:   https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Reflection-Journal-Gospel-Learning/dp/B0DTSWNN53

Women's Connection Cohorts Notification:  https://sherryelaine.com/courses

 

The Importance of Writing Down Prayers

If we don’t write down our prayers, we often forget what we prayed for. And if we forget what we prayed for, we may not recognize when God answers.

For example, let’s say I prayed, Lord, please protect me from getting sick this month. Then life gets busy, and I forget I even prayed that. A month later, I look back and realize—wow, I didn’t get sick! That was an answered prayer. But without writing it down, I might have completely overlooked God’s faithfulness in that moment.

Prayer journaling helps us see patterns, too. You begin to notice:

• Some prayers are answered quickly.
• Some take time.
• Some are answered in ways you never expected.

And you also begin to see the truth of what the Bible tells us: If we pray according to His will, He hears us and answers us.

When God Says No

Of course, not every prayer gets a “yes.” In the past two months, I’ve had about three prayers where the answer was clearly no. One of them involved an important decision I had to make. And while I may not fully understand why yet, I trust that God’s no was for my good.

Looking at my journal, I can see how often God has been faithful, even in the times when the answer was different than what I hoped for. And this is why keeping track of your prayers can be so powerful—it strengthens your faith and gives you confidence in God’s timing and wisdom.

Focusing on another key word: meno, which is deeply connected to abiding in joy through Christ.

Jesus said in John 15:9-11:

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."

That word remain is also translated as abide—the Greek word meno.

The Greek word meno means to stay, dwell, or continue. It is an active and ongoing process. However, it’s not about striving harder to be with Christ or trying to accomplish more for Him. Instead, it’s about resting in His love and staying connected to Him in our daily lives.

Notice that Jesus connects abiding with joy. He doesn’t say, “Try harder, do more, and you’ll eventually find joy.” Instead, He tells us that true joy is a natural outcome of abiding—of remaining—of staying close to Him.

 

Big Announcement:

Women's Online Connection Cohorts are beginning! This will be an unprecedented and transformative small group opportunity. Go to:

http://www.sherryelaine.com/cohorts and sign up for email notifications to get the information on the Women's Connection Cohorts. Additionally, then BE SURE to check your email and your spam/junk folder to CONFIRM your opt-in to this notification list. 

Sherry's Featured Books on Amazon: https://www.sherryelaine.com/books

Prayer Journal Designed by Sherry for Gospel Life Learning: Prayer and Reflection Journal

Main Site:  http://www.sherryelaine.com

Blog Site: http://www.gospellifelearning.com

 

Resources Mentioned:

Prayer Journal Mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Reflection-Journal-Gospel-Learning/dp/B0DTSWNN53

 

Women's Connection Cohorts:  http://www.sherryelaine.com/cohorts

Read all Faith and Soul Care podcast transcripts at  http://www.gospellifelearning.com

Book: Closer to God: Simple Method's Starting Today https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ

Book: Words of Jesus Bible Study: 10 Weeks on Christ's Teachings https://www.amazon.com/Words-Jesus-Bible-Study-Teachings-ebook/dp/B00HQ5NLYE

All Books on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6

 

Let’s explore how the Greek words phroneó and ménō reveal the key to living intentionally with a heart anchored in God’s truth and joy.

The Greek Word Phroneó—Setting Your Mind with Focus

Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

That phrase, set your minds, comes from the Greek word phroneó, which means to have a mindset or to direct your thoughts intentionally. This isn't a passive practice. It’s an active, deliberate focusing of our mental and emotional energy on eternal truths rather than on the temporary distractions or upsets that occur throughout our day.

One way I implement this practice is through weekly reflection. I write down what I’m struggling with—whether it’s a difficult situation or a negative thought pattern. Then, I find a Scripture verse that directly speaks to that struggle, and I make it my verse of the week to meditate on and pray over.

In the prayer journal I recently designed, there’s a weekly page dedicated to this type of reflection.

Today, we are diving into the topic of living with intention—living with intention to find joy in life and to enjoy life day by day. This is a biblical perspective.

| Ephesians 5:15-17 | Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 Exegesis

Have you ever found yourself just going through the motions? Maybe days or even weeks just blur together—just routines and obligations—a rut but no sense of purpose or joy in your days. Today, we're going to explore what Scripture says about living intentionally. And I'm not talking about just being productive or just setting goals, but intentionally seeking and finding the joy in life that God wants for us.

Big Announcement:

Women's Online Connection Cohorts are beginning! This will be an unprecedented and transformative small group opportunity. Go to:

http://www.sherryelaine.com/cohorts and sign up for email notifications to get the information on the Women's Connection Cohorts. Additionally, then BE SURE to check your email and your spam/junk folder to CONFIRM your opt-in to this notification list. 

http://www.sherryelaine.com

http://www.gospellifelearning.com

Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans

This episodes answers these questions: What Is the Soul? What Is the Greek Word for Soul? How Do We Care For Our Soul Biblically? There are three main ways the Bible instructs us to care for our souls. 

Websites and Resources mentioned in this episode:

Go to sherryelaine.com and go to the Free Resources tab or the Cohorts tab to fill out the quick form get on our email notification list. You will then receive a free download of the new Prayer and Reflection Journal pages designed by Sherry to help you experience how using the journal can strengthen your prayer life and your faith, as well as generally give you a sense of purpose day to day.  You will also receive first notification for when the new Online Connection Cohorts for women become open for signing up! 

sherryelaine.com

gospellifelearning.com

 

In Greek philosophy in the time of Jesus and his disciples, logos when used in this context with origins (like it is being used here – arche (origins) and logos –it was referring to a principle - whatever it was - that was the organizing principle of the universe. Think of it as the force and reasoning behind creation—that holds everything together. Logos was used in this manner going back at least to Heraclitus, 500 years BC, who used it to refer to the order and sustaining of the cosmos. Logos continued to be used in this way across the centuries and it was present in writings Philo – a Jewish philosopher – who lived at the same time of Jesus and his disciples. One of the definitions of logos in a more general sense meant the “expression of thought,” and it conveys purposeful, active, organizational thinking and reasoning, and planning.

http://www.sherryelaine.com

http://www.gospellifelearning.com

Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans

 

The word Holy seems to be used everywhere in reference to people, places, or things related to the religion and faith. The Greek word for holy is hagios. Hagios means holy. But what does holy mean? I know when I first think of something being holy, I envision a picture or vision of something glowing and radiating out golden rays of light, pure and undefiled and sinless, or if in reference to a human,someone who you would be “shocked” to find out they had committed a major sin. You know – the holy people among us! But what does it mean when, in the New Testament, in 1st Peter 1, for example – where I was reading this week. When we are taught that we, as believers and as followers of Christ – that we are to be holy? And not just that one day we are going to be perfected and holy and pure in God’s kingdom, but that we are to be holy now? And not just when times are good, but when times are really bad. The letter from Peter was written to Christians who had been scattered and exiled and were under intense persecution. Can you imagine being beaten or imprisoned or suffering at the hands of Rome and Peter – of all the disciples – the very impulsive Peter - sends you a letter saying “Remember, Be Holy!”