A prayer and fasting journal helps us to remember the details of each unique fasting experience. It is a place to record plans, prayers, thoughts, revelations and meditations before fasting, during fasting and even after the fast has ended.
The prophet Habakkuk recorded the words of Yahuah in Habakkuk 2:2:
And Yahuah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Yah’s words to the prophet are as relevant to today as when he recorded them thousands of years ago. Human nature has not changed. Without diligent care, it is easy to lose sight of where we are going and how far we have come. In moments of discouragement or even doubt, it is important to not forget.
Remembering greatly helps us to press forward. We advance rather than retreat to past habits and bondages. A prayer and fasting journal practically helps us actively consider what Yah has done in us, for us and through us.
In this post, I share 7 benefits of using a prayer and fasting journal. I have also included a free Prayer and Fasting Journal to download. These ideas are not exhaustive. Use them as you like as a support. Also, please comment below and share ways that you use a prayer and fasting journal.
Journaling before Fasting
1. Journaling to Answer, “Why?”
A prayer and fasting journal helps us record our reasons for each of our fasts. It helps us to stay focused on the “why” of fasting. We think about what motivated us to begin. This gives us insights into our journey and spiritual growth. Over time, we may begin to see patterns emerge.
The reasons for fasting in the Bible are varied, but are usually clearly seen. Here are Bible verses that show the common reasons. There may be more than these. As you encounter fasting in the Bible in other places, think about the reason that motivated the person to fast.
2. Journaling to Answer “Who?”
A prayer and fasting journal helps us clearly see and know who the focus of our fasts is. This helps motivate us to continue.
Fasting is not easy (at least not for me). When our flesh and the fridge are longing to reunite, knowing for whom we fast helps us postpone the flesh/fridge reunion. Revisiting our prayer and fasting journal to see and therefore remember the “who” of our fasts is a great help. We broaden our perspective beyond the present moments of difficulty.
Yahusha is a perfect example of how knowing who helps us to keep going and endure.
Looking unto Yahusha the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.
Hebrews 12:2
Yahusha knew beyond a doubt who he died for. His clear mission helped him see beyond the pain of the cross. He submitted to the Father’s will because he was singularly focused on us, mankind. He joyed in seeing our benefiting from his sacrifice even before we were born thousands of years beyond that day.
Will we give into hunger and trade the joys of breakthrough, deliverance, growth, insight, revelation, restoration for a piece of bread? When we are tempted to give in, to quit, we can revisit our prayer and fasting journal to see who we are fasting for. Following the example of our Messiah, we focus on the joy set before us as well. The joy that we see by faith.
This chart gives some ideas to answer the question, “For whom am I fasting?” It shows some instances in the Bible where the “who” of fasting is clearly seen. Some references overlap into more than one column.
3. Journaling to Proactively Plan
A journal helps us proactively plan for various situations and daily responsibilities before we begin to fast and pray. We think about the practical aspects that continue even while we fast. The Bible does not give us details of what various ones did before they fasted.
However, I cannot imagine Moses going up the mountain for 40 days to fast without putting in place provision and procedures for the care of the Children of Israel (Ex. 34:28).
On the other hand, some fasts are more spontaneous as in the case of Esther and Israel (Est. 4:16). There was imminent danger and they needed Divine intervention and a miraculous breakthrough. There could not have been as much time to plan before fasting. Yet, I believe that even in her haste, Esther made some plans and provisions for the continuance of daily responsibilities as queen of Persia.
As much as possible, we plan before fasting. Of course, plans are not written in stone, but are valuable nonetheless even if tweaked for unforeseeable changes. Daniel gives us an example of the power of proactively planning before encountering a present situation. He resolved in his heart what he would do before he encountered his situation in Babylon.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Daniel 1:8 emphasis added
Daniel made the choice in his heart and mind to obey Yah’s laws before he was presented with the mandate to eat the unclean “foods” of Babylon. He did not have to scramble around at the last moment to muster up the courage to obey Yah. He knew what he would do beforehand.
Here are some general areas to possibly plan for in a prayer and fasting journal. Let me say, that should we come short of anything that we write in our journal, it is not a cause for thoughts of condemnation. There is no need to stop fasting altogether. Paul used the word press in Philippians 3:14 to describe his life’s journey. Just press forward in fasting.
Journaling during Fasting
5. Journaling While Fasting
Writing during our fasts uses the majority of the space in a prayer and fasting journal. What is Father by His Ruach Qodesh is speaking? What revelation, inspiration or insights are you gleaning from His Word during this time? What Bible verses or passages are particularly meaningful to you during each fast? What is He prompting you to repent of?
Perhaps you want to record your prayers. We can record dreams we have while fasting. There are many more possibilities for journaling while fasting. We write according to our personal journey.
Journaling after Fasting
6. Journaling Praise and Thanksgiving
Our expectations are high before and during your fasts. This should be equally so after the fast has ended. A prayer and fasting journal is an excellent way to record what Yahuah has done and continues to do in the days, weeks, months, and years after the fast has ended.
There is a saying that I heard when in the church. It said something like this:
He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time.
Yah is not on our time schedule. He answers prayer according to His sovereign will, according to His times and seasons. As you know, this is not always immediate. A prayer and fasting journal gives us a single place to return to record our thanks. Yah is pleased when we take the time to thank Him.
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Yahusha, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified Yah, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Yahusha answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to Yahuah, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Luke 17:12-19
Ten lepers were cleansed, but only one was made whole. Yahusha made note of him. He was the only one out of the ten that returned to thank Yahusha and to worship him.
After the fast is over, we return to our journal to write our prayers and praises of thanksgiving to the Father for what He has done. The journal is one place to keep our follow-up writings organized.
7. Journaling Saves Time
A prayer and fasting journal saves us time. Writing is an important part of our walking before the Father. With or without a prayer and fasting journal we will inevitably write down insights, thoughts, dreams and revelation and so forth. Even if it is on a napkin in a restaurant or a single piece of paper.
We could utilize electronic options, but personally I am remain partial to physical pen and paper. Though recording the journey is wonderful, finding a specific page on random pieces of paper can be time consuming.
Personally I have flipped through notebook after notebook after notebook to find what I was searching for. While doing this, I may come across a different writing that catches my attention. I will read it instead and stop looking for the original information.
A prayer and fasting journal solves this problem. It provides a single place to record and to reflect upon times of prayer and fasting. We know to only look in the fasting journal(s) and not another notebook.
Fasting and prayer is a great spiritual discipline sanctioned by the Creator and practiced and recorded throughout the Bible. A prayer and fasting journal provides us with one place to record our prayer and fasting journey as well.
Are you currently using a journal specifically for prayer and fasting? Please share how you use a journal in your times of prayer and fasting? Also, do you have additional ideas for using a journal for prayer and fasting?
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