Three years ago for Christmas, I received a blank journal. Instead of adding it to the stack of empty notebooks that I already had accumulating, I decided to make something out of it. I started a prayer journal, following suit after my best friend. She told me she had kept one for years, writing in it daily.

At the time, she had completed enough to fill a whole bookshelf. Her whole body always lights up when she gets to talk about her prayer journals. The differences she told me they made translated to every part of her being. There existed a noticeable difference between she and I, in our demeanor and the way we live our lives. The moment she introduced me to her secret, there was nothing I wanted more than to reach that point of spiritual fullness in my own life.

Now lets back up for a minute. A number of you reading are probably wondering what a prayer journal even is -- it's exactly what it sounds like it is. As a dream journal contains the happenings of our crazy brains at night and a diary contains the happenings of our crazy brains during the day, a prayer journal contains the happenings of our hearts at all times. A prayer journal is basically a book of letters, each addressed to Jesus. It is a place to document anything and everything you have to say to God and a place to witness growth and transformation in your own life.

I kept up with my first journal intermittently for about two years, in good seasons writing every day for weeks, but usually updating just several times per month, or sometimes going even months without writing anything. I have been writing almost daily since June of this year and my, how I've witnessed the Lord at work in my life. Every so often, I flip back through my journals and am overcome with the spirit of the Lord's faithfulness. Reminiscing on what I asked of Him and seeing now how He responded is the most humbling and assuring experience. I have been closer to and more in tune with God in the past months than I have been in my entire life. My journals mirror my spiritual life. How much I've been writing in my journal reflects my closeness to Jesus at that time.

My prayers in these journals consist of anything and everything. I pray about my future, for God to provide me wisdom and guidance. I pray for my friends, for God to work in their lives as He works in mine. I pray for safety. I pray for help in decision making. I pray for motivation. I pray God speaks to me through every platform I have. When I go through seasons of doubt, worry, and darkness, I cry out to Jesus and ask for the comfort and peace I know can be found only in Him. When I'm going through seasons of success, love, and joy, I praise and thank the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness.

I have seen tremendous changes in myself as a result of writing a simple letter each day. My outlook on life is much more positive, my confidence has grown astronomically, and my attitude towards others is one of humility rather than superiority. I've learned to put my trust in the Lord in every aspect of my life and to have faith that He will carry me. The me who writes these letters is literally a different person than the me who didn't bother to do so. Though I still have so much growing and learning to do, I could not be more proud of the person God has shaped me to be through these letters to Him.

I do all this because I know we serve a patient God. We serve a God who cares about us intimately, loves us infinitely, and wants to know and listen to every intricate detail of our lives. The Lord's heart rejoices when I choose to bring my life to Him. Even if I pray for things God knows He'll have to say no to, He loves to hear my prayers. I do this because I choose Jesus. I choose Him every day and I want to share the joy, peace, and belonging that I have found in Him. I want everyone to know the wonders of our Lord and to see them firsthand as I have more times than I could ever deserve.