Spend time before Easter Sunday reflecting on your relationship with Christ with these 40 Lenten Journal Prompts.
Photo by Mary Lentz
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Welcome friend. Today, I’m sharing 40 Lenten prompts. Lent is typically acknowledged by Catholics as the 40 days before Easter in the church’s liturgical calendar. For example, in the Catholic church, this is a time to give alms and we fast on Fridays (abstain from meat) to align ourself with sacrifice. This small sacrifice serves as a reminder of what Christ did for us.
I think this goes beyond doctrinal differences of Christians. The forty days before Easter is also a good time to reflect on the health of your relationship with God.
Journaling
I love journaling. I’ve been doing it for years and really feel like it’s a beneficial tool of introspection. First, journalling helps document where you are emotionally and spiritually at a given time. Next, it serves as a timeline, gracefully depicting an arc of your emotional growth. Once you become accustomed to journaling, I know it will become a great tool for self-therapy.
Additionally, if you’d like more ideas for journaling, please read my other posts:
All you need to get started is a notebook and pen. If you hate writing, don’t worry. There are plenty of digital options these days. Day One, for example, is a great digital diary that even allows you to post photos with your writing and is available in the cloud for all your devices.
Lenten Journal Prompts
How can you help your spouse become closer to God?
What do you feel God wants you to change?
How can you help your children become closer to God.
Describe a recent situation where God was clearly present.
What verse gives you comfort in hard times and why?
How can you better serve God?
What do you need to leave at the cross?
Who or what needs forgiving?
For what are you asking God?
With what do you need patience?
Name three things you are grateful for this week.
About what are you most fearful?
What does the cross mean to you?
What mysteries do you wish you knew?
Delight in the Lord and give praise.
How can you better serve others?
Which bible character inspires you most and why?
How can you be a better steward with money?
Describe a prayer God has answered recently.
Which deceased friend or family member are you still grieving? Which bible verse give you the most comfort?
Who do you find hard to love and how can you pray for them?
How can you become more humble?
Have you ever evangelized? How did you feel doing it?
What is your favorite verse in scripture and why?
How can you make time for more prayer?
Of the gifts of the spirit, which do you most like to possess and why?
Describe a time God answered your prayer in a better way.
In what situation do you need to praise God instead of complain? Why do you find it so hard?
We all have a role to play in God’s world. What do you think your purpose is?
The enemy loves to attack our joy and hope. Where do you feel like you’re being attacked and how will you fight back?
Give thanksgiving.
What does “following Christ” mean to you?
When you reflect on your life, what hard time are you most grateful for?
When do you feel God most distant?
Why do you love God?
From what do you need healing?
Write a prayer for your enemy (I know this is a hard one).
Confess something to God.
For what God-given gifts are you most grateful?
How do you think God sees you?
Before You Leave
I hope these forty lenten journal prompts help you understand your relationship with Christ better. Lastly, don’t forget to pin this post, so you can use this year after year.
At least once a month, I post a Christian themed post, usually rooted in Bible study. Finally, I invite you to join me by subscribing to my blog so you never miss a post. Thanks for reading.
Looking for a new way to spend some spiritual quiet time? Try these Christian journal prompts to help explore your Christian walk.
Spiritual Journaling
Hello friend. I hope you’re having an awesome day. Today, I’m sharing some Christian journal prompts that I hope will help you fine tune your relationship with Christ. These are some of the topics I’ve written about in my own journal this past year.
I like to think of Christian journal prompts as a personal assessment about your spiritual life. So many times we are just trodding along not even realizing they we are off track somewhere. Using these journal prompts help me to stop and evaluate just where I am on my spiritual walk.
I will add one disclosure though. The Bible should be your guide through this. My degree is in Psychology and journaling can often be associated with that because Psychology is all about finding answers within yourself. But that isn’t what I’m promoting. I’m asking you to listen for God’s voice with scripture as your guide. Personally, I like to pray before I do spiritual journaling. Ask God to reveal His will for your life and ask Him to impart wisdom. If you enjoy this post, you may also enjoy my post, Bible Study Journal Prompts which is more scripture focused.
Christian Journal Prompts
Describe a time in your life where God has rescued you. Do you believe He’ll do it again?
Write a scripture that brings you peace. What is God saying to you?
Describe a time where you believed God spoke to you.
Write a prayer of surrender to God.
How can you be bold and courageous for the Lord.
Be still. What is God telling you now?
How can you serve God better?
How can you be a light to others in a dark world?
Describe a time when God used a bad situation for your good.
What do you feel God is asking you to change?
What do you imagine heaven will be like?
When do you feel most distant from God?
How are you hurting others with your pride?
Ecclesiastes tells us there is a season for everything. What season are you in right now?
Write out the lyrics of a Christian song or hymn that brings you joy.
Write a scripture that brings you joy. How can you apply it to your life?
Describe a blessing that happened this week.
Write a Psalm of worship to God.
Do you find it hard to apologize? If so, why?
The bible specifically speaks of joy, not happiness. In what way are they different?
Are you self-righteous about something? What can you do about it?
What are the character attributes you think a Christian should have?
When you get offended by something how does your pride react?
Pick a bible character. What can we learn from his/her life?
What do you need to confess to God?
Write a letter of forgiveness to an enemy.
Is there something that you haven’t forgiven yourself for? How can you receive the healing of the Lord?
Write 5 scripture verses that make you feel strong and courageous.
What does forgiveness look like?
If you are struggling though something, what do you think God wants to you to learn?
List all the needs God is currently meeting.
What do you love most about your church family?
What does God say about pride (see the scriptures)?
Describe someone in your life who exemplifies humility.
What are your God-given gifts and talents? How can you use them to advance the Kingdom?
Who or what do you need to forgive?
Before You Go
Don’t forget to PIN this post for later. Also, take a look at some of my other scripture related posts.
Courage is faith in action. We are called to step out in faith, regardless of opposition. Please join me for August Scripture Reading: Courage.
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Courage
I need courage. I’m terrified at failing at this blog. Deep down, I wonder if I’m tough enough to handle all the crazy curveballs parenthood throws. Did I ever mention that my marriage to Dan is actually my second marriage? Yup, my first marriage failed after he left me for another woman. I get sick to my stomach if I entertain the possibility of this one ever failing. Here is another big secret – I’m in the market for a new mom tribe, but too scared to actually go out and make friends. Right now, my husband is unemployed and I don’t work. God has promised us a job and we are trusting in Him to provide. I need courage.
Then there is the courage we need out in the world. Right now our culture is rapidly descending. Truth is being assaulted in every facet of society. The church has always been charged with proclaiming truth into the world and this moment is no different. Christians who understand Biblical truth are going to be persecuted here in the West. Christians will need the courage to stand up against “cancel culture.”
We all have things that we either too scared to set out and do or situations that leave us cowered in a corner. We need courage. Well, we’re blessed because Christ provides it. The bible is full of examples of courage.
Joshua & Caleb
One of my favorite stories about courage in the bible is about Joshua and Caleb, two of the twelve spies sent to scout the promise land. Here we find the people of Israel, they’ve been led out of Egypt and finally they found themselves at the threshold of their new home. The spies came back with a report and proof of plentifulness of the land. “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is the fruit.” There was just one catch. The current inhabitants were formidable and giant. “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so were in their sight.”
That was all the people of Israel needed to hear. They immediately became despondent and began to whine and complain. After all they had suffered they were overwhelmed by the thought of having another obstacle in front of them. Even though God had promised to give them the land and victory, the Israelites began to rebel. Only Joshua and Caleb remained faithful – and God was watching.
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors.
God ordered that all the non-believers over the age of twenty to remain in the wilderness. Those over twenty, along with Joshua and Caleb were permitted to enter. The disobedience of the Israelites cost them their promised land.
Choose Courage
I like to think of courage as the physical manifestation of faith. In other words, courage is faith in action. Throughout scripture God encourages us to “fear not” and ” be courageous.” He tells us “do not be discouraged.” Courage is how we obey those commands. Courage is not the absence of fear. It is feeling fear and doing it anyway.
It is important to understand that God never lies. God does not change (Malachi 3:6). Therefore, we can rest in His promises. I have learned in my Christian walk that courage and faith are daily choices. In other words, when fear starts to creep in and my mind begins to worry and dwell on negative outcomes, I must actively choose not to entertain it. I once heard a pastor say that worry is just negative meditation. Although our feelings of fear feel very real and overwhelming, we should remember that our feelings are not truth. The word of God is truth. This is why, when we are afraid it is so important to stay in the Word.
Fear focuses on ourselves. Courage focuses on Christ.
“When we can do nothing, Jesus can do all things.”
After the death of Christ, the apostles continued performing miracles in the name of Jesus. John and Peter are subsequently arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the very council of holy men responsible for crucifying Christ. First they are interrogated. Then the Sanhedrin forbade them from healing in the name of Jesus Christ. In holy courage, Peter and John stand up against the council and stand in faith refusing to stop. The Sanhedrin, faced with the healed man and a growing crowd of support for Peter and John, agree to release the apostles. As a Christian, you can expect to be told to stay silent or reject the teachings of Christ.
Of all heroes in scripture, I find Paul the most inspiring. Paul faced numerous threats of imprisonment (Acts 20:23, 21:11) and death (Acts 20:3, 23:12-14) and refused to yield. In fact, Paul wrote about half the New Testament imprisoned, surrounded by a sewer. During his imprisonment he even dared to evangelize to his captors (Acts 23:1-10, 24:21-26, 26:32, 28:30-31). Regardless of circumstances, he reminds us we are “more than conquerors.” This kind of steadfast courage is not generated by the flesh, but rather manifested by the Holy Spirit.
Pray everyday for God to bless you with holy courage.
Courage & Conviction
Don’t think that persecution was only in the time of Christ. Christians today are facing immense opposition. The world (society at large) will always try to promote and normalize sin. Christians should not only remain obedient to God’s word but continue to speak truth into the world. However, this is both unwelcome and unpopular. Christians can expect to ridiculed, humiliated, ostracized, and mocked for our beliefs. In these moments, we will have to find holy courage to remain convicted. Jesus told us that most of the world is fleshly and on a path to destruction. Doing the right thing is a lonely road. Most of the world, won’t agree with you.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
When we endure humiliation or persecution for His sake, we should remember that we have the great reward of heaven. Earthly persecution is temporary.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10
How to Use This Scripture Reading
First, please do not take these scriptures out of context. Context means that you read only this verse and apply meaning to it. Rather, take a moment and start reading at the beginning of the chapter. Instead, you’ll focus on these verses, but within the context of the text. Here are some things to ask yourself when studying scripture:
Who wrote the text?
To whom is the writer speaking?
Who is involved in the verses?
What are the cultural and historical contexts?
Why did the author write the book?
What themes stand out?
When was this written?
What does this text say about God and His character?
What does the text say about man’s sin nature, character, or condition?
How does this fit into the big picture of scripture / the Bible? (Fall of man, salvation, sanctification)
