My Top Ten Tips for Starting Your Journal

​So here is a very loose list of my top ten tips for writing a journal. 
I have just published  "Heavens Journal" in December 2019, in time for Christmas .
It is a beautiful book, covered in meadow flowers in bloom with snippets of my poetry throughout and scripture at the bottom of each page. There are places for prayer, and writing your own thoughts. It is here on the website for you to get a hold of.  It will make the most beautiful gift for friends and family who love to journal or who want to start.  www.jemorrisbooks.com 
Prepare your space
Invite the Holy Spirit in to sit with you, call on Him to bless your conversation, be very still and quiet and feel His presence. Read Psalm 46:10 before you start if you like. “Be still and know that I am God”
Shut your eyes. He will come to you if you ask Him. I used to imagine Jesus standing behind me with His hands on my shoulders and would wonder what it would be like to feel His breath on my hair.
Pray, either out loud or under your breath, He hears all, show your gratitude for who He is. Praise His name, show Him you love Him. Just worship Him – if it’s appropriate and you are alone, sing along with the music and imagine Him there looking into your eyes. His eyes show you how adored you are!
Also be aware that nothing you write will be a surprise to Him. He already knows you and understands your every need. He just wants you to give Him permission to help you. Having said all that, it is OK to just pick up your journal and write whenever the need arises.
I am so grateful that I had a mentor like my friend Christine Gear, she bought me to the Lord, and it was because of the journal that I have been able to share the poems that God dropped into my spirit on those wonderful mornings with Him over my first 7 years as a Christian. She went to be with her adored Jesus in June 2016. She is greatly missed. I pray that you will find peace and joy in writing your journal and that these poems will bless you. 
Jan’s Top Ten Tips 

1. Treat yourself to a lovely journal, it’s a special feeling to find the perfect one.
2. There is no time, place or day that is the right one. I was on my bed, at a window looking over the tops of trees, almost every morning.
3. Have Christian music playing in the background or if it’s noisy where you are, use earphones to listen to the music.
4. Write whatever comes to mind – no matter how haphazard or off topic it seems, it's all relevant.
5. There is no subject that you can’t write or ask about, pray that something will be revealed, that you will receive a revelation.
6. Don’t hold back. No-one but God will read this. It’s a safe place to unburden and cry out to Him, wait for Him to respond.
7. Remember this is also for your happy things, write about the good stuff that you are grateful for, thank Him for His grace and love.
8. Stop writing and go back and read what you have written. Often the answer will come, you may even see it in your writing already.
9. Don’t force yourself to write a certain amount, some days it may be several pages others just a few lines. He doesn't mind. He just loves being  with you.
10. Make it a personal conversation. Be aware of who you are communicating with, talk to Him, as well as write.

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