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Recording the Journey: An Interactive Journal

for Short-term Missions

Steve Moore

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Recording the Journey: An Interactive Journal for Short-Term Missions

Steve Moore

Introduction: Journaling and Short-term Missions

What does keeping a journal have to do with a short-term mission experience? If the leader of your team put this manual into your hands and you haven’t yet verbalized that question, the thought has probably crossed your mind. It’s a logical question. Mission teams tend to stimulate images of active ministry—passing out tracts, constructing structures, sharing an evangelistic drama, or giving your testimony through an interpreter. Journaling is the process of quiet reflection—early morning walks, an afternoon in a park, or a well-deserved rest at the top of a mountain. How are these two concepts—active ministry and quiet reflection—connected?

Journaling is a helpful aid to spiritual formation during your pilgrimage toward intimacy with God, but this is especially true while serving on a short-term mission trip. Why? Because the circumstances of most short-term missions teams overlap the times in our life when journaling is most beneficial. Consider the following three examples.

Journaling is especially beneficial when the pace of life is unusually accelerated. Most short-term mission team members have a heightened level of schedule-related stress. When an already busy life is pushed to another level of intensity there is great value in the momentary respite journaling provides; it will require a proactive commitment to regular journaling. Consistency in recording your journey will provide daily anchor points from which you can maintain perspective and keep your focus.

Journaling is especially beneficial when we are faced with a barrage of new experiences or ideas. There is a difference between routine busyness and busyness that breaks new ground. Short-term mission teams function at an accelerated pace. They often include a host of new experiences and ideas. It is not uncommon for team members to face more new experiences in one day than they have for the entire month before their trip. When faced with so many new, rapid-fire experiences, we become more like sieves than nets, allowing valuable lessons to pass through our lives without registering their full effect. Journaling allows us to capture and document these new experiences, preserving them for our reflection, processing, and integration at a later date. When you utilize the Walking with Jesus for the Long Haul debriefing manual, in conjunction with this journal, you will see (and reap) the true rewards of recording your mission experience.

Journaling is especially beneficial when we are pushed out of our comfort zone for extended periods of time. Serving on a short-term mission team can diminish our sense of being in control. It is common for team members to give up a measure of privacy, the ability to communicate effectively, and a sense of ease about knowing the right way to do the most basic tasks. Many team members find themselves doing things they have never done before in a culture they do not fully understand. Put it all together and you have the consummate out-of-the-comfort-zone experience.

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Journaling provides a place of safety where we can process and evaluate not only what we are doing, but what we are learning and how we feel about it.

There are at least three reasons—and perhaps others—your short-term mission experience will have a greater, more positive impact on you over the long haul if you keep a journal. Even if you have never journaled before, or never do so again, taking the time to journal now will prove to be beneficial. The experiences and thoughts you make note of in this journal during your mission will be a good reference for completion of the exercises suggested in the Walking with Jesus for the Long Haul debriefing manual you may be given when your mission trip is over.

A Personal Testimony

I took my first short-term mission trip in 1983. I traveled in a van with five other guys from Brussels, Belgium, through Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, and Greece into Turkey. My team leader was convinced everyone should keep a journal while on a short-term mission trip. He had given us his speech and though I listened respectfully, I wasn’t convinced. I had never kept a journal and wasn’t about to start.

The first night of our trip, after we settled into a youth hostel near the border of Austria and Yugoslavia, our leader came by to talk with me and my roommate for a few moments. He reminded us of the importance of keeping a journal and asked point blank if we had started. I didn’t want to be disrespectful, so rather than say I wasn’t going to do it, I simply said I hadn’t started yet. He told me “now is as good a time as any” and that he would wait for me to make an entry before he left the room.

I didn’t know what to think. But since he was twice my size, I made a practical decision to cooperate. I took out my Daytimer and wrote a few sentences outlining the basic events of that first day. That was all it took for me to get started. By the time the trip was over I was writing every day. I still have that journal. I made some of the most significant decisions of my spiritual journey on that trip and reading my first hand account has served as a benchmark for me ever since. I review one page of my journal from that summer nearly every year as a reminder of promises I made to God in the crucible of a life-changing experience.

I have to confess that I do not keep a journal of this nature on a regular basis. I sometimes wish I did. But I’m forever grateful for an overbearing team leader who pushed me to record my journey in the summer of 1983. I’m not sure what it will take to motivate you to embrace this process and record your journey. Yet if you do, I believe with all my heart that you will be glad you did.

Some Common Excuses

Having led and facilitated dozens of short-term teams over the years, I’ve heard a variety of excuses for why team members “could not keep a journal,” with most being thinly veiled explanations of why they didn’t want to rather than why they couldn’t. The following are some examples of common excuses:

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I can’t keep a journal because I’m not a good writer. While this sounds plausible enough, most of us are not gifted writers. On the other hand, the best way to improve your writing is to write. This could actually be a good reason FOR keeping a journal, but I'll leave that argument for your English professor! The fact is: Journal entries are private encounters that will never be graded. They're not about grammar, spelling, or punctuation. They're about communicating with yourself in a manner that best suits you. Editing for content is fine, but a basic rule of journaling is to never bog down the process with the rules of English. If you know how to put letters together to make words that make sense to you--you can journal.

I don’t need to keep a journal because I have a good memory. Perhaps you do. But there is a big difference between remembering what you did and how you felt about it verses the conclusions you draw and what you are learning as a result. That’s what keeping a journal will help you do better. As I review entries from some of my short-term mission experiences I am amazed at how much my memory betrays me. You’ll be surprised how a few years or even a few months from now, what you wrote in your journal will conflict with your recollection. But it’s not just the facts you are trying to keep straight. Ultimately, the journal entries will document how you felt about your experiences and what God was trying to teach you. Commitments you document in this format can become powerful stones of remembrance that re-ignite your spiritual fire years after the memories have dimmed.

I don’t need to keep a journal because I’m taking lots of pictures. Pictures are great. I hope they all turn out. But the question is: What are you taking a picture of? Scenery? Your fellow team members? National workers? The bathrooms? (Sorry to be so blunt but nearly every team I’ve taken has felt obligated to document this important aspect of the trip!!) My point is: Some things worth documenting from your trip will never have the camera pointed towards them. Your heart, for example. Journaling is the most effective means of capturing a snapshot of the inner wrestling of your soul. In this sense, a journal is an intimate picture album, documenting the important stages of your journey toward God. Take all the pictures you can of that inner journey—by writing in your journal.

I can’t keep a journal because I really don’t know what to write. Understandable. That’s all the more reason why you need to fully utilize this tool. Some people have a natural and reflexive ability to communicate their thoughts on paper, for others it’s a struggle. If you feel you fit in that second category, you will benefit most from the practical approach this manual uses to stimulate your reflective juices and creativity. If you find journaling to be second nature you may actually find this manual somewhat confining. Feel free to move beyond the suggested structure to your own free-flowing form if you sense the outline is holding you back.

I don't need to journal because I'll probably never use it again. Actually, you will be surprised how gratifying it is to relive your mission experiences by reading your journal entries. You will also find it a useful tool in composing your All Four One-One For All statement. (See Walking with Jesus for the Long Haul Debriefing Manual).

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I didn't journal because I know I don't have the self-discipline to be consistent. Journaling, like any good habit, takes intentional focus and effort at first, becoming easier the more you repeat the activity. Even if you document only a limited number of days, you will be glad you did.

I don't want to journal because I'm afraid to face what God may show me about myself. Most of us, like Jonah, have a fear of what God wants to do in our lives and are tempted to run from it. Have courage. Trust God to be your strength, your comfort, and your friend--as well as your teacher.

How to Use This Tool

This manual is organized into three basic sections: The first section, entitled “Journaling 101,” is geared to provide you with a basic understanding of the subject. It is not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of this important spiritual discipline but rather an instructional primer that can help jumpstart the process. Even if you are already experienced at journaling, I suggest you review this section and glean practical pointers. If you have never journaled before, you will benefit from working through the entire “Journaling 101” section carefully, seeking to apply as much as you can. Feel free to let your own style emerge as the process unfolds, but you will likely find it helpful to “paint by the numbers” for a while you develop your personal journaling habit.

The second section, “Interactive Journaling,” is subdivided into three daily components: “Reviewing a Classic,” “Responding to God,” and “Recording the Journey”. “Reviewing a Classic” involves reading a brief journal entry written by a person from church history. This component is designed to stimulate your heart and mind by reflecting on the experiences of others who have gone before you in the journey of faith. You will find these journal entries challenging and convicting. They will inspire you to go beyond mere surface-level issues as you make your own entries. You will see how other great men and women of God have wrestled with the circumstances of life and found the strength they needed to press on through honest communion with God.

“Responding to God” requires your interaction with a theme or idea introduced in the classic entry. Sometimes this will involve reading and meditating on a corresponding passage of Scripture. This should enable you to begin writing on a subjects beyond your own experience. Sometimes a simple exercise such as this primes the pump enough to overcome a paralyzing writer’s block.

“Recording the Journey” draws you into documenting your experience: How you feel about it, what God wants you to learn from it, and what, if anything, you should do differently because of it. For those who struggle with what to write, this interactive format is liberating. Others find themselves moving beyond these basic prompts to a more free-flowing expression.

Since most short-term mission trips are three weeks or less, the “Interactive Journaling” section includes twenty-one sets of the three daily components: “Reviewing a Classic,”

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“Responding to God” and “Recording the Journey”. (If your trip is more than twenty-one days long, simply bridge from this manual to your own notebook on day twenty-two, and retain as much of the “Recording the Journey” format as you need to keep going.)

There are three weekly summary pages, one following each seven-day cycle. The weekly summary page helps you gain a big-picture perspective on the lessons God may be teaching you and the steps you want to take in response. They are also linked with the second book in the Short-term Mission series: Walking with Jesus for the Long Haul. This practical debriefing manual for short-term missionaries can be used as a stand-alone tool but is enhanced when combined with the Interactive Journal.

Some team members will find it helpful to begin each day by “Reviewing the Classic” and “Responding to God” as part of a daily quiet time. “Recording the Journey” would then be completed as the day unfolds or in one sitting before going to bed at night. Others will choose to interact with all three components together at the close of the day. Much of this is based on personal preference or the ebb and flow of the daily schedule.

The third and final section of this manual is entitled “Cultivating a Spiritual Habit”. This exercise may become a springboard to a longer-term involvement in journaling. If so, you will have discovered a bridge to recording your spiritual journey in the future, far beyond the context of a short-term mission trip.

I hope you are convinced that keeping a journal will greatly enhance your short-term mission experience. This manual will help you achieve that goal. Let’s get started with “Journaling 101”.

Section One: Journaling 101

The History of Journaling

Journaling is as old as humanity. From the earliest times the story of humanity was told and retold through oral tradition. This record of oral history, along with interpretive commentary, served as the primary means by which one generation communicated the issues of life with another. These oral traditions were like corporate journals. They let future generations know what happened in the past and helped them interpret its significance.

The Hebrew people kept a corporate journal. Eventually their story, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was written down in what we now call the Old Testament. But oral tradition continued as a primary means by which the values of future generations could be shaped. Consider the words of Asaph in Psalm 78:1-6:

My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old—what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for

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Jacob…which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

Most of us have been introduced to journaling through the works or writings of individuals. The Bible includes the personal and intimate reflections of individuals who recorded their experiences, thoughts and feelings in written form. King David left a wonderful legacy of his inner struggles and victories in the Psalms. There seems to have been a cathartic value to David’s writings as we observe powerful swings of emotion and perspective in the progression of even the shortest Psalms. In Psalm 13 David wrote:

Long enough, God—you’ve ignored me long enough.I’ve looked at the back of your headlong enough. Long enoughI’ve carried this ton of trouble,lived with a stomach full of pain.Long enough my arrogant enemieshave looked down their noses at me.

Take a good look at me, God, my God;I want to look life in the eye,So no enemy can get the best of meor laugh when I fall on my face.

I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—I’m celebrating your rescue.I’m singing at the top of my lungs,I’m so full of answered prayers.

The Message

Whether or not David would have perceived his writings as journal entries, they clearly represent the kind of honesty and straightforwardness that makes this exercise so beneficial for us today.

Beyond the pages of scripture we have numerous examples of diaries or journals from the history of the church. By at least one count, there are more than 9,000 in print today with countless others typed or written by people like you and me. Down through the centuries God has used these classic journals and diaries to provide us with windows into the souls of great men and women. Peering into the inner recesses of their lives by way of a journal allows us to observe their response to both failure and victory without pretense.

Seeing how believers in other generations have responded to criticism, conflict, accolades or applause can be of great value to us today. In many cases it is not only

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what they said in the safety or privacy of a journal entry but also what was happening in their lives when they wrote it that encourages us the most.

Such is the case with one of my favorite historical mentors, C.T. Studd. C.T. was born into a wealthy family. He was converted while a student at Cambridge and eventually went to China under the umbrella of China Inland Mission, founded by Hudson Taylor. He later served in India until ill health brought him back to England. In his early 50’s C.T. felt God had called him, ill health and all, to make one final missionary charge into the heart of unevangelized Africa.

He met with businessmen who had supported him in earlier mission endeavors. They offered support conditioned to the approval of a doctor. C.T. was examined. The physical assessment was not favorable and the support was withdrawn. He responded by saying, “Gentleman, God has called me to go, and I will go. I will blaze the trail, though my grave may only become a stepping stone that younger men may follow.”

Three weeks prior to his scheduled sailing date, C.T. was penniless, in ill health and rejected for service by those he loved. Yet, when the time came to sail, God made a way. With these facts as a backdrop, consider his words dated December 20, 1910, a few days after his journey to Africa began:

“Somehow God tells me all my life has been a preparation for this coming 10 years or more. It has been a rough discipline. Oh, the agony of it! The asthma, what has not that meant, a daily and nightly dying! The bodily weakness! The being looked down upon by the world folk! The poverty! And have I not been tempted? Tempted to stop working for Christ! Doctors! Relatives! Family! Christians! Who has not declared I tempted God by raising up, and going at it again? It has not been I, it has been Christ who has carried me through; I know it. And now the Hill is won. It is like Albuera—600 immortal British soldiers stood unconquerable on that fatal hill. Only this poor, weak worm of a creature that God has chosen to put into the fiery furnace and walk with Him, and bring him out again. And now! Ah, yes, He seems to be pouring health and strength into me, and burning, consuming desire to live, to live for Christ and men. Glory! Glory!”

Reading these passionate words written in the crucible of real life experience inspires us to press on in our own journey. Yet, the question should be asked, “Of what value was it to C.T. Studd to pen these words?” Few journals are written for the purpose of being read by others. No doubt we can and do benefit from them. But the initial and central value of journaling is found in the actual process of distilling one’s circumstances and feelings. Through journaling our words serve as containers in which we store up the treasures and trials of life itself.

Journaling provides a faucet through which the deep waters of the heart and soul may be tapped. It is a means by which we unearth a wellspring of perspective, reflection, and honesty before God. But we will only tap into the depths of these well springs if we have the proper tools and skills. So let’s turn our attention from the history of journaling to developing the art.

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Journal Functions

There is no right or wrong way to journal. The goal is to develop a system or method that serves you. It is helpful for me to think of the functions of journaling first, then deal with the format as an extension of that purpose. I have identified four basic journal functions that range from surface-level issues to more intimate ones including vulnerable self-evaluation. Let’s look at each one briefly.

1. Recording Function: The most basic definition of a journal is a daily record of occurrences or observations. When this record or journal includes a forward looking component such as a calendar, it may also perform a scheduling function. At some point in life nearly everyone has some means, beyond memory, of keeping track of their schedule. For some this takes the form of a leather notebook. For others it is a collection of post-it notes on the bathroom mirror. Regardless of the form, the function is the same. What works for me might not work for you. The calendar or planning function may stretch beyond what you would normally associate with journaling. That’s okay. My point is: The idea of keeping a journal by regularly documenting the issues of life as reflected by your schedule is something you have probably already done.

2. Reflecting Function: Anyone who has worked in a merchandising environment knows the importance of keeping track of inventory. Even if you have never worked in a store, you have probably had to weave your way through an aisle at one time or another to avoid the employees who were counting what they had in stock. The reflecting function of journaling involves keeping an inventory of life itself. It is merely looking over the record of what we have done and reflecting on how we used our time or interacted with people. It is the hindsight perspective that enables us to see our lives more objectively. The reflecting function of journaling helps us identify patterns in our lives, both good and bad, more efficiently connecting the dots between life experiences and the bigger picture God is drawing.

3. Prioritizing Function: If you are in the habit of making lists as a means of outlining what you want to do in a given day, you have probably noticed how much easier it is to rank items in order of priority after you have them all on paper. In the same way, journaling helps us sort out the issues of life based on what we see as most important. It helps us explicitly identify what we value most. The prioritizing function of journaling moves beyond merely scheduling or recording what we are doing. The fruits of the prioritizing allow us to go to a deeper level, assessing more effectively the relative importance of life’s activities based on our understanding of Scripture, our moral compass, and personal values. This, in turn, can help us make better scheduling choices in the future.

4. Processing Function: Ultimately a spiritual journal (rooted in dependence on God) can provide us with the focus we need to make sense out of life. But this fruit of journaling doesn’t grow overnight. Processing at this level “cooks” better in a crock pot than a microwave oven. One of my mentors used to say, “Experience is the best

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teacher; but if you can learn any other way, do it!” I have discovered that experience is the best teacher, but only if you consciously choose to learn from it. Journaling maximizes that choice. Over time we learn to answer questions like, “What should I do differently if I face this situation again? What conclusions should I draw from this experience? What Next Steps should I take if I am to grow in this area?” The evaluation process suggested in the Walking with Jesus for the Long Haul Debriefing Manual may help you implement the Processing Function.

Helpful Hints to Get You Started

Let’s get down to the basics of effective journaling. While these starter principles are of value to journaling in general, I am applying each of them specifically to the context of a short-term mission team.

1. Write something everyday. Somewhere on this trip you will undoubtedly find yourself in a state of overload and fatigue that would make it easy to justify skipping a day or two of entries. “I’ll catch up tomorrow” is repeated several days in a row until the thought of doing so becomes overwhelming. In my experience it would be better to write six words—“Rough day. Very tired. More tomorrow”—than nothing at all. There is something about the consistency of daily entries while on a short-term mission that is vital to building momentum. This is especially true for those who do not normally keep a journal. In the bigger picture of journaling (outside a short-term mission context) this principle would be better stated as follows: Write something on a regular basis.

2. Consider writing as if you were communicating with another person. The first journal I ever kept was during my courtship with my wife. She had not been able to travel with me to Europe as part of my short-term mission experience. I wanted very much to communicate with her all of what was happening. This led me to write each entry as if I were writing a letter to her, even though some aspects of the journal became so personal, I was unsure whether I would ever show them to her (I have since our marriage). But I continued to write as if it were to her. I have found this helpful in pushing me toward a more intimate style of writing. You may want to try out this technique. Some have even addressed their entries to Jesus. Of course, He knows your thoughts before you write them, but there is something about personalizing your entries that stimulates a more tangible awareness of His presence and facilitates an honesty of expression we may not otherwise achieve. While you may not want to do this with every entry, give it a try if you sense you are consistently moving to a superficial level in the journaling process.

3. Don’t be afraid of detail. Your memory is hardly ever as reliable as you think it is when referring to short-term mission experiences. The excitement of international travel, ministry opportunities and cross-cultural dynamics has a way of blurring the perceptual details of events. I find it helpful to include exact times, distances and other seemingly minor details to help me keep things straight. How big or small was the room in which we stayed? Write it down. How many people were at that open-air service, film showing, or church meeting? Write it down. What color were the

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outfits worn by the children in the orphanage? Write it down. How high did the temperature really get? Write it down. You get the picture.

4. Include as many of the senses as you can. Bring your thoughts to life by taking a few moments to document the full impact of your experience. What did something smell like? What sounds dominated your experience and what was their source? Describe colors. It's like turning on a movie camera and reliving the rich experiences you have recounted in your journal through your words.

5. Move beyond facts to include feelings. Give the same attention to detail with how you feel about what you experience as you do the experience itself. Be honest. Few short-term missionaries have to artificially paint a full rainbow of feelings. The experiences themselves tend to create a roller coaster that weaves and turns its way through the whole spectrum of emotions. Don’t invent them; document them. The deep-level processing that comes out of the journaling experience is in some ways linked to your ability to unveil the truest picture of your heart. Be as real as you can.

The ideas presented in this section have been helpful to others. I believe they can be of help to you also. But there is no replacement for taking out your pen or pencil and writing. If these principles do nothing more than give you the confidence you need to get started they will have more than served their purpose. So let’s get started with Interactive Journaling!

Section Two: Interactive Journaling

A blank piece of paper and a pen can be intimidating for the most experienced writer. For most short-term mission team members it is a classic recipe for a serious case of writer’s block! For that reason I have developed a three step process called Interactive Journaling. Let’s briefly review the three components shared earlier in the introductory section of this manual.

“Reviewing a Classic” involves reading a journal entry written by a person from church history. In some cases the entry is actually a letter or other writing that bears the distinctive feel and expression associated with a journal entry.

“Responding to God” continues your interaction with a theme or idea touched on in the classic entry. Sometimes this will involve reading and meditating on a passage of Scripture that corresponds with that theme.

“Recording the Journey” draws you into the actual process of documenting what you are experiencing, how you feel about it, what God wants you to learn from it, and what, if anything, you should do differently because of it.

I suggest you begin by working through “Reviewing the Classic” and “Responding to God” as part of a daily quiet time in the morning. Complete the “Recording the Journey” section as the day unfolds or in one sitting before you go to bed at night. Most of us find it helpful to create a rhythm or routine when it comes to maintaining consistency. But

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your schedule may make it difficult to establish a daily pattern. If your schedule or normal patterns suggest you would be better served by another approach, modify the plan as needed. The bottom line is: Doing it—Gets it done. Give other team members permission to hold you accountable in this area. And remember, it’s almost always better to write something each day, even if it seems incomplete, than nothing at all.

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Reviewing a Classic – Responding to God Day 1

About the author: David Brainerd was a missionary to the Indians in New York, New Jersey and parts of New England in the 1740’s. He died at age 30 having kept a detailed account of his personal spiritual pilgrimage and ministry in the form of a journal. Jonathan Edwards, a Congregationalist minister, later published Brainerd’s journal.

About the context: David Brainerd was 25 years old and fully engaged in his ministry to the Indians. He often spent extended times alone in prayer and worship, recording his experiences in his journal. Tuesday, June 15, 1742

“Had the most ardent longings after God that ever I felt in my life. At noon in my secret retirement I could do nothing but tell my Lord, in a sweet calm, that He knew I longed for nothing but Himself, nothing but holiness; that He had given me these desires and He only could give me the thing desired. I never seemed to be so unhinged from myself and to be so wholly devoted to God. My heart was swallowed up in God most of the day.

In the evening I had such a view of the soul being as it were enlarged, to contain more holiness, that it seemed ready to separate from my body. I then wrestled in agony for divine blessings; had my heart drawn out in prayer for some Christian friends, beyond what I ever had before.” (Edwards 1749)

Look up each of the following Scripture verses and note the basic thrust of the passage.

Psalm 63:1-2

Matthew 5:6:

Think of a time when you have been hungry or thirsty to know God. What triggered this spiritual desire?

What attitudes or behavior patterns stimulate your spiritual appetite?

Spend a few moments in prayer asking God to use this mission trip experience to cultivate your appetite for spiritual things. Ask Him to help you know the difference between faith and feelings. Claim the promise of Matthew 5:6 for today.

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Recording the Journey Day 1

1. List the major events and activities you participated in today.

2. Who were the primary people with whom you had a significant interaction today? (If they are new acquaintances, describe their physical characteristics, personality, how you met them, what you learned about them, et cetera.)

3. What important ideas or concepts came to your attention today? (How did you encounter them? How do they agree or disagree with your world view?)

4. What were the strongest emotions or feelings you experienced today? (What triggered them? Were they expressed openly or held inside?)

5. What spiritual lessons is God calling to your attention today? (By what means—Bible study, prayer, relationships, experiences…?)

6. What Next Steps, as defined in your debriefing manual, should you take, if any, based on this daily reflection?

7. What general comments or miscellaneous thoughts do you want to note today?

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About the author: David Brainerd - See Day 1

About the context: David Brainerd was 27 years old. He was already ill and only three years from his death. His urgency and passion to reach the Indians is clearly expressed in his journal entries.

Thursday, June 28, 1744

“Spent the morning in reading several parts of the Holy Scripture, and in fervent prayer for my Indians that God would set up His kingdom among them and bring them into His Church. About nine, I withdrew to my usual place of retirement in the woods and there again enjoyed some assistance in prayer. My great concern was for the conversion of the heathen to God and the Lord helped me to plead with Him for it. Towards noon, rode up to the Indians in order to preach to them. While going, my heart went up to God in prayer for them; could freely tell God he knew that the cause was not mine which I was engaged in; but it was His own cause and it would be for His own glory to convert the poor Indians. Blessed be God, I felt no desire of their conversion that I might receive honor from the world, as being the instrument of it. Had some freedom in speaking to the Indians.” (Edwards 1749)

Look up each of the following Scripture verses and note the basic thrust of the passage:

Psalm 115:1:

2 Corinthians 4:1-6:

David Brainerd believed the glory of God was at stake in world evangelization. He sought no glory for himself through his ministry to the Indians. In what situations are you most tempted to take credit for the results of your ministry?

What connection do you see between Brainerd’s selfless attitude and the fact God enabled him to pray and preach more effectively? What lessons can you learn from this for your ministry today?

Spend a few moments in prayer asking God to help you empty yourself of a desire to be recognized by man or to take credit for His work. Repeat the words of Psalm 115:1 in your prayer and meditate on them throughout the day.

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About the author: Corrie ten Boom was born in Holland in 1892. She founded a Christian organization for girls with members in Holland and Indonesia. When Germany invaded Holland in 1940 the ten Boom family was arrested; Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were taken to prison and later, to a labor camp. Betsie died in 1944 at the camp, shortly before Corrie was released.

About the context: These comments are from Betsie to Corrie during their time in the World War II prison camp. True to Betsie’s words, after Corrie was released, she spent over thirty years traveling the world, sharing her heart that God is our comfort in suffering and can set us free from even the deepest hatred and bitterness.

"Corrie," she said, "we must tell people how good God is. After the war we must go around the world telling people. No one will be able to say that they have suffered worse than us. We can tell them how wonderful God is, and how His love will fill our lives, if only we will give up our hatred and bitterness." (Sherril, Sherrill and ten Boom 1971)

Look up each of the following Scripture verses and note the basic thrust of the passage:

2 Corinthians 4:7-12:

2 Timothy 3:10-12:

When walking in obedience brings us face-to-face with inconvenience or even suffering, how should we respond?

What assurances do we have from God as we face suffering or persecution?

Spend a few moments in prayer asking God to help you endure hardship and embrace suffering when it surfaces on the pathway of obedience.

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About the author: Jonathan Edwards was converted at age 17 and became a prominent Calvinist theologian and philosopher. From the time he became a pastor of the church at Northampton, Massachusetts, until his untimely death, he played an important role in guiding the Great Awakening. He is known for the powerful message he preached during this time of renewal entitled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Edwards was born in 1703 and died in 1758.

About the context: unknown

Monday, February 3, 1724

“Let everything have the value now which it will have on a sick bed; and frequently, in my pursuits, of whatever kind, let this question come into my mind, How much shall I value this on my deathbed?” (Edwards 1749)

Look up the following scripture passages and note the thrust of each passage.

Psalm 119:72:

Luke 16:14-15:

Philippians 3:7-11:

There is an old saying that goes something like this, “He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.” What does that mean?

How do you think the reality of death or the perspective of eternity should shape your values and priorities?

What are the most influential forces you face that cause you to live by an earthly set of values?

What can you do to keep these forces in check and maintain a proper perspective?

Spend a few moments in prayer asking God to help you see where you need to make adjustments and how you can keep on track in the future.

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About the Author: Though her petition to serve as a missionary to the China Inland Mission was refused based on her poor health, Susan Norris Fitkin proved unstoppable in reaching hearts for Christ. Though plagued with various serious illnesses in her lifetime, she was founder and president of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society and active in preaching the word of God until her death in 1951.

About the context: Susan reflects on her calling to become a missionary:

“I awoke trembling and greatly moved, and was wondering what all it meant, when I became conscious of the divine presence. It was like a person standing beside my bed, and in an audible voice saying solemnly: ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature!’

I was astonished, for I was still an invalid, but at once I replied, ‘Oh, Lord, I will go, but you know how frail I am. You will have to take all the responsibility.’ He assured me that He would, and a great peace filled my soul. This was such a clear call I never doubted it.” (Cooley 1985)

Read the following scripture passages and note the biblical exhortations about your attitude in the face of adversity.

Philippians 2: 14-16:

James 1:2-4:

It has been said that attitude is everything when it comes to dealing with adversity. List all the reasons you 1) agree and/or 2) disagree with this statement?

There is a saying, “I can’t control what happens to me but I can control how I will respond.” How aware are you of your typical response (reaction) to a situation out of your control? List some of your negative reactions and then the actions you could take to modify and improve them.

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About the author: Jim Elliot was one of five missionaries killed by the Auca Indians in Ecuador in 1956. His journals were later edited – but not abridged – by his widow, Elizabeth Elliot.

About the context: In the fall of 1949, following his graduation from Wheaton College, Jim traveled to Portland with his family and stayed at home for a year. During that time he sought clear direction from God about where he was to serve.

October 24 - Hebrews 13

“I sense the value of good Christian biography tonight, as I have been reading Brainerd’s Diary much today. It stirs me up much to pray and wonder at my nonchalance while I have not power from God. I have considered Hebrews 13:7 just now, regarding the remembrance of certain ones who spoke the word of God, “considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.” I recall now the challenge of [Jonathan] Goforth’s Life and By My Spirit, read in the summer of 1947, the encouragement of Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret and Growth of a Soul. There are incidents which instruct me now from the reading of J.G. Paton’s Biography in the New Hebrides read last winter, and now this fresh Spirit-quickened history of Brainerd. O Lord, let me be granted grace to “imitate their faith.” (Elliot 1990)

Read Hebrews 13:7-8. There are actually three admonitions bundled in this passage. What are they?

What is the connection between verse 7 and verse 8?

Jim Elliot was benefiting from historical mentoring in his reading about David Brainerd, Hudson Taylor and Jonathan Goforth. Who has served as a historical mentor for you? How?

Modeling is a powerful and important aspect of leadership and ministry. For whom are you serving as a role model? Describe a typical interaction in which you are a role model, including examples of the positive attributes (behavior) you exhibit.

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Interactive Journaling: Summary Page Day 7 – (Week 1)

1. Review the events and activities you documented for the past seven days. Which three were the most significant? Why?

2. Review the list of people with whom you interacted in the last seven days. Which three were most significant? Why? How do they overlap, if at all, with the answers you gave to question one above?

3. Review the ideas and lessons you documented in the last seven days. Which three were most significant? Why? What common themes do you see emerging? Which concepts stand on their own?

4. Review the Next Steps you identified in the last seven days. Which three were most significant? Why? How do they relate to the answers you gave in question three above?

5. Summarize the last seven days in a few descriptive sentences by completing the following:

“What I will remember most from this past week is…”

“The most important lesson I learned this week is…”

“If I could share only one thing with a friend about my week, it would be…”

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About the author: Jim Elliot – See Day 6

About the context: In the summer of 1948, Jim Elliot attended summer school at Wheaton College and traveled with a Gospel team under the auspices of Foreign Missions Fellowship, a branch of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.

July 7 - Psalm 104

Psalms 104:4: “He makes his ministers a flame of fire.” Am I ignitable? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of “other things”. Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame. But flame is transient, often short-lived. Canst thou bear this, my soul, short life? In me there dwells the Spirit of the Great Short-lived, whose zeal for God’s house consumed Him, and He has promised baptism with the Spirit and with fire. “Make me Thy fuel, flame of God.” (Elliot 1990)

Have you ever heard, or used the phrase, “He (or she) is on fire for God?” What does that mean to you?

Jim Elliot was concerned about the asbestos of “other things.” What do you think he meant by that?

What “spiritual fire retardant” is most apt to keep you from burning brightly for God and what steps can you take to reduce its influence?

John Wesley is to have said that if a man were to be set on fire for God, people would come to watch him burn. List some of the qualities that attract us to people with a heart on fire for God. Which of these qualities do you see in yourself?

Read Jeremiah 20:9 and Luke 24:32. Write out a prayer asking God to set your heart on fire.

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About the author: Lottie Moon was a long-time missionary to China in the 1800’s. Her passion for sharing the Good News with the Chinese people was (and still is) an inspiration to missionaries worldwide. Lottie worked endlessly to both meet the spiritual crevasse in the hearts of these Asian people as well as to encourage other Christians to join her in missionary service.

About the context: In February 1889, Lottie is serving as a missionary in China. She has been teaching women and girls all morning when asked to preach on short notice.

“Recently, on a Sunday which I was spending in a village near Pingtu city, two men came to me with the request that I would conduct the general services. They wished me to read and explain, to a mixed audience of men and women, the parable of the prodigal son. I replied that no one should undertake to speak without preparation, and that I had made none… I said, "It is not the custom of the Ancient church that women preach to men." I could not, however, hinder their calling upon me to lead. ..” (Harper 2002)

How does preparation for kingdom service relate to depending on God for His power? How do we keep these issues in proper balance?

In what ways have you noticed yourself ministering out of earthly power? Describe how you might react if, like Lottie, you were asked to preach God’s word without preparation.

Outline the ideal scenario as it relates to your preparation for and delivery of ministry in the power of God’s Spirit. What is the biggest obstacle to applying this consistently? How will you overcome it?

Read John 5:19. What do these words of Jesus have to say to you about depending on God for kingdom service?

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About the author: Adoniram Judson (1788-1850) was one of America’s first foreign missionaries. He went first to India and was redirected to Burma by William Carey. Judson gave his life to the Burmese people; his lasting legacy was completing a translation of the Bible into their language.

About the context: Judson penned these words while living in a comfortable New England home and thinking about the possibility of being the first American preacher to serve in Asia. Little did he know that he would face tremendous hardship including seventeen months in a Burmese prison.

“O the pleasure which a lively Christian must enjoy in communion with God. It is all one whether he is in a city or a desert, among relations or among savage foes, in the heat of the Indies or in the ice of Greenland; his infinite Friend is always at hand. He need not fear want or sickness or pain, for his best Friend does all things well. He need not fear death, though it come in the most shocking form, for death is only a withdrawing of the veil which conceals his dearest Friend,” (Wayland 1853)

In this entry Judson notes the priority of communion with God as the stabilizing factor for personal joy. Describe an experience or time when the joy of the Lord was your strength in spite of circumstances. What enabled you to stay focused on God in that situation?

Judson also discusses fear as it relates to hardship, sickness and death. How does intimate communion with God release you from the grip of fear?

Read Psalm 139:7-10. What do these words of David have to say about God’s presence? How does that make you feel with regard to ministry assignments you are facing?

Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. How do Paul’s words here relate to Judson’s journal entry?

Read Matthew 28:16-20. Write a thank you note to Jesus for the reassurance given in verse 20 to those who go out in His name.

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About the author: Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) helped launch the second era of modern missions with a new focus moving past the coastlands to the interior regions. The mission agency he founded became known as China Inland Mission.

About the context: After having served in China under another mission, Hudson Taylor was back in England wrestling with the possibility that God was calling him to launch out with a new mission society that would focus on the unreachead, interior provinces of China.

Spring 1865

“I knew God was speaking. I knew that in answer to prayer evangelists would be given and their support secured, because the Name of Jesus is worthy. But there unbelief came in. Suppose the workers are given and go to China; trials will come; their faith may fail; would they not reproach you for bringing them to such a plight? Have you ability to cope with so painful a situation?…And I did not see the Power that would give the men and the means would be sufficient to keep them also, even in the far interior of China.

Meanwhile, a million a month were dying in that land, dying without God. This was burned into my very soul. For two or three months the conflict was intense.” (Taylor 1918)

Describe a situation where you knew God was speaking to you but you were faced with fear and doubt. How did you reconcile the situation? What would you do differently now?

How does a ministry for God where we may face suffering and perhaps death fit with our cultural views of comfort-based Christianity?

Hudson Taylor honestly expresses the attack of the enemy in his mind over the plight of workers in China. Give some examples of “Satanic attacks.” Describe a situation where such an “attack” against your mind has prevented the pursuit of God’s plan for your life. How did you deal with it? What would you do differently now?

Read Romans 15:20. What do these words of Paul have in common with Hudson Taylor’s ambition for the inland of China? List ways missions to the most unreached peoples of the world can be given a higher priority? Why is this important?

Hudson Taylor refers to the reality of the lost millions of China being burned into his soul. Write out a prayer asking God to give you His heart for lost people.

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About the Author: Hudson Taylor – See Day 11

About the context: After seven weeks of silence when it comes to journal entries, Hudson Taylor has a breakthrough moment in the summer of 1865 with regard to the leading of God to begin a new mission society. He recorded this milestone in the flyleaf of his Bible and the pages of his journal. Though the entries were short they were powerful.

June 1865

“Well, if God gives us a band of men for inland China, and they go, and all die of starvation even, they will only be taken straight to heaven; and if one heathen soul is saved, would it not be well worth while?”

Written in his Bible:

“Prayed for twenty-four willing skillful labourers at Brighton, June 25th, 1865.”

June 27, 1865

“Went with Mr. Pearse to the London & County Bank, and opened an account for the China Inland Mission. Paid in 10 Pounds.” (Taylor 1918)

With these words the battle was settled and the course set. Hudson Taylor was launching out in faith. What is the biggest step of faith you have ever taken in response to God’s leading? How did you feel at the time?

The turning point for Hudson Taylor seems to be his awareness of the fact that God would take responsibility for those He calls. In what ways are you tempted to take God’s burdens on as your own?

1 Peter 5 was written to young leaders. Read verses 5-7. What do these verses say to people like Hudson Taylor – or you – who sense God calling them to step out in faith?

How does Hudson Taylor’s June 27th journal entry demonstrate putting his faith into action? What action step is God leading you to take in response to your personal faith journey?

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About the author: King David. You may not think of the Psalms as a journal, but the honesty and vulnerability in this Hebrew poetry is a great stimulus for all of us.

About the context: David wrote these words after he pretended to be insane as a means of getting away from Abimelech.

“ I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise…God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him…Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see – how good GOD is. Blessed are you who run to him. Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness. Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but GOD-seekers are full of God…Is anyone crying for help? GOD is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you’ll find GOD right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. Disciples so often get in trouble; still, GOD is there every time.” Selected passages from Psalm 34, The Message. (Peterson 1998)

What advice do you think David would give you about worship?

Why do you think some people tend to develop a religious vocabulary instead of just speaking to God from the heart? Describe how you “get real” with God—and ways in which you do not. Based on David’s example, what changes might you make?

Try your hand at writing a Psalm. Write a free-flowing verse or two to God in the space below. Imagine David is your coach – but be yourself.

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About the Author: Samuel Logan Brengle was a Salvation Army leader and itinerant preacher. Holiness of heart along with his ministry of speaking and writing inspired thousands to chase after God.

About the context: Brengle’s wife passed away before him. In his final years he demonstrated a growing concern about the dangers of old age. These vulnerable entries show his passion to finish well.

1927

“O Lord, as I grow old, help me to understand Thy mind for me and Thy will. I realize that each state of life – youth, manhood, old age – has its own problems. Help me to understand the mysteries of old age. I have not passed this way before. Help me to be wise…Help me to be firm and steadfast in my loyalty to truth, and always clear as to what truth is. Don’t let me be deceived. Don’t let me go astray the very least in my old age. Don't permit me to fall into even a little folly that, like a fly in the pot of ointment, will spoil the influence of a life devoted to Thee. Help me, O Lord.” (Hall 2007)

Brengle suggests that each stage of life has its own problems. In what stage of life are you now and what are the unique problems associated with that stage?

What can you learn from Brengle’s attitude toward the unknown? What can you do to cultivate a learning attitude throughout life?

Brengle writes about his desire to remain loyal to truth and avoid deception. In what area of your life are you vulnerable to being deceived? How can you become proactive about seeking truth in this area?

There is an unmistakable passion in these words for finishing well. What does it look like for you to finish well – with regard to this mission trip? With regard to your life over all?

What is your most likely “fly in the ointment”? What steps should you take to insure nothing will spoil the influence of this trip? How about your whole life of service to God?

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About the author: Born in 1902, Gladys Aylward applied to serve with the China Inland Mission and was rejected. Still, her heart pulled her to mission service and she continued to persist, serving in lowly jobs and saving money until she could pay her own way to China. Once in China, Gladys shared the Word of God as a missionary for nearly twenty years.

About the context: Gladys, reflecting on her calling and ultimate service as a missionary.

“I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done for China. I don’t know who it was…It must have been a man…a well-educated man. I don’t know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn’t willing…and God looked down…and saw Gladys Aylward…And God said—“Well, she’s willing.” (Aylward and Hunter 1970)

Describe how Gladys must have felt when rejected from the China Inland Mission. Think of a time when you felt God was running behind schedule. What was the situation and how patient were you?

What is the role of prayer and faith in God’s timing? How do you think our prayers and our faith affect God’s timetable?

How might you pray when seeking God’s direction? In what way would you pray more specifically if you knew God’s heart in a situation? Give an example.

Though she felt called to China, many circumstances hindered Aylward’s call to become a missionary. Describe a circumstance where what you encountered was different from what you expected upon following God’s leading. What steps can you take to walk by faith?

Read Paul’s account of Abraham’s faith journey in Romans 4:18-21. Think of a faith challenge where you have been tempted to give up. Write out a prayer to God affirming your confidence in Him to do what He has promised in this situation.


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About the author: George Muller opened his first children’s home in 1836, at the age of 30. His life of simple faith and trust in God for provision has inspired many down through the years.

About the context: Muller is commenting on the generous contribution he has received for the orphanage work, missions and his personal needs. He later commented and reflected on this entry in his Narratives.

August 30, 1849

“Received a fifty pound note with these words, “I send you herewith a fifty pound note, half for missions, half for the orphans, unless you are in any personal need; if so, take five pounds for yourself. This will be the last large sum I shall be able to transmit to you. Almost all the rest is already out at interest.” I took half of this fifty pounds for the orphans and half for missionaries. I have received other donations from the same donor, and much larger still. He used for God the means with which He was pleased to intrust him, and, contrary to this brother’s expectation, the above fifty pounds was not the last large donation; for it pleased God soon after to intrust him with another considerable sum, which he again used for the Lord. This did not at all surprise me, for it is the Lord’s order, that, in whatever way He is pleased to make us His stewards, whether as to temporal or spiritual things, if we are indeed acting as stewards and not as owners, he will make us stewards over more.” (Muller 1898)

Muller’s ministry was built upon the prayer of faith. What kind of track record do you have when it comes to trusting God to meet your needs? Give an example.

The donor referred to in this journal entry designated the funds for specific use. How is Muller’s integrity reflected in his note about how the funds were used?

Handling money in ministry can be tempting. In what ways would you be a good steward of the contributions toward your short-term mission trip?

Read Luke 12:42-47. What does this passage have to say about stewardship and ownership?

Muller highlights the little-big principle in his journal entry – be faithful in little things and God will entrust you with big things. In what way does this apply to you right now?

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About the author: C.T. Studd walked away from a life of ease in England to serve in China with China Inland Mission. He later served in India and in later years pioneered work in the heart of Africa.

About the context: In 1896 C.T. followed in the footsteps of his older brother, spending 18 months in the United States, sharing the vision for missions on American campuses.

Lincoln, Nebraska, December 5

“Hallelujah! Just caught a fish. I was coming back here to the hotel when a student met me and began to talk to me in the street about his soul. We stood and talked. He was miserable, and began to have tears in his eyes, so I said, ‘Come to my room and do business with the Lord.’ He came, gave himself utterly away to Jesus, saw that Jesus must have taken him because He can’t lie, thanked, asked for the Holy Ghost, received by faith, on the same principle that Jesus can’t lie: He must give the Holy Ghost to him who asks. Then I turned to him and told him he was to let the Holy Ghost do the work in him and through him. He seemed to understand a bit, but face unchanged, dark and unhappy. I said to him, ‘Does a man generally keep a dog and then go barking himself?’ He laughed, his face changed in the twinkling of an eye and he burst into praising God. ‘Oh, I see it all now, I see it all now’; and then he laughed and rejoiced and prayed all at the same time.” (Grubb 1982)

Many times opportunities to “spiritually fish” catch us when we are tired or busy. What can you learn from C.T’s attitude as reflected in his writing about this kind of interruption?

C.T.’s interaction with this student is very simple based on the fact that Jesus cannot lie. How have you been prone to over complicate sharing Christ with others?

C.T. saw the emotional hurt in this young student’s face. Sometimes this pain is not so easily detected. What can you look for besides visible emotion to discern this kind of inner pain?

Jesus used this same metaphor, referring to fishing for men. Read Matthew 4:18-19. What does Jesus say He will do in this passage?

Write out a prayer asking God to give you His heart for the lost people He brings into your path.

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About the author: Andrew Murray was a South African Christian leader and Holiness writer, widely known for his devotional classic, With Christ in the School of Prayer, as well as other books like The Key to the Missionary Problem.

About the context: In 1895 Andrew Murray was in England speaking at various conferences. Something painful happened during that stay. Murray responded by writing the following words for himself.

“First, he brought me here, it is by his will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest. Next, he will keep me here in his love, and give me grace to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time He can bring me out again – how and when He knows. Let me say I am here, 1) By God’s appointment, 2) In His keeping, 3) Under His training, 4) For His time.” (Baldwin 2009)

Andrew Murray had a firm grip on the sovereignty of God. Put that doctrinal truth in your own words.

Even though God may not have caused something bad to happen, He can redeem any situation – turning it into a blessing. Describe a trial that God transformed into a blessing—for you or someone you know. What were the circumstances?

Andrew Murray demonstrated amazing perspective in the midst of his trial. How does your attitude or response to adversity influence God transforming it into a blessing?

Read Genesis 50:15-21. How does Joseph’s perspective compare to that of Andrew Murray?

Read Romans 8:28. Think of your most trying life circumstance right now. Write a prayer to God thanking Him for “working things out for good.”

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About the author: Keith Green was an anointed minister of the gospel using his unique blend of music and prophetic teaching to challenge the church to total surrender to Christ. He was passionate about reaching the nations and began to mobilize the body for missions before his untimely death in a plane crash.

About the context: As his vision for missions blossomed Keith sought out people who could sharpen his understanding and expand his perspective. This included a visit to a YWAM base in Hawaii. Shortly after returning from this visit Keith penned these words.

July 2, 1979

“For the first time in months, I awoke with peace – Real Peace…I love God so much, my heart overflows with quiet, gentle joy – my eyes water with tears for the peace in my soul. My faith is refreshed. My desire to commune with God and intercede for souls is renewed with power! My thirst for God’s Word has greatly increased…Jesus I’m so grateful there was no formula – no secret way to regain my peace. No amount of Bible reading, or forced prayer time (on my part) brought this state on. But you in answer to the desperate crying out of my heart, came and rescued me from the bondage of works and self…not as a result of my efforts, but as a result of your goodness, mercy and love for me – Thank you for helping me hang on!” (Green and Hazard 2008)

Keith is writing about a time of personal refreshing that has come after a season of spiritual dryness. How do you deal with the ebb and flow of spirituality in your life?

This entry captures the emotion of spiritual refreshing. What is the balance between emotion and faith in spiritual pilgrimage?

Keith was an active servant. He writes openly here about his struggle with human effort mingled in with spiritual disciplines. List the ways you have struggled with the same issues. What do you need to be aware of to avoid the conflict? How do you keep this in check?

Describe what you think formula-based spirituality is. List examples of it in your life. What do you think Keith meant by the fact that there was no formula for spiritual breakthrough?

Read Psalm 42. What word picture depicts your thirst for God right now?

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About the author: Eliza George was a long-time missionary to Liberia. When her mission asked her to retire at the age of 65, she found her own financial support and continued to share the word of God for almost thirty more years.

About the context: In 1911 while serving as a teacher at Central Texas College, George has a vision of black Africans passing the judgment seat of Christ without having hearing the truth that Jesus died for them. George feels called to missionary service, but is discouraged by the college president, who tells her, “Don’t let yourself be carried away by that foolishness.”

In 1913, before she sets sail to Liberia for missionary service, George reads this poem in her resignation speech: “My African brother is calling me; Hark! Hark! I hear his voice…Would you say stay when God said go?” (Lutz 1980)

Despite the comments of her college president, George musters the courage to leave her teaching career and go to Africa as a missionary. What does it look like for you to “stay the course” as it relates to what God has been teaching you on this trip?

In order to follow God’s call, Eliza had to turn her heart to the Word and away from the World and its definition of success. What have you seen on this trip – if anything – that exposes the materialism in your heart? How are you responding?

What are you most tempted to pursue that could distract you from chasing after God? What is God asking you to do about this?

Read Psalm 19:7-11. What would you want to ask David about his love for God’s Word?

Write out a prayer to God asking Him to help you make your whole life – not just this trip – one obedient response.

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Section Three: Cultivating a Spiritual Habit

Having made it to the final section in this manual, you have probably become convinced of the powerful effect journaling can have in your life. You may have concluded that you want to continue to benefit from this spiritual discipline, at least on occasion, over the rest of your life. The final section of this manual is designed to help you make the transition from “niche journaling” in the context of a short-term mission experience to a broader lifetime format. While many of the principles and the experience you have gained during your mission trip will be helpful, there are some important additional concepts to consider as you record your journey over the long haul.

The Anatomy of a Habit

Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Of course, that is conditioned upon the fact the habit in question is good. For whatever reason, I have more commonly thought of habits as bad rather than good. However, the power of habitual action can be positively directed. The routine of keeping a journal can be such a habit, one worthy of cultivating.

Author Stephen Covey has defined a habit as the intersection of knowledge, skill, and desire. Knowledge represents the “why” and “what to do” components. Skill represents the “how to” component; and desire represents the “want to” component. I would like to suggest a fourth component—time. You may have heard someone say, “If you do something twenty-one days in a row you will cultivate a new habit.” I’m not sure how scientific that premise is, but we know without a doubt that repetition over time is an irreplaceable component in the anatomy of a habit.

For most of us, it is not the knowledge or skill components that hold us back from forming good habits. On the contrary, it is desire. We may want to change, develop or grow, but not enough to persevere over the time required to cultivate that habit. In this process, the presence of an outside motivational force can be essential. That is what your short-term mission experience has provided—a catalytic push to add desire to your knowledge and skill. The result? You have a strategic opportunity to cultivate the habit of journaling as a resource in your spiritual disciplines tool box.

Seizing the Moment

Bad habits are usually marked by the fact we simply can’t stop doing them. It takes a lot of effort—often, more than we are willing to expend. But what is the distinguishing mark of a good habit? I have formed some good habits in my lifetime. Yet I wouldn’t say I can’t stop doing them. In fact, it is all too easy to let them slip. So what marks a good habit? When we fail to repeat good habits we sense an inner restlessness; we know something is missing. If the habit is strong, the inner restlessness continues to surface until we make time for the positive practice. Still, it can be ignored. If ignored, the inner restlessness will fade over time. If the lost habit was really important, guilt or self-condemnation may fill the void and the longer we wait to reactivate the habit, the more we need help in finding the desire and the time to re-create the habit. You get the picture.

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You are now faced with what may be the best opportunity you will ever have to seize the moment as it relates to cultivating the habit of journaling. You are at the confluence of knowledge, skill, and desire. All that is needed is more repetition over time. If you have found this exercise helpful, why not keep going long enough to activate the inner restlessness that will mark the existence of a good habit when it is broken?

Building the Right Tool

All you really need to build a journal is a pen and some paper, but there are a few things you might want to consider beyond the bare bones. In his book Spiritual Journaling, Richard Peace outlines several factors you may find helpful:. Binding: There are lots of bound books available with blank pages intended for

journaling. You may find it harder to write in them, and regular use can work the binding loose. Loose-leaf folders provide much more flexibility to insert pages later on.

Dividers: If you choose a loose-leaf format, you may want to organize the journal with divider pages based on various topics or categories. Richard Peace suggests categories such as daily, history, dialogue, pilgrimage, dreams, musings, family and work.

Size: Choosing the size of your journal will likely be a function of how and when you plan to utilize it. Smaller journals are more confining to write in, but provide greater flexibility in use. You will probably want to experiment a bit before you commit to one format or another.

Paper: If you like a free flowing journal style, which includes pictures or doodling, you may opt for blank pages. Others feel the need for lines in order to write with consistent spacing. This is purely a matter of personal style and preference.

The choice is yours. You have the tools and experiential framework from which to cultivate the spiritual habit of journaling. You may never have another window of opportunity quite like the one opening before you right now. Journaling is not necessarily for everyone, but it could be for you. Why not give it a chance?

Timeless Testimonies

The journals and diaries that have recorded the spiritual pilgrimage of believers down through the centuries are timeless testimonies. They document the faithfulness of God in the unique life circumstances of His people. Your journal will add to their witness. Rarely are such journals written with others in mind. But who knows how God may choose to inspire your children, grandchildren or believers of another time and place through your writing?

Such is the case with the words of David Brainerd. This young man gave his life in service to the Indians of New England in the first half of the 18th Century. He documented his life and ministry in a personal diary. Just prior to his death, David Brainerd gave his diary to his fiancé’s father, the revivalist preacher Jonathan Edwards saying, “Use this to the glory of God.” Edwards read the words of the young man who

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had been engaged to his daughter and was moved by the devotion for God and burden for the lost reflected on each page. He published the diary and it has become a classic, spurring forward the likes of William Carey, Henry Martyn and countless others through the years.

If you sense God leading you to incorporate the discipline of journaling in your spiritual pilgrimage, write with the same spirit as David Brainerd. Even if your words are written for your eyes only, pray that your testimony will be used for the glory of God!

Copyright 2000 Steve Moore. Pre-publication draft. All rights reserved.

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Interactive Journaling: Summary Page Day ___ Week ___









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BibliographyAylward, Gladys, and Christing Hunter. Gladys Aylward: The LIttle Woman. Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1970.Baldwin, David J. Spiritual Seeds to Be Planted. Xulon Press, 2009.Cooley, Steven D. "The Call of Susan Fitkin." Herald of Holiness, Ocotber 15, 1985: 9.Edwards, Jonathan. Life and Diary of Reverend David Brainerd. New Haven: Yale College, 1749.Elliot, Elizabeth. The Journals of Jim Elliot. Fleming H. Revell Co., 1990.Green, Melody, and David Hazard. No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 2008.Grubb, Norman P. C. T. Studd: Cricketer and Pioneer. Christian Literature Crusade, 1982.Hall, Clarence W. Samuel Logan Brengle: Portrait of a Prophet. Lightning Source, 2007.Harper, Keith. Send the Light: Lottie Moon's Letter and Other Writings. Mercer University Press, 2002.John Sherrill, Elizabeth Sherrill, Corrie ten Boom. The Hiding Place. Guideposts Associates, 1971.Lutz, Lorry. Born to Lose, Bound to Win: The Amazing Journey of Mother Eliza George. Irvine: Harvest House Publisher, 1980.Muller, George. The Life of Trust: Being a Narrative of the Lord's Dealings with George Muller. Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, 1898.Peterson, Eugene T. The Message: New Testament Psalms and Proverbs. Colorado Springs: NavPress Publishing Group, 1998.Sherril, John, Elizabeth Sherrill, and Corrie ten Boom. The Hiding Place. Guideposts Associates, 1971.Taylor, Fredrick Howard. Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission: The Growth of a Work of God. London: Morgan and Scott, 1918.Wayland, Francis. A Memoir of the Life and Labors of Rev. Adoniram Judson. Boston: Philips, Samson, and Company, 1853.

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