Do I use the Scripture on each page of the journal as the verses to study that day, or do I choose my own?

The Scripture at the beginning of each day’s page is meant to be an encouragement to you in your study and a reminder of truth! The verse of the day is not intended to be what you study; however, feel free to use it if you want to dig into it deeper! We encourage you instead to study a book of the Bible or passage of Scripture for your daily study.

How do I use the “Be Still & Know” section?

There are several ways you can use the “Be Still & Know” section! This section was named “Be Still & Know” after Psalm 46:10, which says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in all the nations. I will be exalted in all the earth.” Often, we rush into our time with God without quieting our hearts and placing our attention on Him. This section was designed to be a reminder to pause and praise Him before you begin your time in the Word. You can use this section to write a prayer of praise and confession before you start digging into the Bible. You can also use this space to write a verse from the Psalms, a verse you are memorizing, or the main verse you will be studying that day. There have been times I have filled this section out after I read the passage I was studying that day. After reading the passage I understood its theme and wrote down the core verse to remember. Get creative here! There is no right or wrong way to use it. You could even write down anxieties that are weighing down your heart as a place of surrender. And you can use it to preach the gospel to your heart! The main point of this section is simple: place your eyes on the Lord and remember that HE is God.

What should I do if I need more space for my Bible study than what’s provided?

If you run out of space, you can use the notes pages in the back as “overflow.” Write in the margins! Fill up every square inch of space on the pages provided. Likewise, if you don’t fill out all the space provided, that is okay, too! The purpose of the Give Me Jesus Journal is to get you into the Word. It can look messy, and there is no exact right or wrong way to do it. This journal is a tool for you to get into the Word, not a formula. Another thought would be to invest in a journaling Bible! I use an ESV Single Column Journaling Bible (buy here) along with my Give Me Jesus Journal. I also write notes in there as I study to remember when I revisit that passage later on!

How can I use my journal to take sermon notes?

The Give Me Jesus Journal is wonderful to use for sermon notes. Here’s an example of how you can use the sections while taking sermon notes: Fill out the date, time, and place (place referring to what church you are attending or sermon you are listening to).

TODAY'S GRATITUDE: Write down something you are thankful for about your church or the service thus far! This gratitude section is great to praise God for the Body of Christ and the gift of the church!

BE STILL & KNOW: Use this section to write down the key verse your pastor will be teaching from. If he teaches from a passage, choose one verse to write here. 

SCRIPTURE: Write down the entire passage reference he is teaching from.
Drink Deep from the Well: This space is where you will write the bulk of your sermon notes! Some pastors provide an outline or points as they preach, and others don’t. Regardless, use this space to write down the key points from the sermon and anything you learn as he preaches. 
What I am Learning About God: You can fill out this space during or after the sermon. I encourage you to go through your notes later that day or early in the week to write down what you learned about God from the sermon! This is a great practice to do every time you read the Word. Place your affections on Him.
How This Changes the Way That I Live: Every time you are in the Word your life will be changed. Write down how the truth you heard preached in the service changes your life!
Pray Big: Write a prayer of response, praise, and confession here from the pastor’s message.

What if I don’t know what to write down in the “What I Learned About God” section?

It’s okay if you don’t know what to write down in this section! In the most recent version of the journal we changed this to say: “What I am learning about God.” Therefore, you can write down what you are learning about God in your quiet time as well as in life. However, we want to encourage you think about what the passage teaches about God even if He isn’t explicitly mentioned. If it is a passage talking about how you should live (such as Ephesians 4:25–27), ask yourself what this passage implies about God. For instance, in this passage we are told to speak the truth in love with our neighbor. Therefore, we know that God desires for love to mark our interactions with others because He is love. Ask yourself questions about who God is as you study! And ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to learn more about God’s character as you study. If this space seems redundant at times (as if you are writing the same thing over and over), that is okay, too! We are forgetful people. We need to remember over and over who God is. Preach it to your heart. Store up truth in your mind. Ask Him to show you the beauty of the truth every single time you open the Word.

How long does the journal last?

The journal is designed to last 90 days! However, most women will find that they are not able to fill out the journal each day. There might be days or seasons when you are unable to find a pocket of time to dig deeply into the Word. We encourage you during these times to meditate on a truth of Scripture, until you have another chance for deeper study. Therefore, you may find that the journal takes you longer than 90 days to complete! There are also sections in the back for you to write notes and prayers, which you can use on days when you can’t fill out a whole journaling section.

can i use the journal to study with a friend?

Yes, of course! We recommend studying a book of the Bible with a friend or mentor. We have provided a few free reading guides below that you can download and use together. Write your study notes in your journal and use those to talk through the passage together when you meet!

How do I study a book of the Bible using the journal?

In our free Bible study reading guides we provide several questions you can ask as you study a book of the Bible! You can also find our “How To Study the Bible Cheat Sheet” to print out and tape in the front of your journal or Bible. In the newest version of the journal, we provided this cheat sheet on the back of your “Journal the Word” tab for easy reference. If you would like to know how to dig deeper into the text using online commentaries and Bible study tools, download our freebie "Five Free Resources to Study the Bible" at the end of this blog post.