A Letter Over Time
Test: Begin with a blank sheet of paper—ruled or unlined.
Date, then title the page with a specific name, project, or
concern. Over a period of four to six weeks, write down—once
or many times each day—the words you hear God saying to
you. Record the verses you read in your regular daily Bible
reading, or verses you hear during sermons or Bible studies, as
well as any thoughts or ideas that relate to this concern or that
pop into your mind in random conversations or devotional
reading.
When you set aside a place—whether in an organized,
tabbed notebook or on a blank-paged journal—to record both
the serendipitous and consistent ways that God talks to you
regarding one issue, you will be amazed at the pattern that
unfolds as He directs you toward and confirms His plans.
During the week, I use a favorite short devotional reading as
my teacher or messenger. Of course, I’ve learned that the more
challenging the author, the more thought-provoking and life-
changing the experience. I keep the message notes for up to a
month in my notebook before replacing them with blank refill
pages. Month by month, year after year, I collect all my journal
pages in a box for occasional review. In essence, since 1984,
my recorded two-way conversations with God have not only
chronicled a running dialogue of my time with God and others,
but they have chronicled my life.