I implemented three things into my life this year that I truly feel strengthened my walk with the Lord. They made everything I did more purposeful, and drew me closer to Jesus. I want to share them with you, in hopes that they will be an encouragement to you!
Prayer Wall & Journal
We have a dedicated wall in our dining room where we post sticky notes with prayer requests on them. It serves as a visual reminder to Brian and I to pray for those requests each time we walk past them. It is a literal wall of prayer, which also happens to be one of my favorite songs. (I linked the video to this song at the bottom of the post if you’d like to listen to it!)
Brian and I also keep a chalkboard of more personal requests in our room.
I also keep a prayer journal. I’ve actually had the same journal since 2013, and it is so neat to flip through it and see what requests God has answered.
Oh, and one more thing! I try to keep visual reminders to pray for people at certain times when they need it the most. Sometimes it’s a reminder on my phone at a certain time someone has a meeting, or some days I wear a bracelet from a friend who is on duty as a firefighter.
All of these things have made my prayer life a little more purposeful, and it serves as a reminder to “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17)
Gratitude & Affirmation Journaling
Psalm 19:164 says, “Seven times a day do I praise thee…” At a ladies conference several years ago, a speaker encouraged us to sit down daily and write down 7 things we are thankful for. I have become more faithful in doing so, and you will often find in my journal things that we take for granted. I also have started writing down three affirmations daily to keep myself encouraged.
Devotion Journal
This has probably been the biggest blessing. Each day, I write down a takeaway from my devotions. It keeps me accountable, and also makes me get something from my devotions instead of just quickly doing them as a chore. I also always write down a prayer request for whatever is on my heart that day. It was also a blessing when Brian and I did it together so we could keep each other accountable, see what the other got from their devotions that day, and see how to pray for one another.
There you have it… three simple things that strengthened my walk with the Lord in 2019. I hope they encourage you and help you in some way. I would love to know some of your favorite tips for staying close to the Lord daily, so drop them in the comments!