Why Journal? Journalling is so time-consuming and I’m busy, you may be thinking.
I’ve never considered myself a consistent prayer journalist. I’m more of a start one, remain at it for 6-12 months then quit. I’m not referring to a personal diary, rather a spiritual record of my heart condition in a particular year with my prayer requests and answered prayers.
I’m tackling a new winter project as cold weather settles into North Carolina. Now that outdoor gardening is paused I’m focusing on sorting and organizing photographs. Finding pictures from 36 years ago (1987) brings back vivid memories. I also found journals from 1981, 1992, and church teaching notes from 1986.
One particular ledger contained a list of Prayers Prayed with the date and a second column titled Manifested Answer. The image above is from this journal. The September 1981 entry was particularly interesting as it reminded me when the actual call to Intercession showed up. It reads “God called me to be an Intercessor in summer 1980 (age 23) but continued to remind and teach me to intercede for the world and my family. I have been neglectful and selfish of my time. Not fully committed.”
Although age has degraded some areas of my memory, I clearly recall my involvement in small prayer gatherings during my college years (1981-82). I remember who was present but no idea what we prayed for. This journal reminded me that we asked for revival in Ann Arbor, in our families, and personal requests. Reading the Manifested Answer column was encouraging and a bit like time travel.
However, it was the journal entry dated 10/7/1990 that made me tear up. It was a long entry describing a disagreement my first husband and I had over the persistent issue of having children. I am editing out the personal details but it described how I went to church that Sunday and the condition of my heart as we took communion as a body of believers. I recorded my repentance for my self-pity, the fight with Mark and how I was open and expectant that God would have spiritual and emotional healing for me. The journal contained lovely details of personal prayer ministry I received that day from co-pastor Lynn Pritchett. I was reminded what Lynn prayed over me that Sunday in 1990 – that it was my hearts desire, she said prophetically, to flow in God’s anointing.
I had completely forgotten that how the Lord placed in my heart the night before (in my prayer to Him after the argument) my desire for “spiritual children.” She confirmed those same words!
“The true desire of my heart is to be used in intercession to bring forth things in the Spirit of God. To give birth to spiritual freedom in the lives of others. Bring it forth in spirit so it can manifest in the natural.”
Kathryne Grogan, 1990
This call upon my life placed by His grace on my 23-year-old heart and reiterated ten years later in my earnest request made me tear up as I realized it has come to pass. It’s not our role to commend ourselves but I will report that as I have been about the Father’s business these last forty-three years, living out the Christian life as best I can and Intercession has become a natural part of my lifestyle.
In closing, I urge you to record your journey with God. Write about your struggles, hopes, broken dreams, future desires, and requests. Be brutally honest, date your entries, and don’t condemn yourself if you tire of this introspection and quit writing.
Pick it back up a year or two later. Begin again. Record if there are answers to prayer.
Another major takeaway for me was to see how I matured in my relationship with God. I refer to a December 2, 1980 entry where the door lock on my car was frozen due to freezing rain. I needed to drive to class but could not get into my car. I talked about how I prayed, what I said and how I screamed at my angels in a loud voice. Probably because it was bitterly cold outside with a harsh wind (maybe not wearing a hat or scarf had something to do with it, LOL). I wrote that I was upset at my car, the ice, the devil and at God because His Word had not worked instantly. (Forgive my immaturity, Lord Jesus)! The situation was remedied by a neighbor who saw my struggle and came outside with lock spray.
I no longer expect immediate answers to prayer and no longer raise my voice when asking for angelic assistance. God’s mercy, lovingkindness, and faithfulness toward us constantly amaze me, especially in light of our human frailties and immaturity.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29 NKJV). The Passion Translation reads “And when God chooses someone and graciously imparts gifts to him, they are never rescinded.” TPT goes on to say that the “grace-gifts and calling of God are void of regret and without change in purpose.”
Categories: Faithfulness Intercessory Prayer Journaling Prayer Spiritual Gifts
Kathryne
Christian author and truth teller whose words make darkness tremble. Author of two non-fiction books at https://www.instagram.com/tattooedking_book/
Kathryne Leach 
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