Hi friends! This week I’ve been reflecting on the past few years that I’ve been worshipping Jesus through bible journaling. It brings me so much JOY to spend time reading the word, reflecting in it, and creating art for my Creator. Getting to this point of joy has taken a bit of determination and I think it’s time to tell you why. It doesn’t have anything to do with artistic skill, or having the right supplies. It’s a heart thing.
I wanted to write about this because our joy for journaling can be stolen or even derailed by the most innocent of comments. What I’m writing about you may have experienced yourself, and if not you, probably a friend. This might be what happened: you’re so (SO!!) excited to tell someone about your new passion for bible journaling. You are on FIRE. Everything is amazing, and you’re reading the bible like nothing before, you’re talking to Jesus, and you feel your spiritual faith suddenly start to grow. Like a new seedling, your growth is precious, and you’re dying to tell everyone about it.
So, you show someone your journaling bible, and instead of being excited for you and understanding how important this is to you, they just don’t get it. Maybe you hold this person in high esteem and instead of praise, you receive criticism. It’s hard, isn’t it? Friends, I want to talk to your hearts. If journaling is helping you draw near to Jesus, then you need to do this thing. Even if your friends don’t understand. A couple years ago, when my heart was stinging a bit, I decided that if I was going to keep on going, that I was going to have to let nothing tear me away from the joy and growth that journaling has brought me.
From that point on, I decided journaling was between me and Jesus, and as long as He was good with it, I was going to keep going. The passage I’m journaling in today is in Romans 8. It is part of one of the suggested passages in Tamara Arcilla’s printable set Unstoppable from the Print & Pray Shop. Here it is:
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one – for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one – for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:33-34
My prayer on the page is me saying that I’m shaking off anything that keeps me from worshipping Jesus. Because if my right standing comes from him, then pleasing him is my first priority! And then I thank him for the gift of bible journaling and the fellowship with him that it has introduced. Friends, we need to be unstoppable in our pursuit of Jesus. Anything that tries to sneak in and steal your fervor for the word – it can go take a hike! Hang onto the joy. Thank you for hanging out with me here, today. <3, Cristin
Can you tell me if there is a tutorial for the tabs shown in the bible in the last picture? I would love to make a set or buy a set whichever is an option. Thanks so much! They are so pretty!