How to Start a Prayer Journal (With 30 Prompts to Begin)

A prayer journal is simply a place where you write to God. It slows your thoughts down, helps you pray when spoken words won’t come, and leaves a record of how God has answered over months and years. Many people find that writing is the first time prayer feels real to them.

You don’t need a special notebook, nice handwriting or theological vocabulary. You need a few honest minutes and a place to write.

Why keep a prayer journal

• It focuses a wandering mind. Writing forces you to slow down and finish a thought, which is exactly what distraction prevents.
• It makes prayer honest. On paper you’ll often write what you wouldn’t say aloud, and that honesty is where prayer comes alive.
• It shows you God’s faithfulness. Months later, you’ll reread prayers that were answered in ways you’d forgotten. That memory strengthens faith on hard days.
• It helps you notice. Writing down where you saw God each day trains you to see Him more.

Mary herself “kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). A journal is one way to ponder.

How to start in 5 minutes

1. Choose your journal. A plain notebook, or an app if you’d rather keep it on your phone. Pick whatever you’ll actually open.
2. Pick a time. Morning with coffee or evening before bed. Same time each day makes it a habit.
3. Start with a short prayer. “Come, Holy Spirit” or the Sign of the Cross. You’re not writing a diary; you’re writing to Someone.
4. Write for five minutes. Use one of the formats or prompts below.
5. End with one line of thanks. Even on hard days, find one thing.

That’s it. Five minutes, most days. Missing a day doesn’t matter; coming back does.

Four simple formats that work

1. ACTS

A classic structure for any day:

• Adoration: praise God for who He is.
• Confession: name where you fell short.
• Thanksgiving: list what you’re grateful for.
• Supplication: ask for what you and others need.

2. Scripture journaling

Read a short passage, then write: what does it say, what is God saying to me through it, and how will I respond today? The Gospels and Psalms are the best places to start.

3. The evening Examen

Based on Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s daily Examen: write where you felt close to God today, where you drifted, what you’re sorry for and what you hope for tomorrow.

4. Intentions and answers

Keep a running list of people and needs you’re praying for, with the date. When a prayer is answered, write how and when. Over time this list becomes a testimony.

30 prayer journal prompts

Use one per day for a month, or pick whichever fits the day.

Gratitude

1. Three small gifts God gave me today were…
2. A person I’m grateful for, and why…
3. Something I take for granted that I want to thank God for…
4. A prayer God answered that I almost forgot…
5. A moment of beauty I noticed this week…

Honesty

6. Lord, right now I feel…
7. The worry I keep carrying is…
8. Something I’ve been avoiding telling You is…
9. A question I have for You is…
10. Where I feel far from You is…

Scripture

11. Read Psalm 23. Which line do I need today, and why?
12. Read Matthew 6:25–34. What am I anxious about, and what does Jesus say to it?
13. Read Luke 15:11–32. Am I more like the younger son or the older one right now?
14. Read John 21:15–17. Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” How do I answer today?
15. Write out a verse that has stayed with me, then write what it means for my life.

Forgiveness and growth

16. Someone I need to forgive is… Lord, help me…
17. A habit that keeps pulling me from You is…
18. Where did I fail to love today?
19. A virtue I want to grow in this month is…
20. If I could start this week over, I would…

Others

21. People I’m praying for today, and what they need…
22. Someone who is lonely or struggling whom I could help…
23. A prayer for my family…
24. A prayer for someone I find hard to love…
25. A prayer for the world, for one situation in the news…

Trust and the future

26. A decision I need Your help with is…
27. Lord, I give You this fear…
28. Where I need patience right now is…
29. What I hope You will do in my life this year…
30. Write a letter to God as if He were your closest friend, because He is.

Tips for keeping it going

• Lower the bar. One sentence counts. “Lord, I’m tired, but I’m here” is a complete entry.
• Don’t edit. No one is grading this. Write the way you talk.
• Reread once a month. You’ll be surprised by how much has changed and how many prayers have been answered.
• Keep it private. A journal works because it’s honest. Keep it somewhere safe, on paper or in an app that doesn’t share your data.

Frequently asked questions

What do you write in a prayer journal?

Anything you’d say to God: thanks, worries, confessions, questions, requests for others and reflections on Scripture. Many people use a structure like ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication) or simply answer one prompt a day.

How long should a prayer journal entry be?

As long as you need. Five minutes is a good starting point, and even one honest sentence is a real entry. Consistency matters more than length.

Is a prayer journal the same as a diary?

Not quite. A diary records your day; a prayer journal is addressed to God. You might mention what happened, but the point is talking to Him about it.

Can I keep a prayer journal on my phone?

Yes. A notes app or a prayer app works well, especially if you always have your phone with you. In the Our Father app, the journal has spaces for prayers, gratitude, reflections and intentions, lets you mark intentions as answered, and stays private on your iPhone and in your own iCloud.