Spoiler Alert: If you like your Bible to look pristine,this post will make you very uncomfortable.
I’ve spent the last couple of months in prayerful thought about what I’m trying to accomplish here. There will be some changes coming soon to the website based on what I feel God is leading me to do. But one thing is certain:
Charles Spurgeon said, “A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
Over the past year, I’ve become obsessed with a new form of worship and Bible study called Bible Journaling. It has revolutionized my time in The Word. And I can’t help but suggest you join in – regardless of your artistic ability or lack thereof.
Why should you try Bible Journaling? I’ve come up with my top 3 reasons:
- Most of us are visual creatures.
It is so much easier to remember the point or text behind a verse if you have a picture to go with it. I’ve read the Psalms many times, but I never noticed that God was bottling up the tears I shed until I read this translation. Or maybe I just skimmed over it. So I made a little sketch.
Whatever the reason that I missed this verse until recently, now I will always have this picture in my mind. The tears I shed in frustration or sorrow or joy are not ignored by Father God. He has seen and collected each one. The Bible says so.
- Paper remembers better than you do.
This is a statement that I used almost daily when I taught 8th grade, and I was trying to get my students to take notes in class. I’ve always been one to write things down – in a journal. I’ve taken notes or made doodles during sermons since the late 1970s. I even came across a collection of notes from that time period recently. (Yikes!) If I read a verse, I’ve spent a couple of minutes on it. If I write a note about it, there’s another 2-3 minutes. But, if I do art for a verse, I’ll spend several days on it. It soaks in. An hour here. An hour there. Planning. Sketching. Coloring. All the while, meditating on the verse.
- You get to spend time with the Author.
Since my novel came out, I’ve enjoyed chatting with readers and answering questions about characters and plotlines. It makes my characters come alive, and I’m bonding with my readers. Cool! But when you art in your Bible, you get to cultivate a relationship with the Creator of the universe! Spend time in His presence. This is the thing that gets me hooked.
This may not sound very Bible-y, but there have been times in my life when I would read a chapter in scripture (or 2 or 3) to say I read it and check it off my To-Do List. I wasn’t reading for nourishment. I was reading out of duty or obligation.
Let’s be honest. Wouldn’t YOU rather spend time with someone who wants to spend time with you than someone who feels obligated to do so? I would imagine God feels the same way. He wants us to want to be with Him. To crave our time at His feet.
?? Why did I mention making a “mess” in the title??
Because it’s not about beautiful art. It’s not about making your page look better than someone else’s. It’s not about impressing someone who looks at your Bible over your shoulder at church.
Give yourself permission to make a mistake in your Bible. Only God is perfection.
Go ahead. Make a mess. You might be surprised what He reveals to you.
Action Plan: Do you art in your Bible? Why or why not? Let me know!
Check back later this month for my new Bible Journaling page!
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I choose not to art in my Bible because I am easily distracted. I find the enemy will use any means possible to distract me as I’m reading God’s Word — especially if it’s something I like very much, like art. I have to keep pretty much everything separate from my Bible reading in order to make the most use of that very valuable time. That’s just me, though. (Secondarily, I’m not particularly gifted artistically, and find it takes 110% of my attention to get my head and hands in artsy mode. Like I said, easily distracted.) I’ve seen some wonderful artwork on Bible pages, though, and can admire and appreciate what others accomplish in that venue.
I completely understand. The Bible I use for journaling is NOT the one I use primarily for study. And, I started the artsy part in an inexpensive composition notebook first. Thanks for stopping by!
My first bible I wrote and underlined all in it. Through many house moves, it got misplaced. When I bought my current bible I decided not to write in it but journal instead, to keep the bible pristine. After seeing so many meaningful bible journaling, I feel like it is time to start journaling in my bible. I have a special study bible with large margins that my brother gave me. I can’t wait get started.
Thank you for sharing this.
I, too, have always underlined and written in my Bible. So when I saw art in a Bible, it was so exciting. Stay tuned for more info on Bible Journaling coming soon!