On May 20th, 2023, I began a new journey—prayer journaling. I felt strongly God was trying to get me to start recording my prayers, so that’s exactly what I did. Something magical happens when we record something; it becomes more tangible, more real. We are able to go back in time and visibly see the way God has moved in our lives. Sometimes, when we pray out loud or in our heads, we have a tendency to forget we ever prayed it and thus, we are less grateful when God answers that prayer.

It’s not that prayer journaling makes it easier for God to hear us; God doesn’t need us to do anything for Him to hear us; He doesn’t even need us to pray because He already knows our hearts. Prayer is a demonstration of our faith that God hears us. Prayer is mainly for us; it’s for us to better know God, to better hear and understand Him. It’s a gift for us to be able to experience two way communication with our Creator. Journaling my prayers will serve as a reminder that I serve a God who hears me.

On May 23rd, 2023, I asked God for something in my journal. I asked Him to let me know He was with me that day because I needed Him. Later that morning when I arrived at work, I felt a sense of alone-ness. I missed my friend who had been gone for over a month from a work related injury. No one said good morning to me, and for some reason, I really just needed to hear it that day. After realizing my aide wasn’t there, I gathered my kids and made my way back to my room to get started on the long day ahead of me.

I heard the sweet sound of peaceful worship music as I entered a brightly sun lit room. It was as if He was waiting for me. He knew that’s exactly what I needed that day; He always knows what I need.

Stunned, I turned around to ask a nurse passing by in the hallway. “Did someone turn on the TV in here?” because that never happens before I or my aide make it to our room. “No, I think we were having some electricity issues earlier, and it must have turned it on.” She replied.

I smiled as I realized I had not listened to worship music all day the previous day, and if that’s what it landed on when the power came back on, it was without a doubt because He had read my prayer.

My TV never left worship music that day. That day, which started out as a slow and dreary day, turned into a day of rejoicing—I rejoiced to have gotten to witness the gift of a God who reads.