What are you afraid of? In this post, I debunk three common “myths” about Bible journaling, that tend to intimidate and keep you from getting started.
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This past weekend, I saw something totally awesome! I’d been wanting to see it, ever since my mom told me about it more than five years ago.
The Cross at Kerrville, is beyond words! A 77′ 7″ tall cross, bronze statues of Jesus, a prayer garden, and did I mention the whole site plan is in the shape of a cross? If you live in Texas, or are visiting anytime soon, put this on your must-see list! Kerrville is only a ~1-3 hour drive from Austin or San Antonio.
I could go on and on… But, the one detail I want to focus on for this post, is the walkway at the Cross. It’s covered in Bible verses…every few feet, there is another verse, translated into three different languages. You can see them in the above photo on the left. Totally awesome!
This is why I love Bible journaling, y’all. God’s Word is ALIVE, awesome, full of truth and wisdom, just waiting for us to discover it. We can’t just leave our Bibles closed…we need to dive in deep, to receive all the life-giving nourishment, guidance, and hope that Scripture contains!
But I know, Bible journaling (and even just studying) can be intimidating! The Bible is so huge, it can seem quite daunting and mysterious at first.
And then there’s the ‘I’m-afraid-to-mark-up-my-Bible’ problem…
I remember many years ago, I saw someone at church open their Bible, and it was full of highlights and scribbles in the margins. At the time, I thought it was an abomination! Who writes in their Bible??! God’s Word should be pristine and unblemished, right?
Um, actually NO. I’ve come to realize, that the best Bible is one that’s dog-eared, full of notes in the margins, with tabs and bookmarks sticking out everywhere! Because THAT, is a beautiful sight, and a sign that we’re spending time in God’s Word, getting to know Jesus, and learning how to live for Him.
3 Bible Journaling Myths, Debunked
But to get there, you have to actually crack open your Bible! And that’s where these three “myths” come in. These are the common misconceptions that keep us in fear; afraid to get started, afraid to mess up, etc.
I don’t know where you’re at in your knowledge of God’s Word. Maybe you’re a new believer, with a brand new Bible in hand. Or perhaps you’ve tried Bible journaling before, but you haven’t continued to do it, because it feels too hard. You might even be a seasoned Bible study pro, but you’ve never tried Bible journaling because you’re not “creative” enough.
Whatever the case, I hope this will give you the courage to start Bible journaling, or if you’ve already began, to study God’s Word more often!
MYTH #1: The Bible is too vast // too difficult to understand // I’m not smart enough // I don’t even know where to start. I feel you, I really do. I mean, I’ve been there! Reading the Bible is a little bit like learning a foreign language… At first, you understand only some of what you hear. But then, the more words you learn, the more you listen, and the more you converse in that language, the more fluent you become.
If you’ve never read the Bible before, start with Genesis, and then read the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). I highly recommend the NIV Life Application Bible, which has great notes that explain the history and context of each passage, and how it applies to us today. I’m also a big fan of the FREE Through the Word app, which has audio guides to help you understand what you’re reading.
MYTH #2: Bible journaling has to be perfect // I can’t do it because I have no prior art background. Umm..can your kid finger paint? Well, then you can color in your Bible! Nobody does it “perfectly”; not me, nor the most talented painter in the world, nor anyone else. Just give it your best shot, and try to capture what each verse or Scripture passage means to you. Use journaling as a way to document what God is showing you, as opposed to just making it look “pretty”.
Heck, sometimes even the mistakes can be powerful lessons in and of themselves! Be open to what God is saying to you, through His Word, and also through the (messy, imperfect) process of journaling.
MYTH #3: Bible journaling takes too much time. Okay, so this one can be true, if you’re creating an elaborate full-page illustration. But highlighting a few verses, drawing little symbols in the margins, and sticking a post-it flag on the edge of the page? Those things take very little time at all.
If Bible journaling is something you enjoy, and you’re thirsting to spend more time in God’s Word, there are plenty of ways to make time for it (as in, cut out things that are less important, like playing mindless games on your smartphone). But if life is so crazy at the moment that all you have is five minutes, do whatever you can fit into that time.
Want more Bible journaling help? I’ve got you covered…
Bible Journaling: Yes, YOU can do it too! (Here’s how)
Simple Bible Journaling Ideas You Can Do in Less Time
Bible Journaling Hacks for the Creatively Challenged
Bible Journaling for Beginners (The easiest way to get started!)
My Top Ten Favorite Bible Journaling Supplies!
Hi! Thank you so much for visiting Divine Creative Love. I’m a Jesus-lovin’ girl, lettering artist, designer, and general creative-at-heart. And, I have narcolepsy. I blog about faith in God, overcoming challenges, and creative topics such as Bible journaling. If you’re new here, be sure and subscribe to my list so you won’t miss anything!