5 Bible Journaling Tips for Beginners

The more you explore the scriptures, the more you understand and connect with God. Bible journaling is a creative way: with a pen, you can read and study the Word, visually capture scriptures, memorize text, and even make it easier to share with your friends and family. But how do you go about it?

So what should you write about? Writing the scripture word-for-word is the most basic approach, helping you remember a particular verse. You can even write out a different version that gives you better comprehension.

Paraphrasing what you’re reading (summing it up in your own words), listing key verses you want to remember, putting down a hymn or poem that a scripture reminds you of, or even including a prayer—the journal can take it all.

You can also jot down issues happening in your life at that moment and reflect on how to relate to what you’re learning from studying the Word.

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The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (Case for ... Series)

Strobel, Lee (Author)
English (Publication Language)

Now, let’s get you started.

What You Need

First, gather the supplies. At the top of the list is a journaling Bible. This one has wide margins where you can jot down notes as you read the Word.

Then, of course, you’ll also need a pen. You can use watercolor kits, crayons, or colored pencils to highlight different sections, and stickers and stamps to brighten up the pages also come in handy.

5 Tips to Get Started

1. Choose a journaling Bible, praise book, or notebook.

When creating your journal entries, there are numerous options to choose from. Some journaling Bibles come with wide, ruled margins for taking notes, while others offer blank columns to give you more room for illustrations.

Also, consider the cover type, whether plain leather or decorative. Some people also prefer to journal in conventional Bibles. It all boils down to your individual preferences and budget.

2. Stick to one decorative medium at a time.

Sure, you can go all out and use the watercolor kits, paints, washi tape, crayons, and colored pencils, but things can quickly get out of control.

For beginners, it’s recommended that you first start with conventional tools like colored pencils and markers. After that, you can make things more exciting with stamps and washi tape before leaping paints.

3. Pick a starting point—a favorite scriptural verse.

Whether it’s pulled from a sermon you heard last weekend, a scripture that has stuck with you since childhood, or a verse you just happened to stumble upon on social media that called to you, go there and make it the starting point for your Bible journaling journey.

Can’t decide on a verse? Go old school and start from Genesis 1. Once you come to a scripture that you feel is speaking to you, you will know it—and that will be where you make the first notes with your pen.

4. Don’t be afraid to mess up.

It can happen to anyone! Ruining a page doesn’t mean God will strike you down. Use decorative elements and your creativity to deal with the mess—put some decorative tape over a page that has been ripped, and carry on with your journaling.

5. Connect with other Bible journalers.

Plenty of like-minded Christians have Bible journals, from friends and mentors to fellow church members. Share concepts with them. It’s also a great way to build new relationships.

Express Yourself and Your Faith Creatively

Bible journaling isn’t as difficult as it appears—and it’s tons of fun, too. Detail your interpretation of each scripture with creative representations in the Bible or an accompanying notebook. The end goal is to continue growing your relationship with God.

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