What value is there in Christian journaling?

The final results of our analysis might well be transferred to another book in which things were put in a more orderly way. This suggests the use of at least two kinds of note-books from the outset. The writer would only give some of the results of his own experience in this direction. No doubt, each one would find special means adapted to his peculiar needs. We would suggest, then, having two books, one perhaps larger and forming part of a series of such note-books, in which the results of our study could be entered in a more orderly and careful way; but we should have a handy book in which we can jot down everything as it comes up. Disconnected thoughts perhaps, outlines of verses or of chapters, questions which occur to us; hundreds of matters which will escape our memories if we let them go, but which are fastened definitely by being thus recorded. We might call such a note-book in which entries like this were made, the daybook, and the more permanent and orderly one, the ledger. Just as in a day-book each entry is put down, often quite hastily and with only a separating mark to distinguish it from the following entry, so this note-book should be used freely for everything. It can be of small size, so as to be conveniently carried in the pocket or bag, to jot down on every occasion our gleanings in the field of divine truth. In this also we might keep a memorandum of work done, and thus mark each day's progress. As we read our daily chapter, something that has struck us in it may at once be put down.

It is also before us as we take up our work of analysis, and we have no hesitation in blocking out the contents of a verse three or four times if necessary, until we get something like a real list of what is there. During the day other things occur to us, perhaps from our Old Testament reading, or something is suggested, not closely connected with our special study; but it too finds a place here. Such a book is wonderfully interesting when it is completed,and serves as a kind of diary of each day in connection with divine things.

This will suffice to give a hint how such a book can be used. The daily date will serve as a kind of diary, and whenever meetings have been attended, or things of that kind, they could also be entered here. It is not advised that we should pursue the methods of the diaries of many godly Christians which have been preserved for us, in which thoughts and states are dwelt upon. Introspection is never a healthy or profitable occupation, except for necessary self-judgment, and is reserved for the privacy of our closets with God; and even here we are only to be sufficiently occupied with self to judge our ways and to turn more completely to the Lord and His blessed Word. A record of our goings and doings is of comparatively small value, but it is indeed a comfort if we can connect our life's history with our progress in the knowledge of God's precious Word.

But let us not be misunderstood. We do not, by any means, wish to give countenance to the habit of dwelling merely upon our own experience. This is often very poor work, and resolves itself into self occupation. We have to guard against this as one of the many things which tend to lower our spiritual tone and draw our hearts away from Christ. But we need never be afraid of the result of dwelling upon the record of the Lord's dealings and ways with us. This is a blessed habit, tending ever to lift us out of ourselves, and fill us with praise and thanksgiving.

Why, we may ask, were Israel charged to "remember all the way" by which the Lord their God had led them? Assuredly, to draw out their hearts in praise for the past, and to strengthen their confidence in God for the future. Thus it must ever be. "We'll praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that's to come." May we do so more and more! May we just move on, day by day, praising and trusting, trusting and praising. These are the two things which redound to the glory of God, and to our peace and joy in Him. When the eye rests on the "Eben-ezers" which lie all along the way, the heart must give forth its sweet "Hallelujahs" to Him who has helped us hitherto, and will help us right on to the end. He has delivered, and He doth deliver, and He will deliver. Blessed chain! Its every link is divine deliverance.

Nor is it merely upon the signal mercies and gracious deliverances of our Father's hand that we are to dwell, with devout thankfulness, but also upon the "humblings" and the "provings" of His wise, faithful and holy love. All these things are full of richest blessing to our souls. They are not, as people sometimes call them, "mercies in disguise," but plain, palpable, unmistakable mercies for which we shall have to praise our God throughout the golden ages of that bright eternity which lies before us.

"Tuesday, May 9, 19 — . Daily reading in the family, Exodus 20, the law. Ought not the ten commandments to be committed to memory by every one? Would it not increase conviction of sin in the unsaved, and gratitude in the hearts of believers? Was struck with the effect of the law upon the people, putting them at a distance, and then God's gracious provision of the altar by which we are brought nigh. Thus, the wounding and healing are put side by side. Study the subject further."

December 31st, 1567. It seems a long time since I wrote anything in my MS. book. A great many things have happened since I last turned its pages, but some days were so dark and sorrowful that I had no heart to write at all; and yet, hardly an hour ago, as dear mother and I sat alone enjoying the cheerful blaze of the wood fire, just before Truyken brought in the candles, and talked over the story of the year that is just closing, we felt, as well as said, that God had been very good to us, "a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." (Nahum 1:7.)

As the following Meditations were more the expression of my feelings, than any attempt at exposition, when they were written, I have not thought it right to alter a single word in a second edition. As such, they remain as a memorial of my experience at that time. And I can truly thank the Lord for any measure of communion with Him that is traceable in these pages. That He may continue to bless the little book to many precious souls is my most earnest prayer. A.M. London.

To the dear young Christians I address myself. Do cultivate this speaking to God in secret, and having your private history with God. Take time, get into your closet, shut the door and get to know what the mind of the Lord is as to yourself; and know this much, if you come out from the presence of the Lord, you cannot come out with fleshly pretension, you cannot come out with carnal ambitions in the things of the Lord.

In Nature, in Providence, in Grace, the child of God receives impressions which can never be forgotten. In Nature, the gorgeous sunset — the first sight of a mountain — the great and wide sea, may open a window through which to behold the power and glory of God; in Providence, recovery from an almost fatal illness — the birth of the first child — bereavement, may be used to show us yet deeper wonders; in Grace — the happy day of conversion and peace with God — the day of baptism — the day when first "He was known to us in the Breaking of the Bread," all are red-letter days in the calendar of the soul's experience. "There He spake with us," and no subsequent happenings can efface the marks from our lives.

Let us now suppose that he determines to adopt the fifteen minute schedule of Bible study, and sets apart the time in the morning. He rises and begins the work. Perhaps the first feeling will be one of discouragement and distance, and he will be tempted to throw it all aside and resume his more easy-going manner but he has a conscience toward God and perseveres. Occasionally he "oversleeps," but at the end, we will say, of two weeks, the habit is in a fair way of being established to rise a half hour earlier than was his custom in order that he may not be unduly hurried. Instead of a wild rush at breakfast, with perhaps slips of temper and forgetfulness, a certain quietness and happiness of spirit takes its place. Something has interested him in his work and a glance at the newspaper suffices instead of the absorbing perusal of columns of worthless matter. Lunch hour finds him eager to finish something that he began in the morning, and his earlier rising makes him ready for retirement earlier than before. We say nothing now of the effect of the word of God upon his conscience and heart, but merely its tonic influence upon his habits. In a year's time, can any of us doubt that the effect upon his whole life will be so marked that his profiting will appear unto all?

"All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware to your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no." (Vers. 1, 2.)

It is, at once, refreshing, edifying and encouraging to look back over the whole course along which the faithful hand of our God has conducted us; to trace His wise and gracious dealings with us; to call to mind His many marvellous interpositions on our behalf, how He delivered us out of this strait and that difficulty; how, oft-times, when we were at our wits' end, He appeared for our help, and opened the way before us, rebuking our fears and filling our hearts with songs of praise and thanksgiving.

We must not, by any means, confound this delightful exercise with the miserable habit of looking back at our ways, our attainments, our progress, our service, what we have been able to do, even though we are ready to admit, in a general way, that it was only by the grace of God that we were enabled to do any little work for Him. All this only ministers to self complacency, which is destructive of all true spirituality of mind. Self-retrospection, if we may be allowed to use such a term, is quite as injurious in its moral effect as self-introspection. In short self occupation, in any of its multiplied phases, is most pernicious; it is, in so far as it is allowed to operate, the death-blow to fellowship. Anything that tends to bring self before the mind must be judged and refused, with stern decision; it brings in barrenness, darkness and feebleness. For a person to sit down to look back at his attainments or his doings, is about as wretched an occupation as any one could engage in. We may be sure it was not to any such thing as this that Moses exhorted the people when he charged them to "Remember all the way by which the Lord their God had led them."