Christian Meditation & Journaling: Deep Dives with Dan & Sheila #168

Hi friends , this is Pastor Young from Not your Parents' Religion Podcast , and I approve the following deep dive Happy Thanksgiving everybody .

I'm Dan , and with me today is Sheila , and we are continuing our deep dive on Christian meditation .

Yes , we are . It's really wonderful to be back . We're diving deeper into the work of Pastor Robert Young this week from the Not your Parents Religion podcast .

You know I'm really excited about this .

Yeah .

Because we have something totally new to add to this whole exploration of Christian meditation .

We do .

We're talking about the Meditation Journal . Yes , I think this is so cool , and Pastor Young has some really fascinating insights into how journaling can actually like enhance your practice .

He really does . You know , in his latest work he explains that journaling is incredibly powerful when it comes to deepening your relationship with God and , you know , just helping you kind of understand your own spiritual journey .

That's so interesting and you know we always talk about actionable advice on the show .

We do , we love it .

And he seems to go beyond just telling us what to do .

Totally . He explains the why and the how of journaling and showing really like how it can transform your experience with Christian meditation . So , for example , he suggests using journaling to process like the thoughts and emotions that might arise during meditation . You know , it's sort of like you're creating a safe space to be completely honest with yourself .

With yourself and with God .

And with God , yes .

Yeah , and I love that he emphasizes authenticity .

Yes .

It's not about , like you know , trying to present this like perfect version of yourself . It's about going deep and being real with it .

Absolutely , and he actually gives a really interesting example . He says you know , if you're struggling with forgiveness during your meditation . He says you know you could journal about the situation . You can write a prayer asking God for guidance in , like , letting go of that anger . Wow , it's about putting those feelings into words and bringing them to God .

That's powerful , yeah , and you know what makes me think . How is that different from just writing in a diary ? You know , like , what would he say about that ?

Well , he does address that . He explains that , while a diary might focus more on , like recounting events , oh yeah , a Christian meditation journal is really about reflecting on your inner world and your relationship with God and noticing those patterns in your spiritual journey . That makes sense .

So it's not like a one size fits all .

No , not at all .

You can kind of tailor your approach based on what you're hoping to achieve .

Exactly , and that's a really good point . And he also highlights how journaling allows you to kind of track your spiritual growth over time . Oh that's cool . So by taking note of , you know , those moments when you felt God's presence or guidance , you can look back and really see how God has been working in your life .

It's like a tangible record .

It is .

I love that . Now , you know , I also wonder because that's so cool , but I wonder if it could make us too focused on achieving something in our spiritual practice .

Right .

You know , is there any danger in that ?

Right .

What are your thoughts on that ?

That is such a good question , Dan . He does acknowledge that some people might worry about becoming too goal-oriented with it .

Yeah .

And he emphasizes that journaling should be about cultivating a deeper connection with God .

Yes .

It's not about checking boxes or achieving milestones .

That makes sense . It's about the journey and not the destination .

Exactly and that brings us to another really interesting point that he makes that the act of journaling itself can become a form of meditation . It creates that focus , space for contemplation , you know , to help quiet the mind and connect with the heart .

So , even the process of writing down your prayers , your reflections , your scripture passages , it actually brings you closer to God .

Precisely . He really emphasizes that synergy between writing and prayer , I see , and suggesting that the act of writing can help us articulate our thoughts and feelings to God more clearly , leading to a deeper sense of connection , and he also stresses the importance of gratitude and mindfulness , encouraging us to journal those joyful moments , blessings .

That was good .

Answered prayers .

Yeah , all those things that Answered prayers , yeah , all those things that we tend to overlook sometimes .

Yeah , it's like training yourself to focus on the good .

Yes .

To cultivate a spirit of thankfulness .

Absolutely .

Which I think we could all use a little bit more of oh for sure , for sure .

And speaking of starting a journaling practice , yes , pastor Young has a fantastic resource to get you going .

He does . Pastor Young is actually offering his 30-day meditation journal for free . That's right . Just in time for December . Just in time for December . What a perfect way to start the new year .

A perfect way . You'll find the links to get your journal in the show notes , please do we highly recommend checking it out .

I think it's really powerful using journaling as a tool for self-discovery and deepening your relationship with God .

It really is , and while Pastor Young's approach is incredibly insightful , you know , it is important to remember that there are many ways to connect with God .

It's true .

Journaling is just one tool , and finding what resonates with you is key . That is a great point and we'd love to hear from you . Have you tried Christian meditation ? Have you tried journaling as part of your spiritual practice ? Let us know , share your experiences and your insights with us in the comments below . Until next time .

Bye everybody .

Happy Thanksgiving .

Hi , friend , this is Pastor Young again . I hope you enjoyed that deep dive and if you need more information or clarification about anything that was discussed in this episode , please do not hesitate to give us to get in contact with us and all of the ways to get in contact with us in the description box below .