A Christian Pilgrim's Journal

My grandmother kept a diary her entire life. She began when she was sixteen and continued—one notebook after the next—until she passed away at ninety. I never saw her diaries, but I do have a Bible that was given to her when my uncle was fighting in World War II. Her name is on the cover, along with a handwritten note from the person who gifted it to her.

From the condition of the Bible, it doesn’t appear she read it much, if at all. Perhaps she spent her time praying that her son would return safely from the war. Like so many, my uncle came home… but he was forever changed.

I never wanted to keep a diary.

Most of the people I knew who kept diaries were women, and they kept them under lock and key. It was as if “Top Secret” was written across the cover, with “Deadly Force Authorized” as the subtitle. Everyone knew—you don’t read someone else’s journal.

That made sense to me.

I had done enough things in life—things I wasn’t proud of—that I wouldn’t want anyone reading about them. So why would I write them down and then have to guard them with my life? My conscience was enough to remind me what not to do.

Besides, journal or no journal, I couldn’t hide anything from God… even though at the time, I didn’t fully realize He was watching.

But after I became a believer—even in those first early steps—I sensed God encouraging me to write.

And when you start writing publicly, especially in a blog, it’s easy to become aware of who is reading and what impact it’s having. It doesn’t take much to drift into writing for yourself… for recognition… for the numbers… rather than writing for God.

That’s where a Christian pilgrim’s journal comes in.

In a sense, it’s like a diary—but instead of writing for yourself, you are writing to God. You put what is on your mind and heart on the page, without over-sanitizing it. In fact, the more honest, the better.

You can tell Him anything.

After all, you can’t write anything He doesn’t already know.

But there is a difference.

You write as if your journal is open—resting on the desk—for anyone to read. You’re not hiding it away, nor are you trying to attract an audience. You’re simply allowing those who are drawn to it… or called by God… to read along.

There is no pressure.

Not on the writer.
Not on the reader.

There is simply the act of walking with Jesus… and writing to Him along the way.

And there is something quietly therapeutic about it.

You begin to clear the cobwebs the world spins around your mind. Your thoughts settle. Your focus returns to Him.

Sometimes, like now, I sense His presence—encouraging me to keep talking, to keep writing, to keep sharing my day with Him.

So if you—whoever you may be—have ever thought about starting your own Christian pilgrim’s journal…

Be bold.

Begin today.

Who knows… perhaps one day I’ll read what you’ve written.

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“Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8 (NKJV)