Want to Hear God More Clearly? Try Bible Journaling

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
-Psalm 119:105

At the beginning of 2025, my sister asked me if I wanted to read the entire Bible through with her in a year! It seemed like quite the feat at the time but I readily agreed after God had extended me my 2025 theme and invitation "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?"- John 4:29 The plan we chose seemed simple enough. We joined a Bible reading plan on the YouVersion app that included a devotional, assigned Scripture readings, and a little journaling section we could each fill out and read from one another.

My year started off with a bang, and I was on a roll. But I quickly realized there were far too many “goodies” I wanted to highlight, underline, and note—and reading on my phone just wasn’t cutting it anymore.

It’s honestly so funny how God works. Around that same time, my grandpa—who I absolutely love and adore—offered me one of his old Bibles, saying he didn’t need two. It felt like such a gift. I saw it as a fresh start, a way to dive into God’s Word in a deeper way with a Bible that already carried significance. It was also a tribute to a great man who helped me remember that faith and trust in God always mattered.

So I started marking it up.

I took notes on stickies, wrote in the margins, highlighted verses in pretty colors, added notebook paper with sermon notes, and soon... my Bible began to look well-loved. Actually, really well-loved. Each mark became a memory, a moment of revelation—a whisper from God I didn’t want to forget. It stopped being just reading and became a full-on conversation with God. A personal journey. A living, breathing relationship built page by page.

I loved how my Bible—God’s love letter to us—became so personalized. It felt like He had written the book just for me. God kept drawing me back to certain verses when I needed comfort or guidance, and because they were marked and noted, I could revisit what He had already taught me. It became a loving reminder that I was never alone—and that His faithfulness never wavers.

Bible journaling helped me actually see my spiritual journey unfold right in front of me. The struggles, the hopes, the little breakthroughs. It brought His Word closer to my heart and made my time with Him more intentional and more honest.

So, what is Bible journaling?

For me, it’s writing in my Bible, decorating it with washi tape, using color-coded tabs to guide my prayer questions, adding sermon notes, and sticking in little reminders of God’s love. But honestly? Bible journaling can be whatever feels meaningful to you. It's all about slowing down, engaging deeply, and letting Scripture take root in your heart.

If you’ve ever thought about Bible journaling but didn’t know where to start—or felt like you weren’t “artistic” enough—throw that lie straight in the rubbish. (That’s the enemy talking. And he knows the power of someone who’s falling in love with God’s Word.)

Bible journaling is not about perfect handwriting or expensive supplies. (Although if you are that amazing artist—go you! I’m kind of jealous—ha!) It’s simply about opening your heart and letting Scripture speak personally to you. Maybe that’s underlining a verse, writing out a prayer, or doodling a little heart next to a passage that brings peace. (And if it helps… I’ve got hearts on practically every page.)

Convinced, but not sure where to start? Don’t panic—I’ve got your back.

When I wanted to “up my game” and make my Bible something I truly cherished, I turned to my old friends Pinterest and YouTube. (They’re basically the holy grail of Bible journaling inspiration. Just beware—it’s a beautiful rabbit hole.)

Two of my favorite YouTubers are:

• Faith Womack (The Bible Nerd):
  Faith’s videos are filled with solid advice and sweet encouragement. She studied in seminary and now shares everything she’s learning, so others don’t have to pay thousands to understand Scripture deeply. Her heart and insights are genuine, and I may or may not have gotten distracted watching one of her 20-minute videos on How to Start Bible Journaling while writing this post. (Oops.)
  
• Chosen & Cherished:
  This lovely woman adds timeless beauty to her Bibles. As a DIY girl myself, I adore that she teaches you how to add soft, meaningful notes and decorations that feel elegant but approachable. Her tutorials are simple and affordable—and her recent video on creating waterfall pages? I’m obsessed.

There are probably countless others I haven’t discovered yet, but I try to spend more time in my Bible than scrolling for ideas. (That said… if Nena Paz Luv ever comes out of retirement, I’m still dreaming of owning one of her Bible covers. 😍)

The truth is, Bible journaling should reflect you—your style, your heart, your relationship with God. It’s not about looking like someone else’s page. It’s about falling in love with the timeless truth of Scripture and growing closer to God in a way that’s real and meaningful.

Please remember though, God doesn't ask us for perfect pages. He just asks that we come.

Since I started Bible journaling, I’ve had two very different encounters with fellow believers.

One person “lovingly rebuked” me for the way my Bible looked. They commented that it appeared as if it had fallen in water and said I wasn’t treating it with the care and reverence it deserved. I’ll admit — the spine of my Bible has come unglued, and the pages have curved so much over time that it forms more of a heart shape than it resembles a book.

But then, there was another encounter.

While I was away taking a nap during a visit, a sweet friend found my Bible on her table. She later shared with me that she’d been going through a rough time—navigating some heavy family struggles. She opened my Bible, knowing I wouldn’t mind, and found scriptures marked with notes, reflections, and prayers in correlation to the verses she felt prompted to read. She said it helped her feel God’s presence and gave her a clearer sense of who He is and how deeply He loves her.

That’s when I realized: not everyone will share the same beliefs about how a Bible should be treated — and that’s okay.

For me, Bible journaling doesn’t feel like I’m defacing my Bible. It feels like I’m filling it with love, prayers, and a growing relationship with God. It’s where I capture the whispers of His Spirit, the lessons He’s taught me, and the verses that anchor me on hard days. It’s how I make His love letter personal — not just words on a page, but a lived conversation.

In the end, Bible journaling is a deeply personal choice.

Whether your Bible is falling apart, filled with color and notes, or perfectly pristine with untouched pages — both are acceptable to the Lord. What matters most is the heart behind it. He doesn’t ask for perfect pages — just that we come to Him and let His words be engraved on our hearts.