Journaling as a Spiritual Practice
Tracing the Lines of Grace to God's Presence
- Prayer & Spiritual Formation
- Publisher: Moody Publishers
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
To journal is to trace the lines of grace and find, He is with me after all. Sometimes we feel misplaced. Tender. Threadbare. And in those hollow spaces, we can wonder, Where is God? For over a decade, Allison Byxbe experienced sorrow upon sorrow. As the grief buried her, Allison was desperate for a way to reconnect to God's presence. Journaling through Scripture became her lifeline to God. Journaling as a Spiritual Practice outlines Allison's transformative journey from grief and depression to healing and wholeness. The Bible is filled with rich language and pictures that reveal our triune God—living water, bread, a door, a gentle whisper. Journaling through Scripture's metaphors became her lifeline—a way to process the grief, to make sense of the impossible, and to encounter and then fully live in the presence of God once again. This book guides readers through the spiritual practice of journaling. Each chapter weaves in Allison's journey, includes journaling examples and prompts, and shows you how to journal. Readers will immediately begin applying what they learn. Are you looking for a fresh way to hear and experience God? Be mended by His mercy? Find shelter beneath His wing? Immerse yourself in Scripture through journaling, and you will find your way back into His presence.
Endorsements (7)
“This book is a gift to anyone walking through sorrow, anxiety, or spiritual disorientation. If you've known journaling could help you through your journey but have stared at a blank page and wondered where on earth to begin, this is the book you've been waiting for. Drawing on her training in therapeutic and spiritual journaling as well as her own lived experience of 'sorrow upon sorrow,' Allison Byxbe offers a practical, compassionate guide for meeting God on the page and turns journaling from an intimidating solo activity into a warm invitation to sit with Jesus and your own story. In these pages you'll find simple how-tos, honest personal reflections, and thoughtful prompts that make it natural to put pen to page and discover, line by line, that God really is with you. Journaling as a Spiritual Practice will encourage beginners and long-time journalers alike.”
“I have to be one of the least likely candidates to write a review on a book about journaling! I've been on numerous journaling 'kicks' over the years, because I felt like I should, or knew deep down that it would be helpful. However, after a couple of months (okay weeks; okay days!) those journals would inevitably end up on my office shelf with ample blank sheets. This book helped me solidify the 'why' and also gave me enough of the 'how' to re-engage my journaling efforts. Allison does a masterful job of weaving her personal narrative into the practice of journaling.”
“Journaling as a Spiritual Practice reflects the same depth of insight I have witnessed in Allison's teaching. Having journeyed through the book myself, I can attest to the skill with which she integrates psychological principles into her prompts. Along the way, there are moments of challenge and moments of renewal, times of emotional release and times of fresh strength. Allison has given us a gift in this book. It is a companion for the weary, a guide for the searching, and a tool for anyone longing to encounter healing through the practice of journaling. I commend it to you with great confidence, knowing that it will meet you wherever you are and lead you toward deeper wholeness.”
“I first encountered Allison's journaling prompts at a retreat, and even as a lifelong journaler, they helped me recognize God's hand in my story from a new perspective. Journaling as a Spiritual Practice blends thoughtful prompts with Allison's own poignant story of pain, response, and healing. This book is a wonderful choice for anyone seeking to write with depth and hope.”
“As a writer and occasional journaler, I reluctantly walked into one of Allison's journaling sessions, almost certain I already knew all I needed to know. But that evening, I met another part of myself. It was as if Allison held my hand as I went deep inside and found the silenced places within me. My pen became a microphone, and journaling became an invitation for my soul to speak. That moment gave voice to the quiet corners of my heart, and through journaling, I began to hear and see myself in ways I never imagined. Journaling as a Spiritual Practice invites readers to do the same: to slow down, listen inwardly, and encounter God through the written word. This book is not just about writing; it is about spiritual renewal, healing, and rediscovering the holy presence of God within the pages of our own stories. I am overjoyed that through her new book, the world now gets a chance to experience that same renewal.”
“Every word dips your heart deeper into the grip of pain and doubt she so clearly struggled with. Just when you think you're in deep waters with her, she pulls you deeper still. Journaling with Allison's prompts can lead you back to this one profound truth, an awareness that God is here. Do your soul a favor and put pen to page with Allison Byxbe.”
“If you've ever had the joy of learning from Allison in a journaling class, this book feels like bringing her home with you! Journaling as a Spiritual Practice reminds me of sitting down for a meaningful conversation with a friend—one who asks just the right questions. Through her reflections and prompts, you'll discover new insights about yourself and learn how to let God's transformative presence flow through the simple act of putting pen to paper.”
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