Explorer’s Tools

Questions for Journaling

Jun 02, 2026

By my twentieth year, I had failed enough. Something needed to change. Falling asleep while praying became a distressingly regular pattern. Finally, I realized that writing down key phrases from my daily Bible reading and recording a few prayers enabled me to stay awake during quiet time with God. Since then, journaling before the Lord has been my habit and a highlight of each day.

While maintaining general consistency, I adapted the approach, content, and structure of these quotidian entries to the inspiration or needs of particular moments. My typical format cites Scripture verses before cycling through forms of thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and petition. Changes in these patterns marked various seasons of my life. During periodic decisions to write an increased number of daily pages for several months, I went through journals more quickly (photograph above).[i] Traveling in close quarters considerably shortened my output and augmented my use of codes. Flexibility has supported continuing this spiritual discipline for many years.

Shaking up my reflective practices on purpose also helped motivate me. Perpetual Bible reading has always given me topics beyond fleeting emotions or the events of a specific day. In addition to changing my Scripture reading approaches,[ii] I have explored questions through journaling. If you’re looking for fresh material to guide your daily private writing, I encourage you to consider the following question-based options.

Scripture itself supplies excellent prompts for personal writing.[iii] Jesus asked hundreds of potentially open-ended questions. His Sermon on the Mount alone includes a range from simple to challenging opportunities for self-reflection. Christ counted on a predictable answer to the following: “Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?” (Matthew 7:9, CSB) But He pressed against societal norms when asking, “For if you love only those who love you, what reward will you have?” (Matthew 5:46a, Lamsa) And Jesus gently exposed futile preoccupations: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27, MSB) He wove memorable questions into parables. For instance, the vineyard owner annoyed by a fruitless fig tree asked, “Why should it waste the soil?” (Luke 13:7, ISV) Thinking about how these questions relate to specific areas of our lives could provide insights.

Rather than responding in the most straightforward way, Jesus questioned groups and individuals. His own disciples were invited to search their minds and discuss their answers: “But who do you say that I [Christ] am?” (Mark 8:29b, NKJV) Jesus’ adversaries were interrogated in turn: “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4b, ESV) The Lord even relied on questions when speaking with political authorities.[iv] He prodded Pilate: “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” (John 18:34, NRSV) Jesus’ habits of engaging with people are worth emulating when we seek to discover what is in our own hearts.

Beyond purely Scriptural sources, prompts in trusted guides offer valuable suggestions for reflection. Many Bible studies and spiritual journaling aids exist. I encourage you to ask someone you trust in your local church’s leadership for recommendations. If nobody from your circle is ready to advise, you might consider examples published by Community Bible Study or Bible Study Fellowship. Their books and discussion groups have been utilized by Christians I know, including Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and non-denominational believers.[v]

To concentrate on the power of God’s Word throughout a particularly troubling season, I drafted, tested, and revised a Scripture journaling tool. The Holy Spirit utilized this series of Bible passages and questions to help me persevere. I’m thankful for the ways these verses and prompts guided my thoughts in productive directions. After proving its personal usefulness, I decided to share that material by publishing Alphabet Prayer: Meditations on Scripture (cover detail illustrated above; ISBN-13: 979-8286304677).[vi] It appeared a year ago today.

After pairing nature photography and calligraphic letters to introduce each section (see above),[vii] I quoted a short passage from Scripture, then wrote three questions. The letter “G” entry began: “… GRASS withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8, WEB). Reflection prompts were: “How does the cited verse fit within its chapter? Which Bible passages about grass’s transience give you an expanded understanding of this verse? Compare with II Kings 19:26, Job 8:12-13, Psalm 103:15, and Luke 12:28. Do you hope to see a specific promise in [Scripture] fulfilled for all time?” Organizing with similar principles, I developed a twenty-six-part series pairing questions with alphabetized Biblical sources about faith and shared it on my Substack between 17 June and 15 December 2025.[viii]

Whether inspiration for your reflective writing is drawn directly from the Bible or combined with study aids, I hope it contributes to your spiritual growth. May you experience what the Apostle Paul wrote: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17, NIV). Please comment with your thoughts and tips about question-based journaling through Scripture or other responses to this topic.

[i] Photograph by the author. A sampling of my past journals from school days to this decade are pictured. Unless I find a better fit for this summer, the unused pair down front are probably next in line.

[ii] For multiple Bible-reading plans, see: https://vernacularbibleexplorer.substack.com/p/explorers-tools, accessed June 2026.

[iii] Several websites list examples. Here are a few: https://cslewiscourses.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/173questionsjesusasked.pdf, https://redletterchallenge.com/the-305-questions-jesus-asked-with-one-shocking-discovery/, and https://spiritualdirection.com/2026/03/15/100-questions-jesus-asked-and-you-should-answer, accessed June 2026.

[iv] Other instances include John 18:21 and 23.

[v] https://www.bsfinternational.org/ and https://www.communitybiblestudy.org/, accessed June 2026.

[vi] Cover photography and design by the author. Please use the ISBN to search on www.Amazon.com and find a free sample available there.

[vii] Photograph and penwork by the author. The printed journal uses black-and-white photographs, because I wanted to reduce consumer costs, but the e-book version has full-color images. To learn more about North America’s native marsh-marigold plants, read: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/caltha_palustris.shtml, accessed June 2026.

[viii] This series is bookended by A and Z entries at https://vernacularbibleexplorer.substack.com/p/alphabet-prayer-meditations-on-belief and https://vernacularbibleexplorer.substack.com/p/alphabet-prayer-meditations-on-belief-ae1, respectively, accessed June 2026.