How to Start Bible Journaling: A Simple Guide for Beginners
Have you seen all those Pinterest pins and wondered how to start Bible journaling for yourself? Me too!
The New Year is a great time to kick off your Bible journaling journey! Bible journaling is a fantastic way to start reading your Bible more often and grow in your faith.
What about memorizing Scripture? Do you struggle with that? Bible journaling also helps encourage you in your Bible reading and memorization.
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What is Bible Journaling?
Have you ever written notes in your Bible or highlighted Scripture that stands out to you? Bible journaling is a creative way to help you study your Bible and memorize Scripture.
Bible journaling is a form of worship and study where you focus deeply on one particular Scripture. You can really engage with God’s Word by visually capturing what he is teaching you.
I started out just underlining verses. Then I began putting dates beside specific verses that spoke to me along with short notes. Next, I started using highlighters.
Then I discovered Bible journaling! It is so exciting because you can bring verses to life in the margins of your Bible. Some people even color the entire page—honest confession, I don’t have the courage to do that quite yet, but it is so beautiful!
What is the Purpose of Bible Journaling?
Do you have a creative side? Bible journaling allows you to tap into that creativity and bring Scripture alive with color. It helps you grow in your faith by encouraging you to spend more time in Scripture.
- Connect with God: He wants us to pray, study His Word, and communicate with Him daily.
- A Great Alternative to Writing: If you struggle with putting your thoughts into words, visual journaling gives you another way to express what’s in your heart.
- An Act of Worship: If God has given you artistic gifts, use those creative talents to praise Him!
How to Bible Journal in 4 Simple Steps
- Pray & Choose a Verse: Pick a verse from your daily reading or a promise from God that speaks directly to your heart.
- Reflect on the Word: Read the passage slowly. What key phrase, word, or truth stands out to you?
- Plan Your Page: Decide whether you want to write a short note, draw a simple outline, use margin templates, or add colored accents.
- Create & Worship: Use your pens, tape, or paints to bring that verse to life. Remember—it doesn’t have to be perfect; it’s an act of worship!
How Do I Know What Verse to Choose?
When you read your Bible, are there verses that immediately jump out at you?
You know those key verses that comfort you when you’re going through a hard time—that’s God speaking to you! Those are wonderful verses to start with.
Here are a few other quick ways to find inspiration:
- Current Bible Studies: Use the main passage from your current devotional or Bible study group to spark your creativity.
- Verses of Praise: If you’re stuck, pick a simple verse that praises God or highlights one of His promises.
Bible Journaling Supplies for Beginners
This is where the fun really begins! If you love crafting or browsing craft stores like Hobby Lobby, you’re going to love this part.
You don’t need everything at once! Here are the most popular supplies to build your beginner kit:
- Bibles: Journaling Bibles with wide, unlined margins or pre-printed line art to color in.
- Coloring & Writing Tools: Colored pens, highlighters, colored pencils, and watercolor paints.
- Decorative Accents: Washi tape and decorative stickers to instantly decorate page margins without needing any drawing skills!
Easy Bible Journaling Ideas
Heads up, sister—searching for inspiration can be a rabbit hole that takes days to recover from! But if you’re looking for fresh ideas, here are a few great places to start:
- Pinterest & Facebook Groups: Search for beginner Bible journaling groups. Communities like Bible Journaling for Beginners and Bible Journaling Community by Illustrated Faith offer incredible support and free courses.
- Etsy Templates: Search Etsy for margin templates. You can print them out, cut them, and tape them into your Bible, or place them behind a Bible page to trace through the paper.
Conclusion
In the end, what verses you decide to journal and what supplies you choose to use are entirely up to you. Worship and prayer are personal between you and God. The most important thing is that you are reading your Bible and spending quality time in His Word.
Spending time in prayer and Scripture is the best way to keep our hearts aligned with God. So get creative, and be sure to share your ideas—when we share our journey, it becomes a ministry that can encourage someone else!
What verse are you planning to journal first? Let me know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an expensive Journaling Bible to start?
No, you don’t! While Journaling Bibles offer wide margins, you can start in any standard Bible using a separate notebook, index cards, or simple margin stickies.
Will pens and highlighters bleed through Bible pages?
Because Bible paper is thin, regular ink can bleed through. Look for gel highlighters, colored pencils, or specific “no-bleed” Bible pens designed for thin paper.
What if I’m not creative or good at drawing?
Bible journaling isn’t about artistic perfection; it’s about spending quality time in God’s Word. You can use stickers, washi tape, or printable margin templates if you prefer not to draw by hand.
My daughter just got a new Bible Journaling Bible. It’s perfect for her (she’s 12 and very artistic). This post on how to start Bible Journaling is perfect for beginners!
Great ideas for journaling. I will try them out. Thanks for sharing
I love Bible journaling and so love this post! I love being creative, and you are right … a creative gift should be used to worship God! Love this post!
I love Bible journaling. A couple years ago I got a lovely Bible with wide margins that was perfect for journaling. I love turning the pages and see the beautiful reminders of God’s love that I’ve colored or drawn.
Love this! I really love Bible journaling and so loved all the tidbits and advice you have in this post. Thanks for writing it!
Do you know why I really love this post? Because by doing Bible journaling it gets people off of online Bible reading (which is great!) and into their personal Bibles. Thank you!
Thank you for this post on how to start Bible journaling! I have tried a few times but I sometimes get stuck on how to paint in my Bible. This post gives me confidence to try it again. And thank you so much for the templates!
What a great post and what a wonderful way to have the word of God settle down deeply into our arts. Plus, I love art! And many love being creative. It’s a great thing to combine the two – study of the Word and being creative.
I love Bible journalling. Over the last few years I’ve had all sorts of journalling Bibles, gel pens and all sorts of be stickers but I I found a really Bible of mine from years ago with just just plain old notes in blue biro. I love that spending time be in Gods word is what we make it. As flamboyant as a rainbow of simple like a biro pen xx
Anything that helps us slow down and meditate on God’s Word is a good thing. This post was very encouraging and helpful. Love the templates! Thank you for sharing! Blessings!
Just wanted to say Thank You so much for this lovely start to Bible Journalling!! God Bless