Christian Meditation & Journaling: Deep Dives with Dan & Sheila #168

Unlock the secrets of spiritual growth through the art of journaling in Christian meditation! In our latest episode, we sit down with Pastor Robert Young from the Not Your Parents' Religion Podcast. Pastor Young shares his groundbreaking approach to meditation, emphasizing journaling as a tool to foster a deeper connection with God. Learn how the simple act of writing can transform your spiritual practice, offering a safe haven for self-reflection and an authentic dialogue with God. Pastor Young guides us through various journaling techniques, from prayer to gratitude, each serving as a unique pathway to spiritual enlightenment.

Join us as we explore the profound questions surrounding journaling in spiritual practices. Can writing become its own meditative ritual, or is there a danger of becoming overly focused on goals? Pastor Young addresses these concerns, advocating for journaling as a journey of heart and mind rather than a checklist of achievements. Discover how chronicling your spiritual journey can reveal the subtle workings of God in your life and serve as a testament to personal growth. This episode promises not only insight but also inspiration to enrich your spiritual life through the power of words.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:00

Hi friends, this is Pastor Young from Not your Parents' Religion Podcast, and I approve the following deep dive Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

Speaker 2 0:17

I'm Dan, and with me today is Sheila, and we are continuing our deep dive on Christian meditation.

Speaker 3 0:23

Yes, we are. It's really wonderful to be back. We're diving deeper into the work of Pastor Robert Young this week from the Not your Parents Religion podcast.

Speaker 2 0:31

You know I'm really excited about this.

Speaker 3 0:33

Yeah.

Speaker 2 0:33

Because we have something totally new to add to this whole exploration of Christian meditation.

Speaker 3 0:38

We do.

Speaker 2 0:39

We're talking about the Meditation Journal. Yes, I think this is so cool, and Pastor Young has some really fascinating insights into how journaling can actually like enhance your practice.

Speaker 3 0:49

He really does. You know, in his latest work he explains that journaling is incredibly powerful when it comes to deepening your relationship with God and, you know, just helping you kind of understand your own spiritual journey.

Speaker 2 1:03

That's so interesting and you know we always talk about actionable advice on the show.

Speaker 3 1:06

We do, we love it.

Speaker 2 1:07

And he seems to go beyond just telling us what to do.

Speaker 3 1:10

Totally. He explains the why and the how of journaling and showing really like how it can transform your experience with Christian meditation. So, for example, he suggests using journaling to process like the thoughts and emotions that might arise during meditation. You know, it's sort of like you're creating a safe space to be completely honest with yourself.

Speaker 2 1:32

With yourself and with God.

Speaker 3 1:33

And with God, yes.

Speaker 2 1:34

Yeah, and I love that he emphasizes authenticity.

Speaker 3 1:37

Yes.

Speaker 2 1:38

It's not about, like you know, trying to present this like perfect version of yourself. It's about going deep and being real with it.

Speaker 3 1:45

Absolutely, and he actually gives a really interesting example. He says you know, if you're struggling with forgiveness during your meditation. He says you know you could journal about the situation. You can write a prayer asking God for guidance in, like, letting go of that anger. Wow, it's about putting those feelings into words and bringing them to God.

Speaker 2 2:03

That's powerful, yeah, and you know what makes me think. How is that different from just writing in a diary? You know, like, what would he say about that?

Speaker 3 2:11

Well, he does address that. He explains that, while a diary might focus more on, like recounting events, oh yeah, a Christian meditation journal is really about reflecting on your inner world and your relationship with God and noticing those patterns in your spiritual journey. That makes sense. Yeah, he outlines all these different methods for journaling, so like prayer journaling, scripture, reflection, gratitude journaling, and each one serves like a unique purpose in connecting with God.

Speaker 2 2:38

So it's not like a one size fits all.

Speaker 3 2:40

No, not at all.

Speaker 2 2:41

You can kind of tailor your approach based on what you're hoping to achieve.

Speaker 3 2:44

Exactly, and that's a really good point. And he also highlights how journaling allows you to kind of track your spiritual growth over time. Oh that's cool. So by taking note of, you know, those moments when you felt God's presence or guidance, you can look back and really see how God has been working in your life.

Speaker 2 3:02

It's like a tangible record.

Speaker 3 3:04

It is.

Speaker 2 3:04

I love that. Now, you know, I also wonder because that's so cool, but I wonder if it could make us too focused on achieving something in our spiritual practice.

Speaker 3 3:14

Right.

Speaker 2 3:15

You know, is there any danger in that?

Speaker 3 3:16

Right.

Speaker 2 3:17

What are your thoughts on that?

Speaker 3 3:18

That is such a good question, Dan. He does acknowledge that some people might worry about becoming too goal-oriented with it.

Speaker 2 3:25

Yeah.

Speaker 3 3:25

And he emphasizes that journaling should be about cultivating a deeper connection with God.

Speaker 2 3:30

Yes.

Speaker 3 3:31

It's not about checking boxes or achieving milestones.

Speaker 2 3:34

That makes sense. It's about the journey and not the destination.

Speaker 3 3:37

Exactly and that brings us to another really interesting point that he makes that the act of journaling itself can become a form of meditation. It creates that focus, space for contemplation, you know, to help quiet the mind and connect with the heart.

Speaker 2 3:53

So, even the process of writing down your prayers, your reflections, your scripture passages, it actually brings you closer to God.

Speaker 3 4:01

Precisely. He really emphasizes that synergy between writing and prayer, I see, and suggesting that the act of writing can help us articulate our thoughts and feelings to God more clearly, leading to a deeper sense of connection, and he also stresses the importance of gratitude and mindfulness, encouraging us to journal those joyful moments, blessings.

Speaker 2 4:20

That was good.

Speaker 3 4:20

Answered prayers.

Speaker 2 4:21

Yeah, all those things that Answered prayers, yeah, all those things that we tend to overlook sometimes.

Speaker 3 4:24

Yeah, it's like training yourself to focus on the good.

Speaker 2 4:27

Yes.

Speaker 3 4:27

To cultivate a spirit of thankfulness.

Speaker 2 4:30

Absolutely.

Speaker 3 4:30

Which I think we could all use a little bit more of oh for sure, for sure.

Speaker 2 4:34

And speaking of starting a journaling practice, yes, pastor Young has a fantastic resource to get you going.

Speaker 3 4:40

He does. Pastor Young is actually offering his 30-day meditation journal for free. That's right. Just in time for December. Just in time for December. What a perfect way to start the new year.

Speaker 2 4:53

A perfect way. You'll find the links to get your journal in the show notes, please do we highly recommend checking it out.

Speaker 3 4:59

I think it's really powerful using journaling as a tool for self-discovery and deepening your relationship with God.

Speaker 2 5:07

It really is, and while Pastor Young's approach is incredibly insightful, you know, it is important to remember that there are many ways to connect with God.

Speaker 3 5:16

It's true.

Speaker 2 5:17

Journaling is just one tool, and finding what resonates with you is key. That is a great point and we'd love to hear from you. Have you tried Christian meditation? Have you tried journaling as part of your spiritual practice? Let us know, share your experiences and your insights with us in the comments below. Until next time.

Speaker 3 5:37

Bye everybody.

Speaker 2 5:38

Happy Thanksgiving.

Speaker 1 5:40

Hi, friend, this is Pastor Young again. I hope you enjoyed that deep dive and if you need more information or clarification about anything that was discussed in this episode, please do not hesitate to give us to get in contact with us and all of the ways to get in contact with us in the description box below. So until next time, I am your host, pastor Robert Young, and this is Not your Parents Religion, and may God bless you. Outro Music.