Hello my dear Friend,

If your brain feels noisy but your heart is craving quiet with God, prayer journaling might be the gentle tool you’ve been looking for.

You don’t need pretty handwriting or fancy pens. You just need somewhere to pour out what’s really going on and invite God into it.

Let’s build a simple, no-pressure way to start prayer journaling in midlife — pen, paper, cuppa, Jesus.

Why prayer journaling works so well in midlife

Midlife brings a lot of mental clutter:

• Hormones and health changes

• Work and money decisions

• Adult children and grandkids

• Ageing parents

• Processing the past and wondering about the future

Holding all of that in your head is exhausting.

Prayer journaling helps because:

• Writing slows your mind down long enough to notice what you’re feeling

• It gives your prayers a place to land

• You can look back and see how God has been at work over time

• It turns vague thoughts into clearer conversations with God

Think of your journal as a safe, honest lounge room for you and God to sit in together.

Busting the myths about prayer journaling

Let’s clear a few unhelpful ideas out of the way.

You do not need:

• A matching stationery set

• Calligraphy skills

• An Instagram-worthy journal spread

• Huge chunks of time

You absolutely can:

• Write in bullet points

• Scribble rapidly when you’re upset

• Mix prayers with bits of Scripture and everyday life

• Cross things out, change your mind, start again

Messy pages are often the most honest ones.

Four simple ways to prayer journal

Choose one to start with. You can always mix and match later.

1. Letters to God

Write as if you’re writing a letter to a close friend.

Prompts:

• “Dear Lord, today I feel…”

• “I’m really struggling with…”

• “This is what I’m thankful for…”

Don’t worry about sounding “holy”. Just be real.

2. Bullet-point prayers

Perfect for busy days when your brain is fried.

Set up three headings:

• Thank You

• Help Me

• Please Be With

Under each heading, jot quick bullets:

• Thank You: “for a good night’s sleep”, “for my friend’s message”

• Help Me: “with this meeting”, “with my health appointment”

• Please Be With: “Mum’s surgery”, “my daughter’s job interview”

Done in 5–10 minutes. Powerful over time.

3. Praying Scripture on the page

Choose a short passage and write it out in your journal. Underneath, respond in your own words.

Example pattern:

1. Write the verse

2. Underline a word or phrase that stands out

3. Write a prayer about that phrase

e.g.

• Scripture: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

• Prayer: “Lord, I often feel like I’m the one herding everyone else. Today, be my shepherd. Show me where to rest and where to move.”

4. Conversation Pages

This can feel a bit vulnerable but it’s beautiful.

• On the left side, write your thoughts/questions.

• On the right side, write what you sense God might be saying (through Scripture, wisdom, peace, challenge).

It might look like:

• Me: “I’m afraid I’m running out of time to do anything meaningful.”

• God: “I’m not in a hurry with you. Your value has never been about productivity.”

You’re not writing new Scripture — you’re simply listening with your pen.

How to start in 10 minutes

Here’s a simple “first session” you can try this week.

1. Gather your bits

   • Any notebook (even a $2 one)

   • A pen you like

   • Optional: a candle, tea/coffee, cosy blanket

2. Set a gentle boundary

   • 10–15 minutes tops

   • Phone on silent if possible

3. Use this simple flow

• Take a deep breath and pray:

“God, I’m here. Help me be honest with You on these pages.”

• Write today’s date.

• Choose one format (letter, bullets, Scripture, conversation).

• Keep it simple. Stop before you feel wrung out.

That’s it. That’s a full, valid prayer time.

20 gentle prayer journal prompts for midlife women

Sprinkle these across your pages as you like:

1. “Lord, right now my biggest concern is…”

2. “When I look back over my life, I’m grateful for…”

3. “The part of midlife I’m finding hardest is…”

4. “The part of midlife that surprises me in a good way is…”

5. “Today I need courage for…”

6. “Please give me wisdom about…”

7. “A relationship I’d love You to breathe on is…”

8. “Help me forgive myself for…”

9. “Here’s what I wish someone would say to me right now…”

10. “Show me where You were in this memory…”

11. “Teach me how to care for my body kindly by…”

12. “Help me see my work (paid or unpaid) as worship when I…”

13. “I’m worried about the future because… Help me trust You with…”

14. “Thank You for the women who have walked with me: ___”

15. “Show me one small way to bless someone today…”

16. “Where do You want me to let go, and where do You want me to hold on?”

17. “What do You want me to know about my worth today?”

18. “Help me see my age as a gift when I…”

19. “A dream I’ve quietly buried is… What would You say about that, Lord?”

20. “Jesus, this is what I need from You today…”

Use them as conversation starters, not homework.

Keeping the habit going (without pressure)

A few practical tips:

• Keep your journal visible – on your bedside, coffee table or in your bag.

• Tie it to something you already do – first cuppa, lunch break, school pick-up line.

• Accept imperfect streaks – some weeks will be full of entries; some will be sparse. That’s okay.

• Review every few months – flip back and notice patterns, answered prayers, places of growth.

Remember, this isn’t about producing a beautiful book. It’s about building a history of honest, ongoing conversation with God.

If journaling feels confronting

If big feelings or old memories surface:

• Pause. Breathe. You can close the journal at any time.

• Write a simple grounding prayer:

“God, this feels like a lot. Please hold me while I process this, and lead me to safe people if I need them.”

• Consider talking with a trusted friend, mentor, pastor or counsellor.

You’re not meant to carry heavy things alone.

One small step you can take today

Before you close this tab, decide:

• What will be my journal home? (Notebook? App?)

• When might I be able to grab 10 quiet minutes this week?

• Which format feels easiest to try first: letters, bullets, Scripture or conversation pages?

Write those down somewhere you’ll see them.

Then, when that small pocket of quiet appears, make your cup of tea, open your notebook and pray:

“Pen, paper, cuppa, Jesus. Let’s talk.”

You might be surprised how seen and held you feel by the time you close it.

Every little step gets you closer to your goals.

Until we chat again...

Blessings and hugs to you.

Dianne xx