Bible journaling is a way to use your creativity to study and enjoy being in God’s word. I hope you enjoy this post all about creative Bible journaling for beginners, starting with the days of creation!
Creative Bible Journaling for Beginners – Days of Creation
First, Let’s Discuss Why Bible Journaling Is Something You Might Like to Try:
Bible journaling is a great way to take a section of scripture, and really sink your teeth into it.
How special to create a visual representation of what you are experiencing in the text! What a neat way to experience God’s word!
To really soak up God’s word, to embed it into your heart and mind, is crucial to retaining the meaning. To grasp it’s relevance to your life.
Creating something visually pleasing on the pages, and in the Bible itself is one of many good ways to just simply BE IN HIS WORDS regularly.
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What Exactly Is Bible Journaling Anyway?
There are many different ways for us to dig in to the Scriptures, and Bible journaling is one of those ways.
I would define it this way… Bible journaling combines your thoughts/notes, and creative artwork on the pages of your Bible.
It can be a simple as using a pen and underlining, circling and writing down your thoughts.
You can also get more detailed with different colors, stickers, paints, and much more.
Is it Wrong to Decorate the Bible?
Some may ask this question and it is understandable. If you come from a strict background that has great respect for God’s word, it may make you uncomfortable to “deface” the Bible.
I would answer this question this way… I absolutely do not believe it is wrong to write, decorate or embellish your Bible.
God clearly tells us that we are to be thirsting after Him, seeking Him on the pages of Scripture, and testing everything through studying His word. Getting into the pages of the word physically, by making them into artwork, is a wonderful way to make the concepts of His word stick in your heart and mind!
Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God,
2 Timothy 3:15 …and how from childhood, you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
Bible Hub is a great website to access scriptures online of all versions, Greek and Hebrew study tools and more, by the way!
To Begin…
Choose your portion of scripture that you want to focus on.
Usually a chapter or story at a time. Sometimes a single verse.
Really digest what the word is saying, and what it is telling you about 1) The character of God and/or 2) How does this apply to your life? Those are two good things to record on your page somewhere.
Pick the word or words that jump out at you.
You can form your notes or design around the part of scripture that is standing out to you.
Whether that is highlighting some of the wonderful, well known scripture themes like Psalm 42:1 ” As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God” or grabbing a hidden jewel you have never noticed before and highlighting it, to make sure you don’t lose track of it.
Start your design
Whether you like to keep to the edges on the paper and do a more tidy style of underlining, taking notes and creating small sketches, or you like to get wild, watercolor painting over the text and adding texture and color, there is no right or wrong.
Just use it as an opportunity to meditate on God’s word, become more and more familiar with what His message to us is and enjoy your time doing it!
Creative Bible Journaling for Beginners – Days of Creation Supplies:
- My journaling Bible is the ESV Journaling Bible from Crossway. It has 2 inch ruled margins and cream colored pages.
- My embossed label maker is one of my favorite craft tools. I use it constantly for creating and practical labeling purposes.
- Fine tipped, colored pens
- self stick glitter ribbon, I got mine at Dollar Tree!
- Metallic paper clips
- recycled craft paper crinkles (shipping material)
- Here are my Bible tabs, in case you were interested. i think they’re so pretty and helpful.
Steps to Create the Days of Creation Journal Page
- First I went through the scriptures and decided which words I wanted to represent each day. It may depend on the version of Bible you are using, or your personal preference. I chose Day + Night, Waters + Sky, Land + Plants, etc…
- If you are using a label maker, make your words with it now and stick them on. If you don’t have a label maker, you can always write the words in. Use different colors for each day, or even write the words on a separate paper, cut small and then glue those on the page.
- Add the number of creation day next to each set of words. I used my fine tip pens and gave each day it’s own color.
- Underline or highlight the sections of scripture that correspond with each number. This way, you can glance quickly at the right place when you are reading. Use a ruler or card to make your lines straight. Not only pretty, but functional!
- You can make a cute, little bookmark (or as many as you want!) by using a paperclip and some sort of string or tinsel. i used a metallic clip and some crinkly craft paper that came in a package!
- Using my sticky back glitter ribbon, I cut a thin strip to add to the bottom of the page to add a pretty, bright pop.
Pin for Later:
Bible Journal with Me… And Watch Creative Bible Journaling for Beginners – Days of Creation Video:
I hope this post encouraged you to open your Bible and get your creative juices flowing!
Let me know in the comments if you have ever decorated your Bible, and what your clever ideas are!
Thank you for stopping by Windy Ridge today.
See you next time!
This is a beautiful post! I need to set more time in my life aside for this. Thank you for sharing!