“The
word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, ‘Thus says the Lord, the
God of Israel: Write in a book for yourself all the words that I
have spoken to you.” –Jeremiah 30:1-2 (ESV)
“My
heart overflows with a pleasing theme: I address my verses to the
king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.” –Psalm 45:1
(ESV).
The
context of Jeremiah’s command from the Lord God to ‘write in a
book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you,’
encompassed the time many of the people of Israel had been taken away
into Babylonian captivity. Jeremiah began his prophetic ministry in
the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, and continued until
the prophet’s death which presumably occurred in Egypt where he had
been taken against his will after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B. C.
Jeremiah was faithful in following the Lord’s command to “write
in a book,” and we have the prophetic book of Jeremiah. It was to
be an encouragement to the exiles when they returned to the Promised
Land of Israel after their captivity in Babylon. It also has
withstood as an inspired book of the Bible. Its themes on God’s
judgment, His displeasure at the infidelity and sin of His chosen
people, and His determination to restore a remnant of people unto
Himself are all strong themes in Jeremiah’s book, written on the
direction of and in obedience to God.
I
receive daily and read with interest Dr. David Jeremiah’s
devotional with the general title, “Turning Point.” The subject
for Saturday, September 27, 20114 was on keeping a spiritual diary
for one’s own personal growth and for the encouragement it can be
to others who might read it, even in the future when the diarist has
left this life to move on to heaven. The appeal to Christians to
keep a spiritual journal or diary ended with this excellent quotation
from Ron Klug: “A
journal is an aid to concentration, a mirror for the soul, a place to
generate and capture ideas, a safety valve for the emotions, and a
powerful tool for spiritual growth.” I
read Mr. Klug’s quotation with great interest, and copied it into
my quotation dictionary so I could have it handy as a reminder. I
felt grateful that for many years I have had the habit of
journalizing, of keeping a gratitude journal, a diary, a spiritual
journey notebook.
I
have Psalm 45:1 taped to my desk where I refer to it almost daily. I
like its statement: My
heart overflows with a good theme.” Even
when I may not be having the most productive or happiest of days, if
I can record something good about the day—and write about even the
disappointing so that I can see in future how God worked His mercy
through the situation—then my journal-keeping has helped me to grow
as a Christian. The Psalmist said he addressed his verses to “the
king.” I like to think that as I am writing, whether a journal
entry, a poem, an essay, a newspaper column, a note of encouragement,
a newsletter for some organization, and especially these daily
devotionals, that the King of Glory is motivating and helping me. I
have recently read some of my personal journals from several years
ago when I was enduring deep concern, caregiving, coping with serious
illnesses and other perplexities of life. Viewed from the present
perspective, I can see how God’s mercy provided even more than I
was asking Him to supply. I can well prove two of Mr. Krug’s
benefits of keeping a journal: Rereading my own, they were ‘a
mirror for the soul” and
“a powerful tool
for spiritual growth.” God
shows me through the pages of my own journals what He promised in
Lamentations 3:22: “The
steadfast love of the LORD
never ceases. His mercies never come to an end; they are new every
morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Why
not begin to keep your own spiritual journal? I think you’ll be
glad you did from the benefits you will receive. -Ethelene
Dyer Jones 09.28.2014
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