Today, let’s talk about Bible journaling with children. I’ve found Bible journaling to be a beautiful spiritual discipline; a meditative way to connect with and spend time with the Word of God…to spend time with God. I want that for my children as well. I want the scriptures hidden in their heart. And we all know, the more time we spend with and in the Word, the more the Word becomes a part of us. I also want them to be so comfortable and unafraid of their Bibles that it is not intimidating for them to spend time with their hands literally all over the Word. So today, my Bridget and I practiced Bible journaling together.
Bible Journaling with Children
The first thing I did was ask Bridget her favorite scripture verse. She didn’t really have one so we talked about some of the verses my children have memorized as part of our scripture memory lessons. She decided she wanted to practice Bible journaling with Psalm 119:105, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
The second thing I did was talk to her about meditating on the verse while she was journaling it in her Bible. This was very simple and I didn’t over complicate it; we just talked about thinking on the verse while she was working in her Bible. Keep this part simple. Using the verse above, we just talked about how much easier and safer it is to see when we have a light on or a flashlight to lead the way. We talked about how God’s Word shows the safe way to walk in this world.
The next thing I did was to turn her loose. I set out all my supplies–all of them, the expensive (to me) stickers and stamps, the ink that could stain her hands, the Washi tape I love. Everything meant everything. I set them all out on the table and told her she could use whatever she wanted. If she had a question about a certain pen or stamp, I was right there next to her, working in my own journaling Bible, so I could answer questions, offer encouragement and be an example if needed. We turned on some fun Christian music by Chelsea Moon and the Newsboys, got out some blank scrap paper for the little brothers and we all had a blast Bible journaling!
The last thing I did was tell her to date her work. This will be fun to look back on as she continues to journal in her Bible or even if she decides this spiritual practice is not for her. Which by the way is perfectly ok. Just because everyone else seems to be Bible journaling right now doesn’t mean you have to or even should want to. By telling her to date her pages, she will have those pages to reminisce over. She can remember the day it was rainy outside and the kitchen table was covered in art journaling supplies and we spent the afternoon with God.
Here’s what I did not do. I did not offer color, sticker or stamp suggestions. I did not cringe when it started getting too busy for my taste. I did not direct or guide her to another verse when she finished that one. Once she completed Psalm 119:105, she was having so much fun and enjoyed the creative process so much, she went on to journal two more verses.
Other than the obvious fact that we were spending time with each other and the Word of God, she was spending time gaining confidence in herself. Let me explain. So often in the Bible journaling community online, there are women with a deep desire to create or journal in their Bibles, but they are afraid. They are afraid of desecrating the scriptures. They are afraid of making a mistake. They are afraid to spend that alone time with God for fear of whatever the enemy has whispered in their ear.
What a gift to learn a familiarity with the Bible, with the Word, at a young age. What a gift to learn that spending time with God, in conversation with God, can take many forms. It can be quiet or listening to music about Him. It can be writing out thoughts, feelings, and prayers or it can be colorful with paint, stickers and stamps.
The finished page can be seen on my Instagram.
These are lessons I wish I would have learned as a child. As a matter of fact, some form of Bible journaling may work its way into a part of our homeschooling this year. Maybe once a week we will work creatively on our memory verse. It will be fun to see the different ways the different children choose to spend this time; whether they pull out the color, glue, and tape, or simply opt for a pen and notebook.
Kelley Mcalpine says
Last year I started putting a bible verse (we use a a picture frame from the dollar store, the kids decorated a piece of paper to put under glass and I write the verse on the glass. It works like a white board) out on our island and in the living room. The kids would look at look at throughout the week, meditate on it and then when they felt they had an understanding of it they would then draw etc. about it in their scripture art journals.
Jenny says
This is such a great idea!! Thank you for sharing.
Lacy says
How is her Bible for space in the margins? Is the completed picture from instagram really the Ignatius Bible you linked to? Looking for a good Catholic journaling Bible! Thanks for the help.
Jenny says
Hi Lacy. I’m not sure which picture you’re referring to. I’ll need to check my Instagram and see. Here is a picture of the NRSV Notetakers Bible https://www.pinterest.com/pin/128493395595635694/ It does have wide journaling margins but is pricey now since it is out of print. Here is a picture of the Ignatius Bible https://www.pinterest.com/pin/128493395593781789/ for reference.
Sarah says
How beautiful, Jenny. Your page in remembrance of your grandpa and the time spent with your daughter.
Lux says
Nice! It’s really good to start them early. And make it look like it’s fun. 🙂