Bible Journaling
Didn't everyone start a random hobby during the pandemic? This one stuck with me.
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2 min read
In it's simplest definition, Bible Journaling is a method of expressing your faith in a creative way. I was first introduced to bible journaling when I came across a book titled "Faith Journaling, for the Inspired Artist", by Stephanie Ackerman. It was at a garage sale for $3.00 and I was intrigued. I had just started really getting into Bible study, and I've always enjoyed creative doodling. To me, this was a perfect way to incorporate the two! After flipping through the pages, I was anxious to get home and see what I could come up with.
I started simple, and I've pretty much stayed that way. A few pens, highlighters, a pencil, colored pencils, watercolors, and washi tape are my go-to supplies. Bible pages are thin, which makes them perfect for tracing designs you find. I like to print words in pretty fonts, trace them and then color them in. You certainly don't have to be a world-renowned artist to create beautiful art in your bible. If you're hesitant about jumping right in and potentially "ruining" your bible, I would encourage you to practice in a separate journal first. However, I would also encourage you to give yourself some grace. This is meant to be unique to you, it doesn't have to be shared with the world. Perfection and comparison don't belong in bible journaling, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Trust me, I was nervous at first, but I found that if I obsessed about how my art turned out I was missing the whole point of what I was trying to do.
Start with a word, your favorite verse, something that resonated with you at church, or anything else that speaks to you and go from there. Below are a few of my favorite creations. What started as a hobby to give me something to focus on during the pandemic morphed into one of my favorite ways to decompress after a tough day, when I'm overstimulated, or when I just need some quiet me time. I started marking the pages I doodled on with washi tape so I could flip back through and revisit some of my older artwork. Everyone will have a different way of expressing their faith, I think bible journaling really resonated with me because it's not about religion, it's about my relationship with the Word. The focus isn't really about the art as much as the significance of the message and what it means to you! If you're looking for a fresh, meaningful way to journal, look no further.
