Immanuel Journaling

Think of something you are grateful for and write your heartfelt gratitude with God

Take a moment to listen to God’s response and write down your impression of how He would respond to you.

Ask, when did I lose my peace recently? Take this memory into your dialogue with the Lord.

Imagine God seeing your situation, environment, movement and inner experiences, etc. Example: I can see you sitting at your dining table in the dark, breathing heavily. I can se your eyes beginning to fill with tears. I can see you crying inside.

Imagine God hearing all your thoughts that are spoken and unspoken Example: I can hear you say to yourself, “how will I ever get everything done?” “Why isn’t my partner helping me and concerned as much as I am?” “Why do I keep messing up like this?” “I’m so frustrated with myself.”

Imagine God, who knows you well, is validating your experience with compassion. Example: I know that this is a pretty big deal for you. It feels all consuming for you. It looks like this is about to overtake you.

How is God expressing His tenderness towards your weakness? Imagine God calling your name tenderly and simply enjoying being with you. Example: I am always glad to interact with you anytime including this moment of frustration/ pain/sadness.

Imagine God assuring you that He has the power to help you and give you everything you need. Example: I am with you and for you. I will strengthen you with my Grace. Remember how your friend encouraged you last week. I will continue to be there for you and give you just what you need, the moment you need it.

While we recommend journaling with paper and pen/pencil, we've created an Immanuel Journaling form that you can access from anywhere via your phone or online. You can access it via the Vineyard Gilbert app, available on iOS and Android.

Experiencing God's presence brings healing, peace and connection. Like any other relationship, experiencing God's presence takes practice. Immanuel journaling is based on scripture and neuroscience and simple to learn.
"Joyful Journey" written by Dr. E James Wilder III, Ms Anna Kang, Mr John Loppnow, and Ms Sungshim Loppnow, is the text from which we took the Immanuel Journaling approach found on this page.