Bible Journaling- My Favorite Things

 

Bible journaling has been a transformative experience for me, adding a visual and creative layer to my time in the Word. I started this journey about 6 years ago as a way to help visualize scripture and create a deeper connection to the truths in the Bible. By combining art, color, and written reflections, I can create a picture that ties into my prayers and understanding of God’s message.

Why I Bible Journal

Reading the Bible is powerful, but I found that adding a creative element made the experience even more meaningful. And let's be honest—sometimes my mind wanders mid-passage, and suddenly I'm thinking about whether I remembered to take the chicken out of the freezer. Bible journaling keeps me focused and engaged, ensuring that my quiet time with the Lord is rich, intentional, and—dare I say—fun!

I first completed a two-year reading program to go through the entire Bible and made an effort to creatively illustrate whenever I felt like I should. Once I finished, I started a new journaling Bible and began reading through it again—continuing to add my personal reflections, prayers, and artwork. My goal is to complete a journaling Bible for each of my children, leaving them a legacy of my faith, thoughts, and prayers that they can treasure forever. Hopefully, they’ll appreciate my artistic attempts—though some pages look more like a kindergartner got a little too excited with crayons than an intentional work of faith.

How Bible Journaling Has Deepened My Quiet Time

Since incorporating Bible journaling into my daily routine, my quiet times with the Lord have become more immersive and personal. Instead of just reading and moving on, I take time to meditate on scripture, reflect on what it means in my life, and pray over the words I illustrate. It's amazing how a simple act of sketching or adding color can make a verse stick in my heart longer. And let’s be real—when I spend 20 minutes layering the perfect watercolor background for a passage, you better believe I remember it!

My Favorite Bible Journaling Tools

The right tools can make Bible journaling even more enjoyable and inspiring. Here are some of my go-to supplies.  Click the photo for a shopping link!

1. Journaling Bible

I use the ESV Journaling Bible, which has wide margins for notes, artwork, and reflections. The thick pages help prevent bleed-through, making it perfect for various art mediums.  Some of the newer journaling bibles have pre-drawn images in the margins- I don't like those as much because it doesn't leave as much room for creativity.

2. Highlighters & Markers

  • Sharpie Gel Highlighters – These don’t smudge, smear, or bleed through pages, making them perfect for highlighting key verses. 

  • Tombow Twin Tone Markers – Great for underlining and adding colorful details without ghosting on the other side.  The dual tips make it easy to create different designs depending on the look you are going for!

3. Colored Pencils & Crayons

  • Prismacolor Colored Pencils – These blend beautifully and allow for shading in detailed drawings.  These are on the higher end of colored pencils but they are worth it!  

  • Crayola Twistables – Easy to use and don’t require sharpening, making them great for travel journaling.  It's a kid coloring item but it works!

4. Watercolors & Gelatos

  • Faber-Castell Gelatos – These creamy, blendable pigments work beautifully for background washes or soft color effects.  These are so much fun to work with- you can use a makeup sponge to blend them and make a really cool look.

  • Watercolors – A wonderful medium for adding soft, expressive backgrounds without covering up the text.  I use whatever watercolors I have available- but these have some of the metallic colors as well and they look really cool!  The bible pages will wrinkle with the watercolor and don't absorb the paints well- but imperfection is part of the beauty!

5. Pens for Writing & Outlining

  • Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens – Archival ink pens that are waterproof and won’t smudge.  These pens are great for cool writing or highlighting.

  • Paper Mate Flair Pens – Smooth for writing prayers and reflections, available in beautiful colors.  Everyone loves these markers.  You can see them a little bit through the pages but it doesn't bother me.  

6. Decorative Elements

  • Washi Tape – A fun way to add borders, tabs, or highlights without damaging the pages.  There's millions of styles- choose your favorite!

  • Bible Sticky Notes – Perfect for jotting down thoughts when I don’t want to write directly in the margins.  I love a good sticky note!  I use these a lot to point out specific prayer requests.  Then I can move them around or move them over to my prayer journal.

The Lasting Impact of Bible Journaling

Bible journaling isn’t just about art—it’s about deepening my faith and creating a visual record of my walk with God. As I fill each Bible with reflections, prayers, and artwork, I know I’m leaving behind a tangible legacy of faith for my children. It’s a beautiful way to not only engage with scripture but also share the journey with future generations.

If you’re considering Bible journaling, I encourage you to start with simple tools and let the process be an expression of your faith. You don’t have to be an artist—just let your creativity flow and allow God’s Word to speak through your reflections. And if all else fails, just remember: God looks at the heart, not at whether you can perfectly hand-letter Psalm 23.

Do you Bible journal? What are your favorite tools and techniques?