Have you ever felt stuck in a decision and just wanted a little clarity? A few years ago, I was there. The situation wasn’t dramatic, but it was weighty. I had to make a choice. That’s when I turned to my journal. I’d been shaping a journaling practice for clarity for years—something I now call Express & Reflect—and once again, it gave me a way to sort things out with God.
How a Journaling Practice for Clarity Helped Me Make a Big Decision
My lease was ending, rent was increasing, and I kept sensing that it was time to “get settled.” Not in a pressured or dramatic way, but in the kind of way where I knew God was preparing me for something ahead. I didn’t know exactly what, but I wanted to respond in obedience.
The idea of buying a home came up. And with it? A lot of thoughts.
Was this part of getting settled?
Would it be a wise financial decision?
Was this me taking control or following God’s lead?
Nothing about it was crystal clear at first. There were emotions, unknowns, practical details, and a deep desire to stay in step with Him. I didn’t want to guess my way forward. I wanted to be guided.
By putting thoughts on paper, praying through what I had written, and reflecting with Scripture, clarity began to rise. Not all at once, but over time.
This is just one example of how journaling can help you make big decisions—not by rushing to a conclusion, but by staying present to what God is revealing, layer by layer.
Don’t just write what you feel—reframe it with truth. That’s where clarity comes.
The Express & Reflect practice builds on the broader idea of reflective journaling, which has been used by many people in different ways. But over the years, I’ve shaped this particular practice—writing freely on the left side of the page, then returning later to the right side of the page to reflect, reframe, and align my thoughts with truth—as a way to tune in more clearly to God’s direction in my life.
It’s not about the format being fancy or original. It’s about making space for God to speak and showing up consistently to listen.
How a Journaling Practice for Clarity Helps You Hear God More Clearly
Express & Reflect is a simple, repeatable journaling practice for clarity that gets what’s in your head out of the way so you can tune in to what God is actually saying.
It’s not about crafting perfect prayers or filling pages just to check a box. It’s about being honest, being intentional, and giving God room to speak.
Here’s how it works:
Step One: Express
Use the left side of your journal page for what’s on your heart, mind, or standing out to you.
You could start with a verse or short passage from Scripture—something you’re drawn to that day.
Write freely: What’s weighing on your heart? What questions or emotions are swirling around? What conversations, decisions, or patterns keep showing up?
This is your unedited space. You’re not solving problems. You’re just getting honest.
Step Two: Reflect
After you write, pause. Breathe. Pray.
Come back to your entry to reflect on the right side of the page.
Use a different color pen and add the date.
What stands out now? Is there a pattern or misbelief you didn’t see before? How does God’s Word speak into this? What’s the truth underneath the noise?
You may feel a message to add as a reflection that same day or you may return to that entry in the days or weeks to come to re-read it and add further reflection.
Let this become a visual timeline of God’s presence guiding you now and in the future.
Why This Journaling Practice for Clarity Works
If you’re like most women, you’ve got a lot on your heart, mind, and plate.
This practice helps you:
- Discern which voice is speaking—yours, fear, pressure…or the Spirit
- Lift your swirl up to God instead of carrying it alone
- Reconnect with truth when your emotions feel louder than your faith
It’s simple, yes. But incredibly powerful.
Clarity Involves Your Body Too
As you journal, take a moment to check in with your body. Are you feeling tense, distracted, or unsettled? That could be a sign of nervous system dysregulation and trying to push through might make it harder to hear clearly.
Instead, give yourself permission to pause. Step away for a few minutes. Take a walk, stretch, or simply breathe deeply. Movement can help release what’s stuck and make space for fresh insight.
When you come back to your journal later, you’ll likely be more grounded and more open to the truth God is revealing.
This is something I explore more in another post you can find here. If you’ve ever felt like your body was trying to tell you something before your mind caught up, it’s worth a read.
Let God’s Word Light the Way
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light on my path.” ~ Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Journaling this way has helped me live out Psalm 119:105.
I used to wait for a big breakthrough, but journaling has shown me that God often leads with lamps…not spotlights. One truth at a time. One step at a time.
And that’s enough.
Several weeks after begining to journal about my “get settled” message, I did decide to buy a home.
At the time, I wondered if “get settled” was going to mean some exciting new opportunity—maybe a shift in my calling or something purpose-filled that would shake up my world.
But just a few months later, COVID hit. Rental prices skyrocketed. The cost of homes increased dramatically. And I realized that this decision, which felt uncertain and almost too ordinary at the time, was actually God’s provision and protection for me and my kids.
He had led me to settle into a home not just for comfort or convenience, but for stability. For wisdom. And for a kind of security that we would not have been able to find later.
Looking back, that quiet journaling season wasn’t about big change. It was about anchoring.
Try This Journaling Practice for Clarity This Week
What’s swirling in your mind today? What’s heavy on your heart?
Open your journal. Express. Then come back later and reflect.
See what truth God reveals when you give Him space to speak.
You may be just one honest journal entry away from the clarity you’ve been craving.
Want Help Discerning If You’re Really Hearing God in Your Journaling?
It’s easy to wonder if your journal is just a brain dump or if your thoughts are actually in tune with the Holy Spirit.
That’s why I created the Holy Spirit Journaling Checklist—a practical tool to help you discern whether what you’re writing is Spirit-led or self-led. It’s helped me make wiser, peace-filled decisions, and I believe it can do the same for you.
