Creative Bible Journaling

We are excited to share creative Bible journaling to inspire you with a unique way of engaging and connecting with God’s Word. At the end of this post we have a free prayer journal to use alongside your Bible reading and Bible journaling.

Note from Trish and Michelle:

Sharra Badgley, author of this post, went home to be with the Lord after a brave battle with cancer. We republished this post with the prayer journal resources, as this was true to Sharra’s life. Sharra loved the Lord, and her joy was contagious!  She was a devoted wife and mother, who served the homeschooling community for many years. Michelle worked with Sharra for a number of years at a homeschool magazine. What a blessing she was to everyone around her and to the homeschooling community. In memorial of Sharra, we are republishing this post with our gratitude for having had Sharra in our lives. She truly shined the light of Christ. 

If you had asked me a few months ago, I wouldn’t have considered myself a creative person by any means. In my childhood years, I loved to paint, sketch, create, and do anything artistic in nature. Somewhere along the way, I lost this part of myself. Thankfully, I have gracious friends who share the beauty of their lives and inspire me to rekindle the creative spirit in my own life. Now that I am enjoying this creative renewal, I am just bubbling over with joy of sharing this with others. I hope in some small way this post will help spark your journey of nurturing your soul and spirit through art.

Also, if you are looking to do more Bible study with your children, don’t miss our list of Bible resources for children.

Are you creative? Do you make any time for yourself to enjoy creative arts?

If you are anything like I was just a few months ago, you might say that you do not have time for art or creative pursuits. I understand. Friend, I know your plate is probably overflowing with many responsibilities as you educate your children, manage a household, possibly handle additional vocational work, and wear the many other hats that you do in our busy modern world. If your to-do list is crammed full, it may seem difficult to try and squeeze in something that seems as frivolous as art. I once felt the same way.

Last fall, my dear friend Christa (who just oozes with creativity!) introduced me to the concept of Bible journaling. Christa was inspired by Shanna Noel of Illustrated Faith to take her Bible journaling in a creative direction. Previously, I have always written in my Bibles but usually only focused on scribbling little notes, prayers, highlighting, and other marginalia. After being inspired by these lovely ladies, I began to rekindle my own creative spirit, and it has completely renewed my devotional walk with the Lord.

Creative Bible Journaling


When I first began Bible journaling, I simply started with watercolor pencils. My sketches looked just as ones I used to make in elementary school which was about the time my creativity fizzled out. Just recently, it was a therapeutic healing moment for me to understand that I stopped being creative in elementary school. My father had a heart attack and died at the end of my fifth-grade year. At that moment, I had forgotten the creative part of my life as I became mired down in grief and depression.

Rediscovering my creative side in my middle age years has been such a delight. Truly, it is as if I am returning to a childlike faith. Now I delight in sharing this joy with my own children! I have certainly surprised them because they are not used to seeing me flow with such an artsy vibe.

Creative Bible Journaling

The Benefits of Bible Journaling

Why start Bible journaling? The benefits are many!

Here are a few personal ways that creative Bible journaling has helped me personally. Bible journaling enables me to:

  • Focus on God’s Word
  • Concentrate on Bible passages
  • Meditate in thoughtful prayer
  • Find relief from anxious thoughts
  • Shift from passive reading
  • Explore my creative soul
  • Nurture my spirit
  • Think deeply about life application
  • Wander with wonder
  • Slow down and savor devotional time with the Lord
Creative Bible Journaling

How to Get Started Bible Journaling

To get started in Bible journaling, you can order a Journaling Bible by Crossway (includes wide margins), use your own Bible of choice, or select from many blank journals that are available from assorted publishers. I primarily use the Single-column Journaling Bible published by Crossway, but I also use various blank journals and sketchbooks as I try out different artistic techniques. Personally, I enjoy using the specific Journaling Bible for most of my journaling because the margins are wide for artistic space, and the pages are thick enough to handle various art media.

Creative Bible Journaling

When I first began Bible journaling, I started with just a few simple supplies such as watercolor pencils and a watercolor palette. A friend shared her extra art supplies with me, and now I am branching out in art media such as acrylic paint, inks, rubber stamps, stencils, stickers, and gelatos. You can keep your Bible journaling as basic or advanced as your heart desires. What truly matters in Bible journaling is that you have a meaningful connection with the Lord and His Word.

Here are a few different ways you can create your own Journaling Bible:

Creative Bible Journaling

I have enjoyed this process so much that I am facilitating Bible journaling classes and workshops for youth at my local homeschool co-op, church, and greater community. Once you get hooked on Bible journaling, you will most likely find that your own family and friends are eager to engage with God’s Word in this creative way. It’s contagious!

Over the past six months, I have witnessed the Bible Journaling and Illustrated Faith communities grow exponentially. Through social media, a dynamic Bible arts community is flourishing as people inspire one another to cultivate creativity in their devotional walks. At first, it can seem intimidating to get started if you aren’t used to exploring your creative side. I would like to encourage you just as my friend Christa encouraged me to just create. Don’t get bogged down in the desire for perfection. Simply enjoy the creative process.

Friend, I hope I have encouraged you to make some margin in your busy life so you can find the time to nurture your own soul’s needs. You may just find that art is therapeutic and can refresh and renew you in areas where you are weary. You are a masterpiece of a Grand Creator. You are created to be creative.

So what do you think? Do you want to give Bible Journaling a try?

A Prayer Journal Gift

Input your email address and click the Submit button to recieve the beautiful prayer journal. You’ll join thousands of other moms in the Hip Homeschool Moms community.

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8 Comments

  1. Sharra,
    So happy to see you being refreshed! Thank you for sharing so many pictures, I think it will help others realize that they don;t need to strive for perfection in their art, they just need to strive to spend time with God.
    Hugs!

  2. How do I sign up for your blog. My daughter home schools and I think she might benefit from some of your suggestions. She has a 13 yr and a 4 yr old who she homes school. They have a 1 day a week co-op also. She just signed up with me through TOH and her 13 yr daughter is helping her so she will be aware of what is happening in the world.

  3. Do you do any workshops or attend any classes? I am starting new with Bible Journaling and was thinking it might be neat to find other local people who are doing this, but so far, no luck on the local part.

  4. Also, have you considered offering a class at a library? I work at one on the southside of Indy and would love to work with you and schedule one open to the public this fall.

  5. I live in northern Indiana and would love to host a workshop for people in my church & community on Bible journaling. Do you know anyone closer to me that would provide this? Or would you be willing to travel a few hours to lead a workshop? I would really love to introduce this way of getting in to the Bible- I can think of several people in my church that I know would love it.

  6. What version is the Bible and does it come in large print…Looking for a creative Bible in NKJV large print..

  7. Hello and Thank you for your transparency. I share in your testimony of not feeling creative and recently, in the midst of a pandemic and turning 46, having God reveal something quite different. I also hope to allow my children to see a very different side of me- less corporate professional and more artsy (is that a real word?) ! To God be the Glory !

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