"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." [John 14:6]
Writing Prayers to God
It seems that some people find writing prayers to God to be controversial. I even remember it coming up during a Q&A with our main pastor during COVID.
It is true that when we think about praying, we usually think about closing our eyes and speaking silently or aloud. But if you are like me, when I pray my mind will wander. This sometimes upsets me because prayer is so important, but getting upset just makes things worse.
However, when I grab a pen and a notebook or type my prayers, my focus remains tight, and even if I do somehow get distracted, I can always pick up where I left off.
Writing down your prayers isn’t just a modern journaling trend; it has deep roots in the Bible, and it’s one of the best ways to keep your mind from wandering.
The Biblical Backing For Writing Prayers
If you’ve ever wondered if writing your prayers is “allowed,” the short answer is yes. In fact, a huge chunk of the Bible is made up of written prayers.
- The Book of Psalms: This is essentially ancient Israel’s written prayer journal and hymnal. Writers like King David wrote their raw emotions, struggles, and praises so they could be remembered and repeated.
- God’s Instructions to Write: Throughout Scripture, God frequently tells people to get things down in writing. In Habakkuk 2:2, He says, “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets.” In Jeremiah 30:2, He tells the prophet, “Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.”
Putting ink to paper has always been a valid, respected way to communicate with God and remember His faithfulness.
Why Writing Prayers Keeps Your Mind From Wandering
It Coordinates Your Body and Mind
When you sit down to write, you aren’t just thinking; you are physically moving your hand. This simple physical action anchors you to the present moment. It’s much harder for your mind to drift to tomorrow’s to-do list when your fingers are actively moving across a page. This is also why I feel it is easier to focus if I am walking while praying.
It Slows Down Your Thoughts
Our thoughts move at lightning speed, which makes them chaotic and hard to follow. Writing forces you to slow down to the speed of your pen. Because you have to choose actual words and finish your sentences, your thoughts become clearer, more honest, and much more intentional.
It Gives You a Place to Look
If you get distracted by a sudden thought while praying silently, it’s easy to lose your place entirely. But when you’re writing, your last sentence is staring right back at you. If your mind wanders, all you have to do is look down at the page, see where you left off, and jump right back into the conversation.
The Other Benefits of Writing Prayers
- I can go back and see what prayers have been answered.
- I can go back and see the work of the Holy Spirit because the written prayer is much better than what I can do alone.
- I can reuse a prayer if I can make out my handwriting.
- I can pray Scripture easier because I can pause as I read the Bible and then reform it into a prayer.
- It has trained me to focus more when praying silently or out loud.
I hope this blog post helps you. I am not suggesting that everyone write their prayers or that anyone write them exclusively; I don’t. I am only suggesting this as a tool for people who might benefit from it. If you struggle to concentrate during prayer, this might be a good experiment to see if it makes it easier.
Related Post:
There would be a very long list here to try to capture all of the incidents of prayers in the Bible. I listed Psalms 3-8 as examples and then provided the other references used or considered in the writing of Writing Prayers by RD Montgomery
All Scripture is in ESV Format unless otherwise specified.
Exodus 20:4, Judges 16:28, Psalms 3-8, Psalms 31:5, Jeremiah 29:12-13, Jeremiah 30:2, Habakkuk 2:2, Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59, Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 5:19, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
#WalkintheTruth #prayer, #writingPrayers, #ChristianLife, #TalkingToGod
Originally Published: 02/05/25 Updated 07/12/2026
