In April 2009, my pastor Matt Gregory led our congregation at Soul Purpose Church through a 4 week teaching series called “One Month To Live.” In their excellent book by that title, Kerry and Chris Shook give simple homework assignments each day for 30 days. The Day #1 assignment was to right down 5 things you would do if you knew you only had 30 days to live.

The very first thing I wrote down was “Complete everything associated with my journaling e-book, including 1) Revise my free e-book, 2) Create 11 auto-responders, 3) Narrate book, 4) PRESS release. This will create substantial residual income for Julia and leave a tremendous legacy.”

While it took me about 10 months to finally set aside the time to complete this, I never forgot what I wrote in my journal. As a result, on February 1, 2010, I launched my 30 Days To Breakthrough free e-course. In my opinion, this will be the greatest legacy I ever leave.

Yesterday, I began a series about “Fruit of Journaling.” I wrote about “Covenant Relationship – Authenticity.” Today, I share a second example of fruit from journaling, namely a Vibrant Prayer Life. I have a vibrant prayer life and a radical faith. When the Lord asks me to do something I’m willing to do that, whatever the cost. As I have journaled more and more over time, I’ve developed such an intimacy and love for Jesus. Being thankful for the little things in life helps me maintain my joy.

I have experienced and continue to experience so much fruit from journaling that I could easily write a new book every month sharing God stories related to that. But let me share just a few concrete examples here. #1) COVENANT RELATIONSHIP – AUTHENTICITY

We have a living God, a speaking God! One who loves us, His children, and He particularly loves to speak to us! He can speak to any one of us who love Him. You might be thinking, “I read the Bible every day, so I’m hearing from the Lord every day.” While it’s good to read the Bible, the recorded Word of the Lord, which is the foundation of our Christian faith, it’s wonderful to also hear straight from the Lord …

Randy, you have discovered the key to opening the door to anyone or any organization. By offering to host a free webinar for them to promote their favorite story, product, or service, you will be allowed to demonstrate your skill, your excellence. It’s not necessary to try to get people to be live on these introductory webinars. Rather, your goal is to create Information Products and 4 week coaching programs. You can call each of these programs “30 Days To …” Your objective to change lives in each of these programs is to establish a new habit in each participants that will lead to permanent change.

If you’re serious about becoming a wealthy, powerful, sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured and unique individual, keep a journal. Don’t trust your memory. When you listen to something valuable, write it down. When you come across something important, write it down.

There is no right or wrong method for journaling. Journaling needs to be individualized to uniquely suit who you are and your writing and life styles. Over time, your journaling will likely evolve as you grow.

After observing my own behaviors and those closest to me, I feel confident saying you are most likely to succeed in establishing journaling as a firm habit when you do your journaling early in your morning.

I’m sure you have written a love letter back when you were young, or wrote a sympathetic poem, both males and females. There is something about clearly putting down your feelings on paper that makes them more concrete and understandable/manageable by you. The same is true with your lifelong relationship with God. When you take time out to just sit down and focus on the ‘Great I AM’, and the reality of who He is to you expands your comprehensiveness. Do this on a regular basis, and you will be amazed at how much deeper and more real your understanding and your connection to the Lord will be.

What do you want for Christmas more than anything else? What is your greatest heart’s desire? Sometimes you don’t even know what that one thing is that would bring you total fulfillment, but guess what… God knows. He knows because He planted it in your heart before the foundation of the world. What could that be?