Scripture writing is a practice where individuals write out passages from the Bible by hand, in order to engage with the text on a deeper level. It involves selecting specific verses, chapters, or books of the Bible and transcribing them onto paper, a journal, or a notebook.
You can find a lot of scripture writing “plans” with a simple Google search. It doesn’t really matter what month or year the plan was published. It’s just a guide for what verses you’ll be writing. You can also create your own topical plan, or use verses from your weekly sermon at church to go deeper.
The process of scripture writing can vary in approach and purpose:
- Devotional Practice: Many people use scripture writing as a devotional exercise, setting aside time each day to write out passages of scripture as a form of reflection and meditation. This practice allows individuals to slow down and absorb the meaning of the text more deeply.
- Memorization Aid: Writing out scripture can also serve as a tool for memorization, as the act of copying the verses by hand can reinforce memory retention. Some people use scripture writing to commit key passages to memory or to internalize biblical truths. This would involve writing the same verse or passage repeatedly to aide with memory.
- Spiritual Growth: Engaging in scripture writing can facilitate spiritual growth by immersing oneself in the Word of God. It provides an opportunity to ponder and apply the teachings of scripture to one’s life, as well.
- Creative Expression: For some people, scripture writing serves as a form of creative expression and artistic practice. They may incorporate calligraphy, cursive, illustrations, paint, and decorative elements such as stickers or washi tape, alongside the written text to enhance the visual appeal and personal meaning of the passages.
Overall, scripture writing is a flexible and adaptable practice that can be tailored to individual preferences and spiritual goals. I most often use a simple spiral notebook for my writing, but I do like to select a spiral with a pretty cover, since I’ll be seeing it on a regular basis. Some people prefer journals with thicker paper so they can add artwork. Either way, scripture writing offers a tangible way to interact with the Bible and deepen one’s relationship with God while promoting reflection, meditation, and personal growth.
Have you ever tried any type of scripture writing or journaling in your devotional time?
Resources & tools:
Hope & Encouragement Bible (pictured above) – This is the Bible I’m using this year. It’s the New Living Translation, so it’s really easy to understand, in modern language. It’s also pretty close to the original languages in it’s translation.
Beautiful Spiral Notebooks – I love to use these beautiful notebooks, but sometimes I’ll also just stock up at the Back to School sales with the basic Mead spiral.
Quick drying, bleed proof pens – I love these Papermate InkJoy Gel Pen in purple. They do not cause bleeding issues with basic spiral paper, and the ink does dry quickly. This is specific to the purple pen. I didn’t like the blue one as much, so you might want to test out different colors before committing to the 12-pack! lol
Washi Tape & Glue – One of my friends recommended printing off my monthly scripture writing plan and adhering it into the spiral, so it doesn’t get bent or lost. This was an excellent idea! Now, I trim my printout down to size (with this paper cutter) and take a basic school glue stick to attach it to the page. I like to accent the page with pretty washi tape, and sometimes I will also make a temporary tab out of the tape for easy reference back to the plan. Here’s what mine looks like this month, glued in and accented with washi tape.
Monthly Scripture Plans – I usually just google search the month and “scripture writing plan” to find several options. Most often I’ll pick something from The Ruffled Mango (image above) or Sweet Blessings.
Scripture Writing & Encouragement group on Facebook – There I try to post daily scripture images, sample monthly plans, and encourage members to share their writing to encourage the others in the group.
Do you currently write out scriptures or would you like to begin?
The Growing Hale 