The Bible instructs us to take every thought captive and to make the best use of the time. In the modern world trying to take every latest streaming series captive seems like a challenge, let alone every thought. A great way to begin a strategic attack against an overwhelming stream of constant entertainment, social outrage, and acidic apathy, is to take stock of your thoughts by keeping a daily Honor journal.
An Honor or Philosophy journal is a great way to keep track of what you are thinking and learning and to see how you grow and change and develop over time. Flannery O’Connor, an incredible author of gripping novels and short stories once said, “I write to discover what I know.” It’s easy to think writers don’t put anything on a page until they are certain of every letter and semicolon they would like to put on the page, but the truth is that writing is not a mere recording of what we have, but an active process of refining, reshaping and realizing what we think about the world. Your journal isn’t a display case, it’s part of the forging process, beating hammer and tongs together over hot coals to create something strong and sure.
Take a few minutes and write out your thoughts on the day. What have you learned about honor today? What about yourself? What are you finding in your daily scripture reading or time in prayer? Where can you grow or what are you doing well? Take stock of what you have accomplished and where you want to go from here.
Then take the next step, as Marcus Aurelius, the stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor, said in his own philosophy journals, “Waste no time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” Your honor journal is your first step. Waste no time. Get writing. Then get forging.
