What is Immanuel Journaling?

Immanuel Journaling (IJ) is a writing exercise or practice that helps us to explore our life events, especially our interior life including our thoughts, feelings and body sensations with our good God, Immanuel. It is a simple process to help you become aware of God’s compassionate presence in the painful as well as mundane moments of your life.

Slowing down enough to pause, give thanks (if you are able) and then follow an elegant process of sensing God’s response has been transformative to people across the nation and the world. People continue to share stories of peace and transformation as well as reconciling relationships.  Give it a try and see how God’s presence can change your life today.

What is Interactive Gratitude?

Gratitude is noticing what is good and articulating that to God.  We write down what we are grateful to God for.  It can be anything from small things like a sunset or a cup of tea to big moments of life such as meaningful conversations, gifts, and sharing in forgiveness. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:4 (NIV)

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

The Interactive part is pausing to notice God’s response to our gratitude. We write down our impression of God’s response to us.

[To get started, you can download the Interactive Gratitude (IG) Worksheet.]

What is Thought Rhyming?

Thought rhyming is the second portion which is vital and one of the most transformative. According to Jim Wilder, "The structure in the brain called the singular cortex makes it possible for meaningful communication to occur between two different minds by establishing mutual mind state. When establishing a mutual mind state we learn to think and feel the way people we love think and feel.” (Joyful Journey p.2+3).

Thought Rhyming is a concept that is informed both by scripture and neuroscience. [For more info, you can read the book, Joyful Journey: Listening To Immanuel, to learn more.] 

When we go through the five steps of thought rhyming over and over again, we end up developing a skill, or capacity, of thinking and feeling like the one that we love, who is God.