As you begin listing the things you’re thankful for, you’ll soon recognize your many blessings. Praise God for his greatness, power, and love. Let his nature lift you up and encourage you. Offer him your praise and gratitude; watch him fill you with hope and help to face even the most difficult challenges.

If you want to begin a prayer journal, here are a few tips:

• Choose a time of day when you may have a few moments to yourself. (If you have preschoolers at home, put on a VeggieTales video to offer them positive entertainment while you spend this "alone time" with God.)

• Put on the answering machine so you won’t be interrupted by phone calls.

• Get out your prayer journal and pen, or use the computer.

• Start by writing praises to God for his greatness and love.

• List specific blessings in your life and thank God for these things.

• Confess anything that you need to confess on a separate page or piece of scrap paper. After you ask for forgiveness, tear it up and throw it away.

• Write your requests to God, pouring out your deepest needs, concerns, or fears.

(And remember, moms, if you don’t finish in one sitting, pick it up where you left off at a later time.)

Crystal Bowman is the author of A Mom’s Guide to Making Memories Last: Simple, Inexpensive Ways to Scrapbook and Journal (Revell, 2006), from which this article is excerpted. Bowman is the author of more than thirty books and teacher-resource materials. A mother of three grown children, she is a frequent speaker at writers', MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers, www.mops.org), women's, and parenting conferences.

Used with permission of Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.