Faithful Beginnings : Embracing God Through Creativity & Journaling

Welcome to Prayers & Paper Trails!

Hey & Welcome to Prayers & Paper Trails !! Whether you stumbled across this page by accident or have been following along with my journey, I am so happy you’re here. I can hardly believe I’m finally writing my first blog post. It’s something I’ve been going back and forth about for what feels like forever. I mean, let’s be real—I am no writer by any stretch of the imagination! But after praying about this, and praying some more, I knew being obedient to God was more important than my insecurities. That constant pull from Him was something I couldn’t ignore, so here we are, ladies!

Let me take a step back and share a little bit about my journey. When I was 15, I was saved in a little country church on a dirt road. It was a life-changing moment that I will never forget. But over the years, I drifted far from Jesus. I believed in Him and loved Him, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t have a real relationship with my Savior. I wasn’t close to Him. Life went on, and I kept Him at a distance.

Then, there came a time when I knew something had to change. My family was going through some very hard things, and I would wake up every morning with a sense of dread, not knowing what the day would bring. Nights weren’t any better, and I felt completely lost. I knew I couldn’t keep going like that—I needed Him. I couldn’t make it without Him. That’s when I rededicated my life to Jesus. I hit my knees, crying out for His forgiveness, His help, and His salvation. And let me tell you, He met me right where I was, broken and desperate, and began to heal and restore my life.

That’s the most wonderful, amazing thing about Jesus—He will meet you right where you are. It doesn’t matter how broken, sick, or overwhelmed you feel, He will meet you there. You just have to open your heart and let Him in. You see, we may move away or leave Jesus, but He will never leave us. Once I rededicated my life, I felt a hunger for a deeper relationship with Him. I opened up my Bible, ready to read and study, but then I thought… where should I even start? What type of studies should I do?

Like many of you, I did what we all do—I Googled it. And wow, I was overwhelmed with all the different types of studies, journaling methods, and approaches. That’s when I realized that finding what works for me would be a journey in itself. And that’s what this blog is here for—to help you navigate that journey, too. We all have different ways of connecting with God, and that’s okay. What works for me might not work for you, and that’s perfectly fine. The important thing is spending time with Jesus and letting Him guide you.

What This Blog Is About

Prayers & Paper Trails is all about helping you find what works best for you as you grow in your faith and connect with God. We’ll explore different Bible study methods, try out creative approaches, and share tips and resources along the way. Some methods I’ve tried and love, and others we’ll explore together for the first time. The goal is to create a space where you feel encouraged and equipped to deepen your relationship with Jesus.

But let me say this upfront: while devotionals, journals, and blogs (like this one!) are wonderful tools, nothing—absolutely nothing—takes the place of simply picking up your Bible, reading Scripture, and spending time with Jesus. That is the foundation of your faith journey, and everything else is just a bonus.

Creative Ways to Study the Bible

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or unsure about how to study the Bible, you’re not alone. That’s why we’ll be exploring lots of creative ways to make it approachable and enjoyable. Here are a few methods we’ll dive into:

• Verse Mapping: Break down a verse into smaller parts, study its meaning, and connect it to other Scriptures. It’s great for digging deep and understanding context.
• Topical Studies: If you’re navigating a specific season, like finding peace or battling fear, topical studies allow you to explore what the Bible says about those topics.
• Chapter-by-Chapter Reading: Go through a book of the Bible, one chapter at a time, to fully grasp its message and themes.
• Prayer Journaling: Write down your prayers and reflections as you study. This helps you process your thoughts and connect with God on a deeper level.
• Junk Journaling: Add creativity to your Bible study with drawings, stickers, washi tape, and other fun elements. This is one of my personal favorites because it makes studying feel so personal and expressive.

And here’s the thing: what works for me may not work for you, and that’s perfectly fine. The beauty of studying the Bible is that it’s a deeply personal journey. We’ll try different approaches, and you can take what resonates and leave the rest. And I will say this once again the important part is spending that quiet time with Jesus and letting Him guide you.

What You Can Expect

Here’s what you can look forward to on Prayers & Paper Trails:

• Monthly Themes: Each month, we’ll focus on a specific topic or Bible study theme to guide our time together.
• Free Printables: You’ll have access to resources like Bible study guides, journaling templates, and more to make studying Scripture easier and more enjoyable.
• Creative Challenges: Fun journaling and art challenges to help you explore your faith in unique ways.
• Encouragement and Community: This is a safe space where we can ask questions, support one another, and grow together in Christ.

Let’s Walk This Road Together

So grab your Bible, your favorite journal, and maybe a cup of coffee or tea, and let’s walk this road together. My prayer is that this blog becomes a source of encouragement, creativity, and inspiration for you. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to spend time with Jesus, as long as you’re seeking Him and soaking in His Word. I am so excited & I know mistakes will be made because this is all new to me and well.. life ..so if you will just bear with me I promise to do my very best .

Look for free printables & the link to my etsy store in future post

Thank you for being here. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us.

And if you want to recieve emails on future post & subscribe just fill out short form below.

With Love & Grace ,

Stephanie Flynn