For a long time, I thought giving my heart to God was a one-time decision made at an altar. I said the prayer, I believed in Jesus, and I thought that was it. I had handed over my heart, signed, sealed, and delivered.

But as life unfolded, I discovered pockets of my heart I had unknowingly kept locked away. Places filled with old hurts, secret fears, and stubborn pride that I wasn't ready to let Him see.

It took me years to understand that handing God my heart wasn't a single event, but a daily, sometimes hourly, act of surrender. It's a journey, not a destination. And it's a journey He invites each of us on, not because He needs anything from us, but because He knows it’s the only path to true freedom and joy.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding back a piece of yourself from God, you’re not alone. Let me share a little about my journey and why this process of surrender is the most beautiful, life-changing adventure you can embark on.

Why Does God Want Your Heart Anyway?

Have you ever wondered why God asks for your heart? The Bible is clear on this. Proverbs 23:26 says, "My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways." This isn’t a demand from a distant king; it’s a loving plea from a Father who knows what’s best for us.

Giving our hearts to God isn't for His benefit—it's for ours. He doesn't need our money, our talents, or our time. He owns everything and gave us those gifts in the first place. But our heart? That is the one thing that is truly ours to give. It’s the seat of our desires, our will, and our emotions.

When we choose to give it to Him, we align our will with His perfect plan. He knows that holding onto control, nursing old wounds, and living in fear only keeps us stuck. He asks for our hearts so He can heal them, restore them, and make them new. He wants to help us become the person He created us to be, before life’s hurts and our own foolish choices distorted His perfect design.

My Messy, Imperfect Path to Surrender

My own journey to surrender was anything but graceful. For years, I kept God at a safe distance from the most broken parts of my story. I presented Him with the polished, "Christian" version of myself, while the real me was wrestling with anxiety, insecurity, and a deep-seated fear of not being good enough.

I prayed, I went to church, but I felt a blockage. It was like I was trying to have a deep conversation with someone while standing on the other side of a closed door. I could hear His voice faintly, but I couldn't fully receive the peace and freedom He was offering.

The junk from my past had created a dam in my heart, and only a trickle of His goodness could get through.

The breakthrough for me came in a very simple, practical way: I started writing to Him. Not formal, eloquent prayers, but raw, honest letters in a journal.

Prayer Journaling: The Tool That Unlocked My Heart

I know what you might be thinking. "A journal? It's just a blank notebook. Where do I even start?" I felt that way too. For a long time, my journaling was just a record of my day or a list of things that were bugging me. It was a brain dump, not a divine connection.

But then something shifted. I decided to get intentional. Instead of just complaining about my anxiety, I started asking God what His Word said about it. I wrote down scriptures about peace and His faithfulness. I asked Him to show me the root of my fears.

My journal became a sacred space for a two-way conversation. It was a place where I could:

Be Honest: I could pour out my anger, my disappointment, and my confusion without judgment. God already knew what was in my heart; writing it down was my act of admitting it to Him and to myself.

Process My Pain: Instead of letting painful thoughts swirl in my head, I put them on paper. This helped me see them more clearly and hand them over to God one by one.

Listen for His Voice: As I wrote, I would often feel the Holy Spirit bring a scripture to mind or give me a new perspective on a situation. Journaling became a way to quiet the world's noise and tune in to His gentle whispers.

This intentional practice became the key that unlocked the closed-off rooms of my heart. It was like a plunger for my soul, clearing out the blockages so God’s love could flow freely. It wasn't about being a great writer; it was about being a willing child.

Your Invitation to a Deeper Walk

Your story is different from mine, but the desire of God’s heart is the same for both of us. He wants all of you. Not the polished version, but the real, messy, beautifully imperfect you.

If you’re tired of feeling stuck and ready to experience the freedom that comes from a fully surrendered heart, I want to encourage you to start your own journey. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to take the first step.

Starting a prayer journaling practice can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t have to stare at a blank page and wonder where to begin. That's why I created our prayer journals—to give you a gentle guide for this very process. Each journal is a 30-day journey designed to help you work with God on one specific area of your heart at a time. It’s a targeted, purposeful way to start the conversation and keep it going.

Are you ready to hand God your heart, one page at a time?

Here's how:

1. Explore our collection of Prayer Journals and let the next 30 days be the start of your freedom story.
2. Choose one of the journals in the store that feels special, one that invites you to open it.
3. Choose the digital version for a lower cost. Print out the pages and add them to a pretty binder.*
4. Or, for the best experience, click 'Order Print Version,' and Amazon will deliver a beautiful, high-quality printed prayer journal right to your door. This tool can be your companion as you learn to walk in daily surrender. 
5. Be creative in your journal! Have fun! You can find lots of ideas for creative journaling on Pinterest. 

The Tools I've Been Enjoying:

• I like to use washi tape, stickers, and pretty paper in my journal.
• You can also get special pens and highlighters that won't smear or bleed through the pages and are safe for your journaling Bible.
• I recommend using glue tape to add extra pages or add-ins to your journal.
• I also enjoy using transparent sticky notes to jot down what God is teaching me that day.
• And, of course, I've been using the Beautiful Word Journaling Bible I got for my birthday.*  

*Links take you to Amazon. If you order the journaling tools, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Keep Reading

5 Steps to Fully Give Your Heart to God and Find True Freedom

If you're looking for a place to connect, dive deeper into everyday struggles, and find Bible-focused solutions for real-life problems, I invite you to check out my Substack publication Rewritten by Grace. You'll find free Christ-centred content designed to encourage and guide you. 

Plus, as a new subscriber to Rewritten by Grace, you'll receive a special discount on any digital product in my store, delivered right in your welcome letter.