Write the Word Journals: Review and Comparison of the Original, New, and Kids’ Versions

While I normally focus on planners in this blog, because I’m a bit planner obsessed (understatement, I know), I also love to use journals. I’ve mentioned my journaling in prior posts such as this one I wrote about journaling prompts.

But, there is one type of journal I use, which is pretty unique. It also happens to be created by one of my favorite planner brands, Cultivate What Matters (CWM), which makes the PowerSheets Goal Planner, that I have reviewed before in this post and the Girls Goal Planner that I reviewed in this article.

I really like the quality of the Cultivate What Matter products that I have purchased, and I often recommend them to my friends. Their product range includes planners, goal guides, sticker books, notepads, magnetic page markers, planning pages, apparel, art prints, journals, and motivational books authored by the company’s founder, Lara Casey. Or, check out the full range of products, here.

The CWM folks sell two types of journals. The first are plain, lined notebooks. Those come in two varieties – their thin three-pack of “Everyday Lined Notebooks,” and what they call, “Legacy Journals,” which are book-bound notebooks.

The second journal they sell is pretty unique. These are their Write the Word Journals.

Why Write the Word?

First, many people will tell you that the best way to learn and memorize anything is by writing it out. Writing is the reason why I use a paper planner, and I know that I am more likely to grasp what I’m reading in the Bible if I write out the passages.

For anyone wishing to engage in Bible study, it can be a daunting task. You can try to read the bible cover to cover, which I did last year with my church. But, it’s hard to hone in on specific passages of scripture when you’re barreling through the bible at that fast pace.

There are plenty of online bible study programs and groups that you can join. And, of course, there are bible studies that churches host for their members. It is always helpful to have guidance, and if you’re not as well-versed in the Bible (no pun intended), having an outside source to help lead you through the text is important.

However, I often find myself feeling like I don’t have the time to commit to a daily or, depending on the season, even weekly bible study program. And, once I fall behind in a program, I can easily get discouraged and drop out.

If you’re familiar with my blog, you might recall that, among the many planners I use regularly, I have a faith planner. I even wrote an article on how to set up an affordable faith planner, here.

So, you might be wondering why someone with a faith planner would even want a scripture journal. Well, what I like about the Write the Word Journals, and what makes them so unique, is that they are effectively undated, guided journals for Bible study.

This means that I can go at my own pace. Since the Bible passages are provided, I don’t have to try to figure out how to navigate the scriptures on my own, which is what I would be doing if I tried to do my own Bible study using my faith planner.

Sometimes we all could use a little help. And for those of us with little Bible study experience, the Write the Word Journals are a great option.

I first learned about these journals when I purchased my first CWM PowerSheets Goal Planner three years ago. I was perusing the CWM online catalog and saw these colorful journals with names like Cultivate Faith and Cultivate Joy.

When I looked into them, I learned that Lara Casey had designed these journals for women who wanted to get into reading their Bibles and learning scripture but didn’t feel they had the time to engage in an intensive Bible study program.

The journals are very simple. There are sections with writing prompts and two larger sections for scripture and notes. Because the Bible verses are simply listed, you get to use your own Bible version to write out the verses.

One thing to note about Write the Word Journals is that they are specifically made for people who wish to study and learn scripture from the Old and New Testaments. As such, most of these journals are geared toward people who practice the Christian Faith.

The space provided for writing out a few guided sections is pretty small. The largest section is for writing what’s on your heart. It’s a nicely sized notes section. Having nearly a full page for writing out notes is really helpful. And you can use it in many ways:

• Write about your day– this can be where you jot down your thoughts for the day. It’s titled “On My Heart Today,” so anything that is on your heart is fine to write out and explore.
• Delve deeper into the meaning of the Bible passage. This one is obvious. You can simply write about what the passage means, either in the context of the greater passage it’s written or in the context of the book’s theme. By the end of the book, you would have created a book of your own personal devotions.
• Write out prayers. I love that part of the book, The Help, where the main character talks about writing out her prayers. I’ve seen blogs devoted to written prayers. The notes section is a great place to write out the prayers that are on your heart that day.
• Use a Bible study method. Whether you use S.O.A.P. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer), W.O.R.D. (Write, Observe, Relevant, Declare), R.E.A.P. (Read, Examine, Apply, Pray), or some other method, this section provides enough space to jot out those parts of the method to help you better understand the passage. (If you Google each of those methods, you’ll find more information on how to use them in your Bible Study).
• Write out the scripture passage a few more times. If you are trying to memorize the passages provided, this is a great place to write the passages out a few more times. If the passage was long, focus in on a shorter passage within the one provided to commit to memory.
• Add some artwork. I use the scripture section for drawing some related artwork, but the notes section is fine for this as well. Although some folks don’t like to draw on lined pages, that doesn’t bother me and find that the lines help me keep my drawings level (instead of getting all lop-sided, which mine are prone to do).
• Write prose or poetry. Sometimes the most beautiful art form is the written word. There is room in these beautiful books to compose phrases that you might be inspired to write after reading the scripture or reflecting on your day.

These books provide just enough guidance without feeling restrictive. And, because there are no rules on how to fill in the prompted sections, you can feel like the experience is personalized for you.

Write the Word Journals – General Review

From what I have in my collection there are at least 12 different Write the Word Journals that the company has released over the past four years. What you’ll find in every Write the Word Journal (whether you bought some in 2017, as I did, or last month, also as I did):

• When purchased new, each book comes with a paper sash that indicates the book’s title on the front, and some information about writing the word and the book’s theme on the back.
• Each book is a different color and represents a different faith concept such as Hope, Confidence, Joy, etc. and are phrased as “Cultivating” these aspects of your faith.
• Each day has a two-page entry with simple prompts: “Today Is,” “I’m Grateful For,” the scripture passages, “On My Heart Today,” and “My Word for Today” in gold-foiled lettering. Both the scripture and “On My Heart” sections are lined to facilitate writing.
• The journals are book-bound with sturdy covers made of vegan leather, and each has a coordinating, satin page-marker ribbon. The books measure Measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches and have thick, high-quality paper that stands up to most pens.
• All of the books have numbered pages. In my collection, most of the books are around 152 pages long. However, the shortest one I have is 127 pages and the longest is 170 pages.
• The inside covers have a lovely stripe pattern with colors that coordinate with the cover and a short scripture verse in gold foiling.
• The first page has a scripture passage and the back of that page includes Lara Casey’s message to the journal’s owner along with how to use the book.

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Comparing Old and New Write the Word Journals

I have been collecting these books since 2017, and I have appreciated the quality of each one. That said, I have noticed that as they release new editions, the journals have changed a bit. Here are some differences:

• Page Layouts. One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed in the newer editions are the page layouts. In the original, a day’s entry would begin on an odd-numbered page and continue onto the back of the page, so that you could not see the day’s full layout at one time. The new versions now have an alternating page pattern.
• Nameplate Page. In the beginning of the journal there is a nameplate page with beautiful gold foiling as the first odd-numbered page, allowing the writer to see both pages when they write a day’s entry. However, throughout the book, there are now pages with scripture passages that interrupt the pattern and revert back to the original front/back layout. The journals go back and forth between these two layouts throughout the books.
• Gold-foiling on the covers. Unlike the older journals, the newer ones have far more decorative covers with ornate gold foiling.
• End pages. In the newer journals, there are also pages at the end that list the various journals they have published and advertising their other products.

• Changes to the First Five. The original “All Seasons Bundle” (Link) included the following books: Faith, Joy, Gratitude, Hope, and Renewal. The current “All Seasons Bundle” has been updated. From what I can tell from the images in their online store, the books feature different Bible passages than the original collection. Also, “Cultivating Gratitude” is now “Cultivating Contentment.”
• Blank Bible Journal. One of the two journals that launched this year is the Write the Word Blank Bible Journal. This is such a great idea, and I hope they make more of these in different colors, for variety. While the other journals in their collection have a specific theme and provide Bible passages for each day, the WTW Blank Bible Journal has no suggested Bible passages. This means that you get to choose your own passages to write out and can even journal from other, non-Christian texts in a section titled “My Verse for Today,” so it’s far more inclusive of other faiths. (Just keep in mind that this book also includes a few of those decorative pages with pre-written passages from the Old and New Testaments). The CWM team has even given some examples about how to put this blank journal to use in this article.

Write the Word for Kids

Even before CWM launched their Girls Goal Planner, they had already released two versions of their Write the Word for Kids journals, geared for children 5-12 years old. What I love about these books is that they not only encourage kids to do a little Bible study but they have kids explore goal setting, gratitude, and how they are feeling.

Here are some additional features I love about these kid-friendly journals that encourage learning about faith:

• Types. There are just 2 types of WTW For Kids Journals they have released: the original, “Plant Seeds of the Word” and “Fruit of the Spirit.” (Currently, only the “Plant Seeds of the Word” is available for purchase in their store. I’m hoping they bring back the “Fruit of the Spirit for new shoppers- it’s a beautiful journal!)
• Covers. The covers are made of a matte vegan leather, which is soft and padded. There was no ribbon in the “Plant Seeds of the Word” journal. However, there was a yellow grosgrain ribbon in the “Fruit of the Spirit” journal.
• Size. Although the size was not listed on the website, I compared these to the WTW journals and find they are slightly thicker due to the padded covers but otherwise seem to be 5.5 x 8.5 inches. They also appear to have the same high-quality, thick paper as the other WTW journals.
• Kid-friendly designs. Because the books are for children, they are far more colorful than their grown-up counterparts. The inside of the covers have stripes in rainbow patterns, and the first few pages, which provide some guidance on using the journals, also have colors on the pages.
• Fun Intro Pages. The first few pages include a “Bible Book Bingo” page, two pages explaining how to use the journal, an “About Me” page, and page for “Goals for the Year,” with room for 5 goals. All the pages in the book are numbered.
• Layout. The main layout for the daily entries is a two-page spread arranged in a side-by-side layout. The first page has sections for “Today is,” “I’m grateful for,” “I feel” and a “Write the Word” section, which is lined and usually recommends a one to two-verse Bible passage. The “I feel” section has emotive faces, which can either be colored in or filled in with a corresponding sticker. The second page of the layout has a large, open section titled “Today’s Art” and a small section on the bottom for “What I love about today,” which encourages gratitude journaling.
• Stickers. Each book comes with a 4-page set of stickers to decorate the journal. And, each sticker set matches the journal’s theme.
• Pocket. The inside back cover has a pocket large enough to hold the sticker sheets that come with each journal.
• Coloring Pages. Each journal has coloring pages scattered throughout the book. Because they are two-page layouts, they do not interrupt the flow of the daily entry layouts like in the new Write the Word Journals.
• Great for all Children. Unlike the Girls Goal Planner, which has a feminine name and design, these books are entirely gender-neutral, so they are perfect for giving to any child.

Accessories for the Write the Word Journals and Bible Study

Of course, you know that a company like Cultivate What Matters, which has so many fun goal-planning accessories would create some to go with their Journals and faith materials. Here is some of what they carry:

• Faith sticker book. Although it looks similar to their Goal-Planning Sticker Book, the Faith Sticker Book has more of a Christian theme. There are multiple pages, and they can also be used with your Goal Planner.
• Colorful Bible Book Tabs. These colorful sticker tabs, labeled with the books of the Old and New Testaments are perfect for finding your place in Bibles that don’t already come tabbed.
• Faith Page Magnetic Markers. (Not featured here). These are new this year. They are magnetic page markers and coordinate with the colors in the Faith Sticker Book.

I have all of these products. One thing I recommend is that when CWM releases new journals, you should be on the lookout for the launch day and any specials they are running. They sometimes sell bundles and have free shipping offers around that time, which makes it more cost-effective to get these products.

Supplies we use to write in and decorate our Write the Word Journals

I have really enjoyed using these journals to both explore the Bible according to the themes of each book, and for the ways that Lara Casey encourages using them. She basically says to “make a mess.” This is why she sells Faith Stickers in addition to the Goal planning Stickers she releases each year.

I have not only used these books to journal, but also to draw when I’ve felt inspired to do so. My daughter also colors and draws in her books, which specifically encourage artwork. All of that means having the right supplies to make it easy to turn these journals into a creative faith outlet.

For writing in my journals, I prefer to use Paper Mate Flair pens. They have a beautiful range of colors, and the paper in these journals hold up well to the richly pigmented ink:

If I decide to write in my bible or need a finer tip to draw in my journal, I like to use these Pigma Micron fineliners. They don’t bleed through, even on thin, Bible pages (which is why so many Bible journalers recommend them):

If I decide to highlight my bible (or my Write the Word journal), I prefer these bible highlighters, which are like a crayon gel and won’t bleed through thin paper. They are really great for color-coding!

I sometimes like to just sketch in my Write the Word journals, and I use pencils by Faber Castell- this one has a nice collection of graphite pencils that range from hard to soft lead, so you can make fine sketches and fill them in with softer, blendable shading:

Since most artists’ sketch pencils don’t come with their own erasers. There are two that I like to use when I sketch in my journals. The first is regular rubber eraser, which are best for erasing large areas of graphite. I prefer the ones made by Prismacolor as they even help erase colored pencil:

The second is a kneaded eraser. These allow you to lighten your sketch by lifting off just some of the lead. And, because they are like a putty, you can shape the eraser into a fine point for detailed erasing jobs. I recommend the one that comes in a case, so it doesn’t get dirty in between sketching sessions:

Sketch pencils are also delicate and need the right pencil sharpener to get a fine point without losing a lot of wood or lead in the process. Here is the one I use, which allows you to sharpen thin and thick pencils, as well as colored pencils:

Finally, my daughter likes to paint in her Write the Word Journals. The paper quality is excellent, but not meant for mixed media. In order to protect the paper and allow it to take wet media like watercolor or acrylic, apply a thin layer of gesso (yup- that stuff artists use to prep their canvases), which when dry, will seal the paper and give it a texture that grabs artistic media without soaking the paper. It will also seal your Bible pages if you want to paint in it! This is the brand that we use:

These journals have provided me and my daughter with a meaningful way to get into scripture without becoming overwhelmed. Do you study scripture? What methods do you employ? Leave a comment below!

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**Image credits- Bible with coffee cup and images of multiple open Bibles found on Pixabay.