Bible Journaling – A Creative Way to Engage with Scripture

Bible journaling is a method where biblical texts and creative practices meet. A new Finnish-language guide introduces an approach through which drawing, coloring, and lettering can open familiar verses in a new way – in a space of reflection and stillness. This is the first Bible journaling guide in Finnish.

Bible journaling is a method that invites deeper engagement with Scripture through creative expression. Drawing, coloring, and lettering offer ways to pause with individual verses and explore them from new perspectives. Biblical texts and visual elements enter into a dialogue where personal experience and contemplation are given room.

In spring 2022, pastor Marja Vainikka discovered Bible journaling and soon noticed that there were no guides available in Finnish. She decided to take action. “I quickly realized that the guides were only in English. One had to be made in Finnish,” Vainikka says.

She has a long background in crafts and a wide range of experience in creative hobbies. This is evident in the guide she authored, which presents various techniques and materials along with practical tips for getting started. The guide encourages readers to explore their own approaches and use the tools they already have at home.

Vainikka emphasizes that there is no right or wrong way to do Bible journaling: “There is no correct or incorrect way to do Bible journaling. Only the materials and your imagination set the limits.”

Engaging with Scripture through visual means does not exclude the spiritual dimension. On the contrary, Vainikka says it has deepened her prayer life: “When I do Bible journaling, I become still and reflect on the verse at hand. It has changed and enriched my prayer life as well.”

Bible journaling can be done individually but also lends itself well to group settings. In some Bible study groups, the method has become part of regular gatherings. “In our group, we begin by reading a text on a chosen theme and discussing it. Then we move into creative work using different techniques,” Vainikka explains. In such groups, participants can try out new materials and ways of working together.

The use of one’s own native language is also important to her:
“It’s important to study and craft with Scripture in your own mother tongue. That’s when you understand the Word best.”

Bible journaling offers a way to explore the Bible where hands-on creativity supports deeper reflection. Visual expression is not merely decorative but becomes part of how meaning is received and formed. The guide also includes printable verses and short devotionals to support this holistic approach.