Moving? Use My 4 Step Journaling Process To Prayerfully Find Your New Home
HOME
If you’re ready to find your perfect new home, grab your journal, steal my go-to process, and go through each section as a series of prompts:
STEP 1: GET SPECIFIC
This is where you’re going to make a list of everything you want in your new home.
BUDGET
I like to have a range within a couple hundred dollars from ideal amount to max amount. Have a number in mind, then just know and have unwavering Faith that God will provide you an incredible place to live within a range that is manageable for you. In my experience a lot of people I’ve rented from are actually negotiable on the rent, so don’t be afraid to ask. I also like to use this as an opportunity to practice my negotiating skills.
BEDROOMS + OTHER SPACES
How many bedrooms or other spaces do you need? Be specific. Don’t downplay what you need. If you’re single and can live in a studio, or if you need multiple bedrooms for a family. The key is you have to know how you work best. For example, if you’re single but you work from home and you still want a separate office, you just have to decide that’s what you need to work at your optimal level. Have some tiers, example: Two bedrooms is ideal, but a 1 bedroom and den is great too.
VIEW
Whenever I’m praying for and visualizing my new home, I always consider the view. What do you want to see outside your windows? What would inspire you? Whether it’s a view of the water, like the ocean, the river, or lake front. Or it’s an earthy landscape of mountains, expansive country side, or a rural retreat surrounded by trees on acreage. Whether it’s a view of a beautiful garden, or your right in the middle of town with an entertaining view of the street. Imagine looking out the windows or your new home, what do you see?
LOCATION & ENVIRONMENT
This section goes one step further than your view and considers the logistical aspect of your new homes. For example: When I was praying for a new country home with a very remote feel, it was important for me to be no more than a 10 minutes drive from a grocery store. With my most recent home, I wanted to be walking distance to the ocean and a great cafe. The key here is to know how you want to live. What does the lifestyle around your home look and feel like, and how does the setting, environment, and location play into that?
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
YOUR LANDLORD & NEIGHBORS
What kind of relationship do you want with your landlords? This is really important if you’re renting. There’s nothing worse than having a great place but you’re having an awful situation with the people you're renting or buying from. Would you prefer your landlord living on site or off site? Would you prefer to never see them, or love the idea of becoming good friends with them. Regardless of what you’d prefer, imagine this as a seamless ideal situation. There is great report, and it’s a simple and easy exchange of money for property. Take the time to journal about your ideal situation here.
NEGOTIABLE VS. REQUIRED
I truly believe in holding the vision of what we want, and then trusting where God leads us. That being said, it’s important to have a list of your non-negotiables in advance so that you’re not put on the spot of taken off guard when the perfect place is missing something really important and you feel like you might need to settle. Here’s some examples: Dishwasher, bathtub, yard, patio, in-suite laundry, no one above or below you, basement suite, or upper level of house, apartment or entire house, natural light, enough space in the master bedroom for your king size bed. Another thing to think about is your creative self expression. Do you like playing music late? Do you want to not have to worry about making noise? Will having neighbors either above, beside or below you inhibit your self expression? These are all things to think about. Do a brain dump of everything you can think of, then put then in order of priority. This will help you avoid decision fatigue as well as sort through your options more quickly. Remember, you’re allowed to have a peaceful home life, you just have decide to create it.
STEP 2: VISUALIZE
Now that you’ve gotten specific about exactly what you want, it’s time to visualize and meditate on that vision. Don’t worry yet about the exact location of the home. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself living in this home that you’ve created in your mind. Imagine waking up in the morning, making your coffee, going on to your patio, cooking dinner, having a bath… visualize really living in your new home, and notice the feelings that arise. Hold on to that feeling, then journal from that place.
STEP 3: WRITE IT OUT
Describe your life in the home as if you’re living it. Use this prompt as a starting point and put in whatever details are in your vision:
“Lord God, I am so thankful to be living in this new home! I feel so at peace and relaxed and inspired. I love how the light streams in through the windows, and all the space in the kitchen to invite friends and family over for dinner. Thank you God for this yard and this view! I am so grateful for this life you have helped me create. I love the way it feels to wake up from my big cozy bed, and make my way to the kitchen to make coffee. I love being so close to the ocean and all the nature around me. Thank you God! For leading me to this place. You are such a wonderful provider.”
STEP 4: SURRENDER
The final prayer is “God where would you have me be?” You might have an idea of the city or the physical location, but this is a really important step because you have to surrender your plan for God’s. One of the things I like to do is pray over a map to get a general idea of the location God is calling me to. Trust that as you’ve made your list, and really trusted in the process, God will bring you to where you’re meant to be. One of my favourite things to imagine during this final phase is that my new home is currently being prepared for me. I imagine the previous tenants just gave their notice. Things are being moved out. The walls are being freshly painted... Imagine, right now, in this moment, that the space is being prepared for your arrival.
SCRIPTURE TO SUPPORT THE PROCESS
A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. — Proverbs 16:9
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. — James 1:6
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” — James 4:13-15
In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. — John 14:2
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. — Philippians 4:8
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.” — Genesis 12:1
ABOUT the author
Taiha Lee is the indie author of Waking Up and has been writing Morning Pages for 15 years. She is passionate about teaching women how to develop a personal relationship with God through daily writing and prayer and has written with women worldwide. She lives by the sea with her husband in the Pacific Northwest on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
You can find her book Waking Up here.
