> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.godfocus.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Journaling

> Capture your reflections, track your mood, and build a personal record of your walk with God that you can look back on for years to come.

# Journaling

Journaling in GodFocus is where your time with God turns into something you can hold onto. It is a personal space to write what God is showing you, how you are feeling, and what you want to remember. Weeks or months from now, you will look back and see God's hand at work in ways you could not see in the moment.

## What Is the Journal?

The journal is where you write about your time with God — after a guided session, after reading a plan, or anytime you want to capture a thought. Each entry includes a title, your written thoughts, a mood, and an optional tag for easy searching later.

## When Does Journaling Happen?

Journaling naturally follows a guided session or a reading plan day. Here is when GodFocus invites you to journal:

* **After a guided session** — When the Seek timer finishes, the completion dialog includes a **GodFocus Journal** button that takes you straight to a new entry
* **After a reading plan day** — Each plan day may include a **Write in Journal** button that opens the journal with the day's prompt already loaded
* **From the home screen** — You can tap **Journal Only** on the home screen anytime to write an entry without doing a session first
* **From Scripture Search** — When you find a verse, tap **Journal** to open an entry with the verse pre-loaded

## Writing a Journal Entry (Step by Step)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Give it a title">
    At the top, you will see a **Session Title** field. Enter a short title — the main theme, a Bible verse, a symbol, or a word that captures your time with God. If you came from a reading plan, GodFocus pre-fills this with the plan name and "Reflection."
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a searchable tag (optional)">
    Below the title, there is a **Searchable Tag** field. Enter a word or phrase like "Jesus," "love," "stress," "hope," "faith," "my purpose," "trials," or "book of John." Tags help you find entries later when you want to revisit a topic.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write your thoughts">
    The large text area labeled **Your Thoughts** is where the real writing happens. Write whatever God put on your heart. Not sure where to start? There is a helpful prompt right in the placeholder: "What did God say? What does it mean? What should I do about it?"

    If you came from a plan, the journal prompt from that day may already be loaded here.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a mood">
    On the right side (or below on mobile), you will see a **How are you feeling?** section with three options:

    * **Happy** (green smiley face)
    * **Neutral** (yellow neutral face)
    * **Sad** (blue frowny face)

    Tap the one that matches how you are feeling. This helps you track your emotional and spiritual journey over time.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap Save">
    When you are ready, tap the **Save** button in the top-right corner (or **Save Session** on larger screens). Your entry is stored securely in your account.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  You do not need to write a novel. Even a single sentence like "God reminded me He is in control" is enough. The act of writing it down is what makes it stick.
</Tip>

## The Checkpoint Card

On the journal page, you will notice a card labeled **Checkpoint!** that reminds you:

*"It's not from God if it does not line up with..."*

1. The Bible
2. The truth and love of Jesus
3. The counsel of mature followers of Jesus

This is a gentle guard rail to help you test anything you think God communicated during your session.

## Viewing Past Entries

Your journal entries appear in two places:

### On the Home Screen

Your home screen shows your **Recent Sessions** — a list of cards with each entry's title, date, mood, tag, and a preview of what you wrote. Tap any entry to read the full text.

### In the Archive

Tap **View all** at the top of the Recent Sessions section, or go to **Archive** in the hamburger menu, to see all your journal entries.

## Editing an Entry

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the entry">
    Tap any journal entry from the home screen or archive to open it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap Edit">
    In the top-right corner, tap the **Edit** button. The fields become editable.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make your changes">
    Update the title, tag, thoughts, or mood — whatever you need.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap Save">
    Tap **Save** to update the entry.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Sharing an Entry

Want to share what God showed you with a friend?

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the entry">
    Tap any journal entry to view it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap the menu icon">
    In the top-right corner, tap the three-dot menu icon.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap Share">
    Choose **Share** to send the entry title and content via your phone's share menu (text, email, social media, etc.).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Deleting an Entry

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the entry">
    Tap any journal entry to view it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap the menu icon">
    In the top-right corner, tap the three-dot menu icon.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap Delete">
    Choose **Delete**. A confirmation dialog will ask if you are sure, because deleted entries cannot be recovered. Tap **Delete Session** to confirm.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Setting a Daily Reminder

On the journal page, you will see a bell icon in the top-right corner. Tap it to go to your notification settings, where you can set up a daily push notification to remind you to spend time with God.

## Privacy

Your journal entries are completely private to your account. No one else can see them.

<Tip>
  Re-reading old journal entries is one of the most encouraging things you can do. Weeks or months later, you will see patterns of growth, answered prayers, and God's faithfulness that were invisible in the moment. Your journal is a testimony in the making.
</Tip>

> *"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago."* — Psalm 77:11