It's so easy to forget to pray and even easier to forget to acknowledge answered prayers. As an educator, the days may seem to blur one into the next. Before you know it, your head may hit the pillow, and another opportunity to pray or thank God may have passed. Praying doesn't have to be a ceremony or take a long time. It can be just a simple as one sentence said as you are walking down the hall, driving in your car on the way home, or while you're grading papers.

Praying is an act of devotion and communication directly with your Savior and Creator. In fact, the Bible commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray without ceasing" and practice this act every time each of us needs to call upon the Lord. In Jeremiah 33:3a, the Lord promised, "Call unto me and I will answer thee."

It's important to ask for guidance and help when we pray, but it is also just as important to praise and thank the Lord in our prayers. The Lord loves to hear a grateful heart, acknowledging Him and His works in every positive circumstance that happens, too.

It's so easy in the busyness to forget the answers to prayers that the Lord gives. Whether your prayers are little or large, the Lord hears them all and answers them all if we truly listen to His voice. Answers might not always be what you want to hear, either.

If you find yourself forgetting to thank God for His guidance and goodness, here's an idea to help you remember! Keep a prayer journal or diary. It's simple and easy, and it's a visual reminder of all the requests and praises you've made over time.

How to Use a Prayer Journal

• Buy a print journal or diary with plenty of pages for recording your thoughts and prayers or keep your prayer journal online in a word document!

• Find your secret place to be with God. Make sure your prayer location is quiet or distraction free. Make a point to be with the Lord in prayer as much as possible. If you can't get a solitary moment, keep praying and record your thoughts later when you have time.

• Make your prayer entries into your journal and date your thoughts.

• Look back at your prayers and see how God answers them and provides everything you need, even if it wasn't the way you thought it would turn out!

Another idea is to include prayer journals in your Christian school's chapel time or Bible classes. Have students fill out journals daily to get them in the habit of thanking the Lord and ask those comfortable to share answers to their prayers. You can even share answers to prayer, too!

Prayer journals are also a great way to remind you to pray, improve your writing skills, and release anxiety. Think of it as your own letters to God!

If you used a prayer journal or diary, how has it helped you?