What is a war binder and how do I create one? Plus everything you need to create a war binder or faith journal, including free downloads!
Have you seen the movie War Room? The movie is all about the power of prayer, and it’s really good! If you haven’t had a chance to watch it, go check it out! I just loved it and it was such a good reminder to prioritize prayer in my life. Before I get into what a War Binder is, and how to create one, let me backtrack for just a bit.
War Binder Faith Journal
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Solutions For Journaling
When I started developing my product line for Live Oak Nest, I originally wanted to create one large spiral-bound notebook with different sections….for prayer, gratitude, bible study, etc. Something that was all-inclusive so I didn’t have multiple journals. I wanted one journal that I could keep with my bible. But I knew If I had one journal with multiple sections, women would fill up one section before the others, and I didn’t like that. So I kept looking for new ideas!
I had been scrolling through Pinterest for ideas to create a War Room in our home, which is an idea based off of the movie War Room. As I was scrolling through Pinterest, I came across a War Binder! A single binder that doesn’t require a room or closet. Perfect!
Travelers Notebooks
Many of the war binders I came across were created using a Traveler’s Notebook. I was new to the world of Traveler’s Notebooks, but I was instantly hooked! A Traveler’s Notebook is essentially a cover with elastic bands on the inside spine which allow you to insert and remove different notebooks or journals as needed. They come in MANY sizes and styles. But when I came across this system, I knew it was the perfect solution for Live Oak Nest’s journals! Using a traveler’s notebook cover allows you to swap out the journals as they fill up all while carrying only ONE notebook/binder!
As a side note, all three of our journals can be used separately and many of our friends do use them that way, but I really love to bundle them together to create a faith journal or war binder.
So What is a War Binder?
A war binder, also known as a faith journal, is essentially a binder or notebook with multiple sections that you use to document, strengthen, and nourish your walk with Christ.
How do I create a War Binder?
The opportunities are endless really! To get your creative wheels a turnin’, head over to this Pinterest board! I want to emphasize that your war binder does not need to be complicated or expensive! It can be as basic or as detailed as you like.
If you’re on a tight budget, consider starting with just a spiral-bound notebook! You can use stickers and washi tape to spruce it up and then create your own tabs and sections. It isn’t the binder itself that is important; it’s the growth, the heart, the conversation….the time you spend with God that matters!
What type of system should I use?
So once you’ve decided to create a war binder, you need to decide what system you want to use. Here are some ideas!
Spiral Notebook
- Many war binders are started in a spiral-bound notebook or a 3-ring binder that you can get at an office supply store or on Amazon. This will be your most basic, inexpensive option to get started!
Happy Planner
I’ve also seen many created using a Happy Planner! You can find Happy Planners at Amazon, or with a coupon, you can get a really good deal at Michaels or Hobby Lobby!
Travelers Notebook
If you’re wanting to use a Traveler’s Notebook, here are a few options for those! Using a Webster’s Pages Travelers Notebook is an affordable option! You can find these online at Webster’s Pages, Amazon, JoAnn Fabric, and Hobby Lobby. I also have them available here in the boutique as part of our War Binder Starter Kits! If you’re wanting something that is very high quality and will stand the test of time, you might consider a leather travelers notebook cover. Chic Sparrow creates some REALLY beautiful traveler’s notebook covers. If you decide to go this route, you want to make sure you pay close attention to the size of the cover you purchase.
If you are purchasing a cover from Chic Sparrow to fit Live Oak Nest journals, you need a Wide size, or the A5 size if you want a little more room around the outside edges of your journals. This one is beautiful! The sizes of traveler’s notebook covers vary depending on the manufacturer so make sure you carefully select the size that will hold the notebooks/journals you plan to use. Live Oak Nest journals are 5 inches x 8 inches, and all three of them stacked are just shy of an inch in depth. It can easily get overwhelming with all of the options out there, which is why I’ve listed these two great traveler’s notebook cover options in two price ranges for you! Webster’s Pages and Chic Sparrow.
War Binder Starter Kit
If you’re not wanting to hunt and peck all over the internet to put your war binder together, you might be interested in my War Binder Starter Kit! It includes everything you need to get started with a war binder! It comes with a Webster’s Pages Travelers Notebook Cover, Live Oak Nest’s Spiritual Journal Bundle, a Live Oak Nest Velvet Bookmark of your choice, a Live Oak Nest Lace Bookmark Set of 2, and a Live Oak Nest Dashboard Card of your choice. Click here to shop my war binder kits!
So what do I put in my war binder? What sections should I include in my war binder?
The beautiful thing about your war binder is that it is YOURS! You can create whatever sections or use whatever journals you want, and play until your heart’s content! I recommend starting with these three journals: prayer, gratitude, and scripture. You can also set up your spiral-bound notebook with these three sections. Once you get started you will develop your own system, and know what journals and sections you want to add.
Obviously, I use Live Oak Nest’s journals for my war binder inserts! 😉 Here is how I’m using each journal in my war binder right now.
Prayer Journal:
I am currently working through Priscilla Shirer’s book Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer. The book walks you through creating a prayer strategy for 10 primary areas in your life, and as you work through the book you craft your own prayers. So each prayer, along with the chapter’s notes, is going into my Heartfelt Prayer Journal. I’ll be walking through the book and blogging about each chapter over the next few months, and I’d love it if you would join me! You can purchase the book from Amazon, by clicking here!
Gratitude Journal:
I am using this journal to document my gratitude for the blessings God has given me. I also document my gratitude for times in my life when God has spoken to me or orchestrated outcomes that only He could do! Committing to writing down my gratitude DAILY is a little too overwhelming for me so I do it weekly.
Scripture Journal:
I’m currently using this journal to focus on scripture that I want to memorize and imprint on my heart. I’ll use an entire page for one scripture. I decorate the page using paint, washi tape, stickers, and stamps, and then I write the scripture out several times. This looks very similar to scrapbooking or art journaling! It is a fun, creative way to spend time meditating on the word, and the pages are beautiful to look back on! I also have women who are using this journal for a specific bible study!
My Personal War Binder
For a little more inspiration, here are some pictures of my own personal war binder. Now, if you are not “crafty” that is OKAY. I love the creative aspect of decorating my pages. It’s fun for me to pull out all of my stamps, washi tape, and paper and go to town! Also, go ahead and dismiss your desire to make perfect pages. Be okay with making a mess, and making mistakes! That’s life!
If getting crafty isn’t your cup of tea, please don’t feel like you can’t create a war binder. Remember, it isn’t the binder itself that is important; it’s the growth, the heart, and the conversation that matters. So if you just want to use a pen and maybe a highlighter, please do that! Taking time to journal your walk with God is enjoyable, and the time spent in the Word and in prayer is invaluable!
If you’re starting a war binder, you might be interested in adding some of my digital downloads. You can access the files by signing up below! Simply click here to join.
I hope this blog post on creating a war binder was helpful! I’d love to hear what you think about this down below! Feel free to ask questions also!
Rooted in the love of Jesus,
Kayla
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Great post, Kayla. I loved the movie and have taken two groups of ladies through Priscilla Shirer’s study, Armor of God. Your tips are great and your cover for the war binder sounds wonderful. Blessings over your blog and your boutique.
Hi Karen! Thank you so much. Im really looking forward to reading the Armor of God after we wrap up Fervent. I’ve heard great things about that book and I know it will be a good one to read! Thank you for stopping by!
I really love this idea, just now I have to figure out how to get started, I read something g about it would be a good way to organize your devotions, how would that work or can you explain?
Hi Janna! Sure, so I like to keep a separate journal for each devotion or study I’m doing. If you don’t fill an entire notebook you could add a tab to a page for a new study and split one journal up that way.
That looks like a beautiful way to organize devotionals!
Hi Helene! Thanks so much! Yes, it’s a great way to organize devotionals!! 🙂
I absolutely love this!!! Thank you for the ideas and resources!
You’re so welcome, Emily! I’m so glad you loved the post! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I love this.Thanks for sharing.I learned so much.Blessings!
Hi Jackie! Thanks for reading! I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog post! Blessings to you!! – Kayla
Thank you so much for sharing this. I am going to start my own war binder.
Hi Diana! I’m so glad to hear you’re going to start your own war binder! I know you will be blessed by the time you spend in prayer and with God! Thanks for stopping by the blog! 🙂 -Kayla
Can’t wait to get started with this project. We have been studying Prayer at my Monday night grouping & I’m thinking this would be a perfect project for us to work on together. Kind of like scrapbooking. Thank you for the ideas!
Hi Char! You’re so welcome! Wow, I love that idea! Creating a war binder with a small group would be so fun! If you end up doing that, please let me know; I’d love to hear about it. Thanks for stopping by and reading the blog. 🙂 Blessings to you! -Kayla
Thank you for these great ideas, I have ordered a Websters Pages Travelers Notebook to get started on my own prayer journal! Before I read your suggestions I was at loss where to start, now I’m excited to see where this leads!! One of the benefits of going the route of the Travelers Notebook is that it is portable – always on hand to jot down a prayer request, a good word or daily blessings – instead of collecting dust on the shelf!
Hi Lynda! I’m so glad you stumbled across Live Oak Boutique and I’m so happy to hear this blog post was a blessing to you! I agree on the Travelers Notebook…the size makes it so easy to carry it wherever you go!
I absolutely love this idea. Thank you
Hi Tracy! You’re so welcome! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂 Blessings!
I have just started moving towards a deeper prayer life with the Father than I’ve ever had and our 2018 theme this year at church is Deeper. So, I am so thrilled and grateful to find this site packed with ideas as I try to figure out how to create a prayer journal! I LOVED Fervent and feel it is a great starting point for me!! Thank you so much for sharing your ideas!
Hi Karen! What a great theme! I’m so glad to hear this post was a blessing to you. 🙂 Isn’t Fervent just SO GOOD? I loved it! Praying blessings over you as you dig DEEPER into God’s word and grow in your relationship with Him in 2018!
I am so grateful for this idea; This is truely transforming my life, I must admit I am not a prayer person, I generally start out to pray but end up studying the word instead, so this is helping me to be more intentional with praying. I started my prayer Journal a few weeks ago and I simply love it as it is keeping me accountable. I pray God’s blessings upon you and you endeavor to encourage others.
Hi Tirzah! I’m so glad you stopped by, and it is so wonderful to hear that you are enjoying your prayer journal! I love hearing that it is helping you be more intentional with prayer. Blessings!
Do you have an instagram page I can follow!?
Hi Lindsay! Yes you can find me @LiveOakBoutique on Instagram or click on the Instagram icon on my website, which can be found at the top and bottom of each page! 🙂
Oh I so wish I could immigrate to America where I can buy all these lovely stuff, they do not sell this nice stuff in South Africa as far as I can see
Hi Annelie! I’m so sorry we can’t shop outside of the U.S. at this time.
🙁 I hope you will be blessed by our blog and other free resources!
i had the same thoughts, except the immigrating part :). surely there must be somewhere over here where we can get it, even if its not the same (obviously) but similar. i also want. I love this idea so much.
Hi Claudine! I hope you can find something to start your war binder! Remember, it doesn’t need to be complicated, grab a notebook and make your own little tabs to get started! 🙂
Annelie, I don’t know can you order items from Amazon? Not sure if there’s an Amazon that delivers to your area. I live in Greece, I tried Amazon. com, but shipping from the US costs are quite high, so I found UK Amazon and shipping costs much lower as it’s closer to me. You may want to even google items you want and may be surprised what is available in your area or nearby. I moved back to Greece nearly 20 years ago and am surprised at items available now that were not back then. I’m new here & plan to just start my war binder using a notebook for now as I’m not good at journaling. Once I see that I get good at actually using it, then will order items. God bless on your journey.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea! Thank you so much for sharing how to start this.
Hi Sandie! Yay! So glad to hear! Thanks for stopping by the blog. 🙂 I can’t wait for you to get going and start using a war binder!
This is a great idea. I am just beginning my walk with Jesus, I think this War Binder will help me focus and enjoy the wonderful things Jesus has to teach me.
Hi Nicole! I think you will love setting up and spending time with God in your war binder! And what a great way to document your walk with the Lord! So glad you loved the blog post. 🙂
I am currently going through marital issues. I am a believer but I have a hard time Journaling and praying at a set time. I have been taught talking to God throughout the day is a great way to pray. I would so like to start a prayer/war binder. And I need help obtaining the tools.
Hi Dawn!
Im so sorry you’re struggling right now. I know it can be hard to have a set time everyday to journal and pray, so just do what you can when you have time! Praying throughout the day is wonderful and I know God loves spending that time with you. Feel free to email me at bejoyful@liveoakboutique.com if I can answer any questions you have on starting a war binder!
Oh gosh this is PERFECT! I am definitely getting one as soon as I am able to. Can you explain a bit more what the washi tape is and what it’s for? Thanks so much!
Hi Marquita! Yes, the washi tape is really just for fun! You can purchase it online or at any craft store. It is tape that is colored/patterned that you can stick and remove easily. So it sticks to paper but you can also pull it off without tearing the paper. You can use it to decorate your pages or to tape in little cards or tip-ins. It just adds a little something to your pages, and with all the colors and patterns available, the creative opportunities are endless! I hope this helps!
Hi, I am so excited that I just found you! I have wanted to start this book for so long!
I can’t seem to get your printables to work however. I was never sent a code after signing up and subscribing via email…
Thanks
Hi Dana!
I’m so sorry for the trouble! If you’ll email me at kayla@liveoaknest.com, I’ll get you all set up with the password. 🙂
-Kayla
This is exactly what I’m looking for! I was diagnosed with breast cancer this week. I wanted one place I could go to to document this journey, gather scriptures to support my recovery, and also gather prayers for the times I need them. I started looking for a journal or planner but they were all coming up short…especially since I’m living on a fixed income. Thanks for the information!
Hi Fran! I’m terribly sorry to hear about your cancer. I’ll be praying for you! Yes, this type of binder will be a great way to journal through your days. Sending hugs and prayers to you!
I love your ideas. I can’t wait to start a blessing journal, along with a scripture journal too. Love and Blessings in Christ.
Thank you Lula! So glad you enjoyed… happy journaling!
None of the links work. Are you no longer selling the War Journal Packages?
Hi Angela! No, I’m sorry. In 2020 the vendor I use stopped making the notebook covers. 🙁