Today, we’re playing a game—but not just any game. It’s one that can completely change how you spend time with God.
Maybe you’ve tried journaling before but weren’t sure what to write.
Maybe you’ve opened your Bible and thought, “Where do I even start?”
Or maybe you’ve just had one of those days (or weeks) when your brain feels like a web browser with 47 tabs open.
If that’s you, then you are in the right place.
A while back, I shared The ABC Game with God in my 10-Day Do Something Challenge—just the basics of how to set it up in your journal. And let me tell you, I hear from people all the time about how much they love it. But the big question I keep getting is:
“Okay, I made my list—now what?”
And that’s exactly what we’re diving into today.
I’m going to show you how to use your curated list to guide your devotional time. We’re talking Bible study, prayer, journaling—ways to take those words and actually make them a fun part of your time with God.
So grab your journal (or start a new note in your phone, no judgment here), and let’s get into it!
The ABC Game with God—A Foundation of Stillness
This practice started for me during a season of sleepless nights. You know those nights when your brain won’t turn off—thoughts jumping from one thing to another like a browser with too many tabs open? That was me. I was exhausted but couldn’t settle.
So one night, I decided to give my mind a new focus—something meaningful but simple. I started going through the alphabet, naming the attributes of God.
A: Almighty, Attentive, Advocate.
B: Beautiful, Benevolent, Bread of Life.
C: Comforter, Compassionate, Creative.
Some nights, I’d make it all the way to Z (which got interesting by the time I got to X and Y, let me tell you). Other nights, I’d drift off somewhere in the middle, my heart settled on who God is.
But over time, this practice became more than a way to fall asleep. I started writing the words in my journal. At first, it was just a list, but before I knew it, those words became more than just names on a page. They became bread crumbs leading me into deeper time with God—giving me a way to reflect, study, and pray.
And that’s what I want to share with you today.
Setting Up the ABC Game in Your Journal
Before we jump into all the fun ways you can use this practice, let’s do a quick refresher on how to set it up in your journal.
This is one of the simplest ways to create an open-ended, ever-growing collection of truths about who God is. No fancy supplies needed—just a journal, a pen, and a little curiosity.
Step 1: Create Your ABC Grid
There’s no wrong way to do this, but here are a few fun ways to set it up:
- The Simple List Method:Write the letters A-Z down the margin of a page and fill in attributes as you go.
- The Two-Page Spread:Use two pages to write out all the letters and leave space under each to add multiple traits over time.
- The Deep Dive Notebook:Dedicate a full page (or more!) to each letter and explore as many words as you can for each one.
To make this even easier, I’ve put together a free downloadable version with a couple of different layouts to get you started! You can find that in the show notes.
This is your journal, so make it work for you! Doodle, use stickers, add color, or keep it minimal—whatever helps you enjoy the process.
Step 2: Start Filling It In
Now comes the fun part. Start listing names, attributes, or characteristics of God.
- A: Almighty, Advocate, Attentive
- B: Beautiful, Benevolent, Bread of Life
- C: Comforter, Compassionate, Creative
No need to fill it all in at once—let it grow over time. Some days, you might add one word. Other days, you might fill a whole letter section. And then you may go days or weeks without adding a single thing. There are no rules here.
Now that you have your list, let’s talk about how to actually use it in your devotional time.
Beyond the List—How to Use the ABC Game for Deep Devotion
If you’ve started your ABC list, you already have a foundation. Now, let’s build on it.
1. A Lens for Reflection
Pick a word from your list and sit with it. Ask yourself: What does this reveal about God’s nature?
If you wrote Shepherd under S, pause and ask: How has God been my Shepherd? Where has He led me? Where have I resisted following Him?
2. A Guide for Bible Study
Take a word from your list and find Scriptures that highlight it.
If you wrote Redeemer, look up Isaiah 44:22 or Ephesians 1:7. Read them slowly.
Let these verses shape your understanding of who God is.
3. A Tool for Word Studies
Look up the Hebrew or Greek meaning of one of those attributes.
What does it reveal?
Example: Comforter in John 14:16 is Paraklētos—one who comes alongside to help. That can change how you see God in your hard moments.
4. A Springboard for Verse Mapping
- Pick a verse connected to one of your ABC words and break it down:
- Look at different translations.
- Find cross-references.
- Write out your observations.
*I’ll be doing a deep dive on Verse Mapping in a few months. But if you don’t mind less-than-great video quality, you can hop over and watch my most-watched YouTube video of all-time. I still get emails thanking me for this video.
5. A Prompt for Prayer
Use your word as a starting point for conversation with God.
If you wrote Faithful, begin with: “Lord, You are faithful. Remind me of the ways You have been faithful in my life…”
The ABC Game as a Spiritual Rhythm
This practice isn’t just an exercise—it’s an ever-growing conversation with God.
Some days, your list might be an act of worship, a way to name and declare who God is. Other days, it might be a lifeline, a way to hold onto truth when you don’t feel it. It might even become a form of surrender—naming who God is even when you don’t understand what He’s doing.
This isn’t just a list in your journal—it’s a well you can keep drawing from.
Friend, this practice is an invitation—one that meets you where you are and draws you deeper.
So, here’s my challenge for you this week:
- Open your journal and set up your ABC list. Or print off the ones at the link below.
- Choose one word and explore it—reflect, study, pray, and write.
- Let me know how it goes—send me a message, comment, or share what you’re discovering.
