Write It Down

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” — Ephesians 4:26 (KJV)

Antony had some very practical habits for staying close to God.

He often told people to remember Paul’s words, “let not the sun go down upon your wrath”. Antony said that this applied not only to anger but to every sin. Don’t let the sun set on any sin without dealing with it.

So he encouraged people to look back over each day and night, “and if he have sinned, let him cease from it”, and if not, to give thanks and not become proud.

Then he suggested something you might not expect from a man who never learned to read and write:

“Let us each one note and write down our actions and the impulses of our soul as though we were going to relate them to each other.”

His reasoning was simple. Nobody wants to be seen doing something wrong. If you imagine that you are going to show your journal to a friend, you’ll be more careful about what you do and think. Writing things down helps you be honest with yourself.

Today we might call this journalling or a daily review. It is a great habit. It doesn’t have to be long. A few lines each evening, writing what you did, what you felt, where you struggled, and where you saw God at work, can help you grow more than you might think.

One caution: this is not about beating yourself up or keeping a long list of failures. Antony’s goal was freedom from sin and peace with God, not anxiety. If you notice yourself writing only negative things about yourself, add what you are thankful for and where you saw God’s grace too.

Antony’s main daily counsel to the monks was simple: “Believe on the Lord and love Him … Pray continually; avoid vainglory; sing psalms before sleep and on awaking; hold in your heart the commandments of Scripture.” That is a good plan for anyone.

One thing to do this week: start a simple journal this week. Each evening, write three lines: one thing you are thankful for, one place you struggled or sinned, and one prayer for tomorrow. Before you sleep, make sure you have brought anything wrong to God.