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How to Create Permission Pages: Bible Journaling Process Video

If a thin layer of dust has settled atop your Bible, and you’re needing a way back in…
…if you’ve been curious about Bible Journaling but don’t know where to start…
…if you struggle with fear of failure and messing the pages of your new Journaling Bible…

…the struggle is real, my friend. I’ve been there, too!

And I created the *Permission Pages Devotional Kit especially for you. Read on.

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

Backstory

Back in early 2015, I was scrolling through Instagram when I came across some photos that caught my eye. I thought I was looking at the pages of an art journal, but upon closer look, I realized these were Bible pages that were covered in paint, stickers, and washi tape.

Those pages belonged to Shanna Noel, the founder of the Bible Journaling movement, and I couldn’t get my hands on a Journaling Bible with two-inch margins fast enough.

And yet, I’ll never forget when my new red cover ESV Journaling Bible arrived on my doorstep. I took it out of the box. And all that excitement I had initially felt was suddenly choked out by fear. By the pressure to create something worthy–something Instagram-worthy.

I wondered,

“What if I mess up a page? What if I ruin this new Bible? What if I’m just not good enough?”

My internal monologue sounded very familiar as I’ve struggled with perfectionism my whole life.

My Favorite Journaling Bible Supplies | #1 on the list? My Crossway E.S.V. Single-Column Journaling Bible...in ravishing red!

But deep in my heart of hearts, I knew God wanted more for me. I knew that He wanted to free me from my fear of failure. Free me from the pressure to be perfect.

In Galatians 5:1, the apostle Paul writes,

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

My perfectionism, my fears, my deep need for approval, were taken to the cross with Jesus. I don’t need to be enslaved to them any longer. None of us do.

God grants us permission to be free!

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

With this truth in mind, I opened up my new Journaling Bible and decided to make a bold declaration of that permission on the inside cover. About what this Bible would be for (asking hard questions and making mistakes) and what this Bible would NOT be for (perfection or impressing others).

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the original permission pages, which inspired the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

And I even spelled out some possibilities for what might happen on the pages ahead…they might bleed through. Or rip. Or be ugly.

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the original permission pages, which inspired the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

I called them my Permission Pages.

And the act of creating them really did set me free to dive head-first into Bible Journaling…and three-and-a-half years later, I’m more in love with God and His Word than ever. And the freedom I’ve experienced in the margins of my Bible is so sweet!

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

This freedom is yours for the taking, too, my friend.

I Made This For You!

And I’m just bursting at the seams to share that I got to collaborate with the amazing Shanna Noel to create something special just for you–something to help set you free from fear and perfectionism and all that holds you back from engaging with God in scripture. And it launches in the Illustrated Faith Print & Pray Shop today!

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

It’s called the Permission Pages Devotional Kit and includes six pages of digital downloads to support you in creating your own set of Permission Pages where you can boldly declare that permission you’ve been granted by God to be free!

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

Those six pages include a one-day devotional where I share a story from my college acting class when I first learned the powerful practice declaring permission. You’ll also get a slew of title starters in the beautiful brush lettering of Katy Girl Designs, wordfetti, and colorful art elements for you to layer and use as inspiration for your Permission Pages.

These are digital downloads you’ll save onto your computer and can print from home. You could print them out on regular printer paper and use adhesive on the back, white sticker paper, or my favorite right now, clear sticker paper. I like to use the Avery 18665 full sheet shipping labels. I can cut out the different elements into stickers that will layer beautifully over scripture or paint and still show what’s underneath.

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

Process Video

If you’re curious to see the Permission Pages Devotional Kit in action, I made y’all a 15 minute video where I share more of my story, provide a close up look at all 6 pages of the kit, and share a process video showing how I used the kit to create a set of Permission Pages in my second Journaling Bible. Enjoy!

{If for some reason you have trouble viewing the video above, click HERE. And if you click the gear icon, you can change the default setting to H.D. for higher quality.}

Supply List

Here’s a list of all supplies referenced in the video. I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience:

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

Our Hope

In creating the Permission Pages Devotional Kit for you all, we wanted to give you lots of options to get you started, but our hope is that they would spark your creativity so you can really make your pages your own. Pages that celebrate your favorite colors or art supplies. That feature your messy handwriting. Or the truth from God that He has put on your heart right now.

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

There are endless possibilities to what your Permission Pages might look like. And where they might end up!

Maybe your Permission Pages are in the front of your Bible, too. Or maybe they are in a notebook. Or atop scripture passes like Galatians 5:1.

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

Wherever your Permission Pages land, may the act of creating them help set you free from the shackles that hold you back from knowing God intimately. May they serve as a reminder that we don’t need to have our act together first before meeting Him in His Word. We don’t need all the fancy supplies. Or hand-lettering skills. We just have to show up.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” -James 4:8

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

To Close

I don’t call myself a perfectionist anymore. Instead, I like to use the term “recovering perfectionist.”

Because even though I still have moments of panic when my paint accidentally drenches 50 Bible pages at once–or when I use the wrong pen, and it turns into Smear Fest 2018–or when that yellow paint is more of a “Grey Poupon” than I had expected–God has been at work to redeem my broken bits. To silence the lie that I need to be perfect to earn His approval. Or at least close to perfect. Or at least earning likes on Instagram.

Flipping back to my Permission Pages helps remind me of what is True when I get off track.

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

In John 8, starting in verse 31, Jesus says,

“If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. … So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

The more we open up that Bible cover, the more we abide with God in His Word and allow His truth to fill our minds, the more we will experience God’s permission to be free. The less we will care about the creation…and the more we will fall in love with the Creator.

Freedom awaits us, my friend. Let’s be free indeed!

Permission Pages: Journaling Bible Process Video | Here's a glimpse at the NEW Permission Pages Digital Devotional Kit by Lauren Lanker in action! Designed to support you in creating your own set of permission pages where you can boldly declare what "This Bible is for" (asking questions and making mistakes) and what "This Bible is not for" (proving my worth or giving in to fear). Be inspired!

Share your Permission Pages

I would love to see how you’re declaring freedom on your Permission Pages! Tag me on Instagram @ThinkingCloset and tag your posts with the hashtag #if_PermissionPages. That way, we can all cheer you on!

This is Lauren, signing off.

Where to Go Next?

SHOP: Nab the Permission Pages Devotional Kit so you can create your own pages HERE.

POPULAR: Curious to know my 20 Favorite Bible Journaling Supplies? Here ya go.

NEW: Here’s a flip-through video of the Gospel of John in my Journaling Bible for more inspiration.

An Inspiring Journaling Bible Flip-Through Video of John's Gospel!

*Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking through, The Thinking Closet may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for helping to support this site!

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7 Comments

  1. Lauren, this is such a clear and well-done video about what Bible Journaling is for and what it is not for. I loved savoring YOU in watching the video in two 7-8 minute sessions. And I’ll be back again for more inspiration when I sit down to do this in my own Bible. SOON, God willing! The watery effects when going back in time was REALLY cool.

    I’ve already ordered the permission pages as pdfs from Illustrated Faith and look forward to sitting down with my Bible, my supplies, and listening to God’s still quiet voice speaking to me through His Word. I do need to get the AVERY clear sticker pages. I loved seeing that clip of you with you with baby and how you continued to write in your Bible without all the other supplies when you were a new mom. Your last line in the video was especially poignant–“You’ve got this, or rather, He’s got YOU!”

    Thank you for the time and effort you did in creating the pages, the devotional, the video, the blog post, etc. A treasure trove! Once I create my own permission pages as I get back into Bible Journaling, I will share with you. God bless you and this wonderful collaboration with Illustrated Faith. May many who see this be freed up to create in their Bibles. And be blessed.

    1. Yay! I’m so happy you got your hands on the Permission Pages Devotional Kit, and I hope the process of creating your permission pages is a true blessing to you. I can’t wait to see what you create and hear about God meets you during your time of Bible study and art journaling. And thank you for that closing blessing. Amen!

      1. I had a thought in church today about journaling what the sermon was about. So I’m in the contemplation stage of change. I know God will get me there in His good timing.

  2. Lauren! Thank you! I have a journaling Bible that I’ve never touched! I love it–but didn’t want to mess it up. I can so relate to this. Thanks for your sweet encourgement!

    1. I’m so glad this spoke to your heart! And I’m excited for you to finally dive into that NEW Journaling Bible free of fear. You’ve got this, Marilyn!

  3. Thank you Lauren. I just caught your “Permission Pages” video on YouTube. This is so good, and I think the points you’ve made are necessary for bible journalers. The images on Instagram are amazing, but they can make me freeze in my perfectionism. Creating fills me with joy, frustration does not. Thank you again.

    1. Perfectionism paralysis is VERY real! There are a lot of us out there who struggle, I’m finding. I’m so happy to hear this resonated with you and reaffirmed what creating in our Bibles should REALLY be about. Recovering perfectionists, unite!

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