Journaling Bibles are really popular right now. I am seeing more and more pictures creep up of them, I’m following so many creative people on Instagram, and I’m LOVING it. Honestly, I don’t care if it’s a phase…the important thing is that women are IN GOD’S WORD and that is what matters!
I mentioned back in December that my new journaling Bible was my Christmas gift to myself. I couldn’t have picked out a better gift for myself. I have been enjoying my new Bible so much. I have always been one to underline and highlight and take notes in my Bible, so I’m thrilled that now I have ROOM to write in my Bible and still be able to see all the words beside it.
I’ve been trying a few different types of pens and highlighters and wanted to share what my favorites are so far! I would love to hear from you, too, in the comment section — tell me what your favorites are also!
Before I list all my favorites, I want to remind you of something very important!
All you need: God’s Word + The Holy Spirit in you
Truly, you don’t *need* all these items. You don’t *need* a journaling Bible. Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t able to purchase one right now. God’s Word never returns void, no matter what type of Bible you hold in your hands. These tools that I use, they are just that: tools. They help me to study, to focus, to hide God’s Word in my heart. But they are not as important as God’s Word. That is what matters most.
Best Pens for the Journaling Bible
I’ve written in my Bible for years. I didn’t realize this type of pen existed til a few months ago! Woo-hoo! A whole new world has opened up to me! I LOVE these micron pens. These are the BEST pens for journaling Bibles, in my opinion!!
They do not bleed through the pages!!
Micron Assorted Colors Ink Pen Set
Favorite Highlighters for my Journaling Bible
I wanted to say FIRST that these highlighters are DIFFERENT than anything I’ve ever used! They are GEL. They do not bleed through at all, and once the ink is on the page, it feels like crayon. Weird.
I also want to mention that these do NOT HAVE A POINT. That was weird to me at first, because i could not gauge where I was writing on the page. But, it just took a few lines for me to get a grasp on how to use these better. Practice on some other paper before you write in your Bible.
What I love about these is that it isn’t a wet/liquid/paint type feeling. It’s very light and goes on the page so smoothly. Honestly, you just have to try them to get the feel of them. I love them.
ACCU-Gel Highlighters Study Kit
My Journaling Pinterest Board
Follow His Mercy is New’s board Journaling on Pinterest.
My Journaling Bible
This is the Bible I use. Again, there are more affordable options. I shared in my other post that I had been through 3 Bibles in the last 5 years, the pages and binding would all start falling apart. I spent a little more in the hopes that it will LAST. 🙂 So far, so good.
ESV Single Column Journaling Bible (Brown, Flap with Strap)
Another option for $30: ESV Single Column Journaling Bible (Black)
So — tell me, do you have a journaling Bible? Do you have favorite pens that you use, even in a regular Bible? I would love to hear your favorite resources!
I’m on my 2nd journaling Bible. I have a 3rd that I got for christmas. and I’m saving it for when I need it. My dad always said when I was growing up. “Feeling a little dry spiritually? Get a knew Bible and see things anew.” I like the look of those highlighters. Occasionally I use colored pencils for highlighting. But I may give them a try. I mostly use the Pilot G-2 .05 for writing because that’s what I have on hand. But have also used the ones that you use. I’m just horrible about losing pen caps 🙂
I think a new Bible is awesome for reading things with “fresh eyes!” I have read of several using colored pencils as well, I think I would like to get some of those too!
I have the black NSV journaling bible that you pictured above and I love it as my first choice of bibles for this project! I decided not to wait on the Holman Christian journaling bible (that comes out in July) because I like to have different versions to compare words! As for my favorite pens: right now I am strictly using a regular Bic pen and twistable colored pencils and having the most amazing experiences with God’s word! Thanks for your encouragement in this journey Candace!!
I love having different versions, too, Toni Jill!! I also want to try colored pencils. I’m not much of an artist so I don’t anticipate actually coloring, but it would be nice for something different to use.
Well, I am a journaler, and a highlighter in the Bible I have; what I am using are two that belonged to my mother – The Message Bible that I gave her one year for Christmas; and one that was given to her by her Church. I love using The Message Bible for clarity, but compare it to the other one that is NRSV. I had never heard of a journaling Bible until following some of the blogs (and that’s just since last October!)…
SO…that is my next purchase! And love the pens and highlighters you mentioned. I don’t know exactly what most people “write” (or “doodle” or “sketch”?) in theirs, but will be checking them out!
Thanks for sharing your fave pens and highlighters – I’m bookmarking this post so I can come back to it when I purchase my Bible (I haven’t purchased a new Bible in MANY MANY years!!).
Barbara, if you’re a journaler and like highlighting, you will love the journaling Bible. I like taking notes in my Bible too, and this just gives me more space for it! I, too, love reading the Message for clarity at times!! Thanks for stopping by!
I use my Frixion pens in my Bible. I like that they’re erasable, and they don’t bleed through the pages.
Tara, I’ve never used Frixion pens or heard of them! Will have to look for them. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I am new to this and am working on one for my daughter to take with her when she leaves for college in 2 years. I bought the frixion pens but read that the ink disappears when exposed to heat. I did test it with a blow dryer and it is true. I have used them in my personal calendar though and never had a issue with leaving it in the car! I am torn because I do not want to risk it disappearing but need to be able to correct mistakes!
How much do they cost I got a inspire bible and the pens I got bleed through the pages.
I am excited to try the pens and highlighters! 😉
I have a wide margin NKJV that I write in. (They are out of print now!) I love to use a fine point, blue ink, ball point Zebra pen. It’s super fine and writes well. Doesn’t smear or bleed. Blue stands out more than black!
I have some cool dry highlighters that I use as well. They are like mechanical pencils.
I’ve also used regular colored pencils (this is what my son uses) and recently I’ve started using the InkJoy from Papermate to add color. I love to highlight and make reference notes, but I don’t do a lot of journaling.
One hint for trying new pens, since every Bible paper is different – use the notes at the beginning to try it out. My Bible has a section about the translation and what the notes mean. You could also use the table of contents. I like to use it on type to see how it shows up on it.
Diana, thanks for the comments and suggestions! This is so fun! 🙂 I’m loving my new Bible! Just last night I wrote with a blue pen on one of my pages and you are so right, it does stand out more! 🙂
i don’t have any favorite pens or highlighters yet because I am new at Bible Journaling. I don’t have a special bible other than my Catholic Study Bible which I recently discovered on my bookshelf. Don’t even remember buying it. I intend to use it even though it has normal narrow borders. I have the idea to just add pages with washi tape if I feel the need for more room. I will look for the pens you mentioned. Hope I can find them locally (I live in The Netherlands) otherwise, online. Thank you for the information. It’s also nice to see that this is current information. I have seen lots of older blogs from various people and not many current ones.
What do you do with your old Bibles? I’m just wondering because I’ve amassed a small collection over the years!
Hi Deb! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! 🙂 You know, I don’t have a HUGE collection. I honestly have had 3-4 Bibles that I have REALLY loved and taken notes in. I keep those. I am so picky about my Bibles that I don’t really have a huge amount. ha!!
Oh! I did have another thought…I am planning to give each of my children a Bible that I have written in someday…I think that will hopefully be a neat thing for them to hold on to!
I have one of these in yellow I got free at an event and am going back for more..they are very vibrant in color and one benefit in the Kay Arthur method, and perhaps in this one, is that you can use them as a foundation, and other pens lay over them without bleeding through as a second layer, say, for underlining key words in text in various colors.
I am just getting started with Bible Journaling and am going to start a class next month with some of my Stampin’ Up friends. I have always taken sermon notes in my Bible, our pastor takes a book of the Bible at a time and preaches through it. We are just finishing Romans which has taken over a year to complete. I have no margin space left in my Bible so I will love having the extra room in my new NASB journaling Bible. I plan on incorporating some rubber stamping in my classes as well.
I have just been jntroduc d to the world of bible journaling. It has taken me some time to get my head wrapped around doodling in the word of God. Then I saw the KJV creative bible and you can colour yourself. I thought what a great way to scripture memorize. I currently have the Interlinear KJV/RSV that is wide margin with incredible centre column references. I love my bible. It’s funny, I can’t find scripture references in your bible, but I know where they are in mine. The bible is my best friend and life long companion. I’m trying to learn Hebrew and Greek so that I can go back to the original words to understand their meaning. The airy fairy churches out there that evangelize you don’t need the OT are in serious peril. Anyway, currently I’m using pilot colour pencils for underlining. They are fabulous. However, I want to start creating title pages for each book of the bible with highlights and messages on that title page to remind me about the significant points of that book. I am looking at using Prismacolours, and was wondering what kind of gel pens you would recommend. At church we read 3 full portions of the bible during the service. 2 from OT and 1 from NT. This way we read the bible in a year, 1 OT, and twice NT. We have study days with bible classes and lectures every week. I don’t want to be a Sunday Christian. This is a way of life for me. My church community is my family. Anyway, any thoughts on the gel pens, or markers would be greatly appreciative. Thanks. Elisabeth
I write very “light” (with little pressure) and, sadly, couldn’t disagree more with your assessment of the Pigma micron “pens”. I’m in a small group of 10 ladies. Those pens bled through every the pages of every Bible (about 6 different editions in the group). I tried them on each of the Bibles I have at home (love different translations for study), and it bled through all 8. Very disappointing.