Paint Your Prayers
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[4 Comments]
Two years ago after an unexpected career loss that happened to coincide with the devastating death of one of my friends, I picked up some sketchbooks and a vibrant assortment of colored markers. For 12 months I sat beneath shady trees or by a fire where I scribbled, sketched, and scrawled images, words, and Scriptures that careened into my imagination. I painted my prayers.
Images of seeds and vines, doves, stitched quilts, and red birds decorated white pages. Almost calligraphic (I'm a writer, not an artist) song lyrics and verses I'd memorized as a child poured out on the paper in vivid color and liberating swirls. Within weeks—and before I even realized it—the first blank book was completely filled with soulful images and God's numinous responses.
Since then I've filled dozens of notebooks with painted supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings. Before I started painting my prayers, though, I remember feeling guilty if I didn't do Bible study or pray conventionally every day. Somehow, I felt like I wasn't doing the Christian life right. For some unknown reason, I felt that connecting with God in other—less left-brained, more imaginative and creative—ways was, somehow, less spiritual. Time and time again, though, my ideal of faith-filled living bumped on the pothole riddled road of reality. I felt less compelled to do another plug and chug Bible study. I was void of the energy to pray and listen to God in the ways I had for my entire life.
Instead, I found freedom, spontaneity, fun, and a mind-blowing openness to the grandiosity of God when I sat with my markers and sketchbook. With this new, unconventional, beyond formulaic way, I discovered new, deeper, more profound connections with the divine. Surprisingly enough I found that during overwhelmed, stressed-out times when the need for spiritual bolstering was quintessential, I could paint my prayers (just scribble out my heart to God) and fortify my faith in a visual, organic, simultaneously childlike and maturing way.
Answered Painted Prayers
Today, I find it validating to page back through my sketchbook noticing God's promising images: doves, open doors, scriptural assurances, flowers, seeds, sprawling vines. And God's words to me: Behold, I am with you always … I will give you the desires of your heart … I am doing a new thing …
In the midst of scribbling down my heart, the process felt random and abstract. Surprisingly, though, when I look back at the pages I see pattern purpose. God's wise design and intent for my days. It fortifies my faith to see that even when I was filled with doubts and fears about my future, God saw me. He was working and moving, preparing ways to fulfill hopes, realize dreams, and to change me. Because of the painted prayers, I see how God opened doors, stitched tattered ragged life-scraps together into decoratively quilted patchwork. He was faithful. I was scratching out simplistic line prayers, scratching out an existence. All the while, he was like Georgia O'Keefe creating a masterpiece from my mess.
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Art, Arts, Communication, creative ideas, Creativity
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Average User Rating:
Jaja Ore
Love the article. Will share this! :) I'm no painter or designer but I've been sketching some of my heart's desires... God indeed gives us the power to imagine and use our gifts to bring glory to His name.
Frances
I love this article, it brought to mind a time in my life when God had, after a long season, removed me from an abusive marriage. By nature I am administrative but I found myself buying a sketchbook and pencils and began to draw how my heart felt in the presense of God's mercy and glory. This article has given me something to think about and perhaps to dig out that sketchbook and visit the drawings and even add some new ones. Thank you
Brenda Hemphill
Great reading!! I am doing something similar - reading "Praying in Colour" similar but not exactly the same. I love the idea of doodling pictures, verses, images realted to your journey or pertinant bible readings. great ideas and story!!
Arnetha
Very interesting articles.
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