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Posts Tagged ‘Praying in Color’

Sitting with Jesus

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

When I sit to pray, it takes a lot of will and concentration for my toes to stop pointing, my fingers to stop wiggling, and my torso to stop wriggling. But why do I insist on a quiet body? Do I somehow think it’s more pious or holy to pray without moving?

It has taken years to give myself permission to rock or sway when I pray. It has taken even longer to allow myself to draw. But movement helps me to pay attention in prayer. It lets my body be a participant rather than an interloper. Drawing, swaying, rocking…all of these actions help carve out a physical space and place for my body to be in prayer. Then I get quiet on the inside and listen for the “still small voice” (1Kings 19:12 RSV) or sometimes “big, in-my-face” voice of God.

While drawing the doodle below, I had some sitting and talking time with Jesus.


jesus-black-and-white

Drawing: Sybil MacBeth

More Leaves

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Last week I drew a prayer by rubbing leaves and making a space for the names of people on my prayer list. This week I grabbed the last handful of leaves on our Japanese maple and traced around them. Artistic skill is not a necessity for a visual prayer practice!

So this is my leafy, intercessory prayer list. I’m praying for birthdays, healing, discernment, joy, work, freedom…. The drawing will sit on my desk and remind me to pray for each person.

leaves-2-novembver-2009

Drawing/Tracing: Sybil MacBeth

Praying in Color 10–Scripture Thoughts

Friday, October 30th, 2009

1Corinthians 12 is a favorite Scripture passage of mine. In it Paul talks about the spiritual gifts. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” (1Corinthians 12:4-7 NKJV)

Paul goes on to describe the variety of gifts–preaching, teaching, healing, tongues, prophecy, interpretation, administration…those gifts which help our relationship with God and build up the kingdom of God.

One day I was sitting in church and heard the familiar reading from 2Corinthians 12: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2Corinthians12:9  NIV)

It struck me that 1Corinthians 12 and 2Corinthians 12 are like bookends. In 1Corinthians 12 God uses our gifts and our strengths. In 2Corinthians 12, God uses our weaknesses. I guess God can use whatever we have or don’t have for the building up of the kingdom and for drawing us closer to Him.

I call praying in color my 2Corinthians 12 prayer form, because it came to me through my weaknesses and through all of the things I can’t do. I can’t draw, focus, sit still, pay attention,or find words for my prayers. But now I have a way to pray that accommodates all of those weaknesses. I am very grateful. Thanks be to God!

2-corinthians-12

Drawing: Sybil MacBeth–from Examples page of www.prayingincolor.com

Praying in Color 9–On the Computer

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Create a prayer using a drawing application on the computer. I tried it on a lark one day and to my surprise it felt prayerful.  My attention was on Jesus and the people I was praying for.

Use your prayer drawing as a screensaver.  Send it via e-mail to friends and ask for their prayers.  Post it on Facebook.

computer-drawing

Drawing: Sybil MacBeth

Praying in Color 8–Examples

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Here are some examples of praying in color prayers:

1)  Use colored pencils.  Add words      2) Prayers can be very simple.
next to the names. Use a passage of        This is a prayer for one person with
Scripture to connect your prayers.             just triangles, arcs, and dots.

vine-october-28-2009cindy-triangles-2

3) Pray using a pen only.  This prayer        4) Use a calendar or template
is on a napkin.                                             for drawing. Pray for a person,                                                                                                           place, or issue each day.

napkin-eyleen-12calendar-kids-edition

Drawings: Sybil MacBeth
Calendar from Praying in Color: Kids’ Edition