Art & Prayer Project

Using art to help us pray is a tradition rooted in Christian history. The method is simply to observe, reflect, and then to respond. As we do this in prayer, asking Jesus to lead our minds and hearts, we come to embrace our identity in Christ, open to ourselves and others more fully, and walk in the freedom Jesus offers us. May you be led in to the goodness and grace of Christ as you sit with this image.
Instructions below.

Instructions...

• Get in a quite place and ask Jesus to open your heart, mind, and eyes to see where he is leading you today. Settle in for 2-3 minutes before you begin.
• Observe the photo for a few minutes. Notice what stands out to you. See the colors, textures, patterns, rhythms.
• Reflect: Now spend about 10-minutes with the image while you ask yourself and Jesus: where are you drawn toward, or away? Notice what comes up. It may be a relationship you're in, a situation you're apart of, or a feeling. Jesus may be leading you to any part of your life or heart, so don't quickly disregard something as "too small" or "irrelevant." This may be a helpful time to journal out what is coming up.
• Respond to Jesus from what he has revealed for the next 5-or so minutes. Express how you feel about what came up (perhaps excited, or scared, or angry) until there are no more words or feelings left to express.
• As you conclude, take the last 5-minutes to breathe and exhale deeply. As you exhale relax your shoulders, your neck, your arms and legs. You may also pray with each breath a short prayer, like: "Lord Jesus (inhale), have mercy on me (exhale)."

How'd it Go?

Take a minute or two to share with us in the comments from your experience.

• What happened? What didn't happen?
  
• Where was Jesus?