Prayer Crafts, where we make something, and it means something.
As soon as October arrived, I started seeing leaf-stamping crafts all over my Instagram feed, and I knew I had to turn this into a prayer craft! What better way to engage with God's beautiful world than to head outside and collect some leaves?
Today, we're going to use those leaves to make beautiful autumn cards while spending a little time noticing, wondering, and talking with God.
What You'll Need
Heavy paper or blank cards
An ink pad (or several in your favorite autumn colors!)
Leaves of all different shapes and sizes
Collecting and Praying
As you head outside to collect your leaves, take your time. Notice the colors, the shapes, and the way the seasons are changing. Autumn reminds us that letting go is a natural part of life, even when it isn't easy.
I wonder if there is something in your own life that God might be inviting you to release?
Maybe it's a worry you've been carrying, an expectation you've placed on yourself, or something you've been holding onto a little too tightly. As you collect your leaves, talk to Jesus about whatever comes to mind. If letting go feels scary, tell Him. If you're tired, frustrated, or uncertain, bring that to Him, too. You don't have to have everything figured out.
We can trust that God is good, even when we don't know what comes next.
Creating and Noticing
Once you've gathered your leaves, it's time to play! Press your leaves into the ink pads and stamp them onto your paper. Experiment with different shapes, colors, and arrangements. See what happens when you overlap the prints or combine different leaves.
And you don't have to make cards! You could stamp leaves into your journal or sketchbook, decorate a notebook, or even use fabric paint to make autumn dish towels or T-shirts.
As you stamp, continue to reflect on whatever came up during your walk.
I wonder what it might look like to place that thing into God's hands?
I wonder what it means to trust that He is holding you, even as you let go?
Remember that you don't have to force yourself to release anything today. Simply spend some time with your good, good Father, remembering that He knows what you carry and loves you through it all.
And as you enjoy the simple beauty of these autumn leaves, may they remind you that even in seasons of change and uncertainty, God is present, faithful, and good.