Sometimes it's hard to find the words to pray. Maybe we're feeling overwhelmed, sad, anxious, or even joyful, but we just don't know how to express what is going on inside of us.
The beautiful thing is that Jesus doesn't need us to find the right words. He already knows our hearts, and he invites us to come to him just as we are.
Today, I want to share a simple creative prayer practice that only takes about five minutes. You don't need to be an artist, and you don't need to make anything beautiful. You just need a piece of paper, some paint, and a willingness to spend a few quiet moments with Jesus.
1. Begin with how you're feeling.
Take a moment to sit quietly and notice what is going on inside of you. How are you feeling right now? Is there a color that seems to express that feeling?
Choose that color and begin making marks on your paper. They can be lines, shapes, brushstrokes, or anything at all. There's no right or wrong way to do this.
2. Consider what you need from Jesus.
As you look at your marks, ask yourself: What do I need from Jesus right now?
Maybe you need peace, comfort, courage, patience, or joy. Choose another color that represents what you need, and slowly add it to your painting.
3. Notice where the colors meet.
Watch what happens as the colors overlap and blend together. What do you notice?
As you paint, remember that Jesus meets us right where we are. We don't have to hide our feelings or make ourselves into something different before coming to him.
4. Rest in his presence.
Take a few moments to look at your painting. Let the page hold what you might not be able to explain with words.
You don't have to figure anything out or come away with a profound insight. Simply enjoy a few quiet moments in the presence of the One who knows you and loves you.
Prayer Doesn't Always Need Words
I love creative prayer practices like this because they remind us that prayer isn't just about what we say. Sometimes prayer looks like sitting quietly, making marks on a page, and bringing our whole selves into God's presence.
Romans 8:26 reminds us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, even when we don't know what to pray.
So the next time you find yourself struggling to find the words, try picking up a paintbrush instead.
I wonder what you might notice as you make space to be with Jesus?