In Lancaster Country, Pennsylvania, nestled in 100 acres of woodlands, Black Rock Christian Camp and Retreat Center provides respite from the rigors of life. Black Rock offers year-round retreats, outdoor education, team building activities, and space to be with God, This summer over 1200 kids will attend camp where they learn about Jesus while playing in God’s creation. Within scheduled activity, organic conversations about what matters in life flow between staff and campers. Life at Black Rock is experiential.
During my training time with the 60+ summer staff, I get to introduce experiential ways to meet with God and enjoy His presence. With the purpose of nurturing their relationship with Jesus, we play with God, delighting in slow contemplative practices. Most of these activities are new and unfamiliar to the staff, but with open hearts they join me and notice God’s presence in fresh ways, growing in their connection with the Lord.
I call one of my favorite experiential practices for prayer; “Coloring Prayer.” I wonder if it might be fun for you to meet with God through this way of prayer as well. Through this playful prayer, I notice God’s grace, power, and love. I find prayer in this way deeply meaningful. Praying in this way leans into our God given creativity and expands our engagement with God. I invite you to join me in Coloring Prayer.
I discover this type of prayer as a wonderful means to focus with God. Have you ever begun to pray, only to find yourself distracted by your “to do” list? Maybe as you enter prayer, you start thinking about your work at the office, what to cook for dinner, how to finish the laundry, which meetings you need to attend, etc? Sometimes when we pray we notice our eyes get heavy and we feel sleepy. Our exhaustion catches up with us and when we begin to pray we struggle to stay awake. Perhaps many situations and people occupy your thoughts and heart so it seems difficult to know what to talk to God about or even where to start with prayer? Whether it is distraction, exhaustion, or confusion, coloring prayer helps me. I hope it helps you too.
In Colossians 4:2, the apostle Paul challenges: “Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
To devote is to make great effort and be strong. Devotion involves intentionality and commitment. When we devote ourselves to prayer, we continue in prayer even when our schedules are packed, life is full, and we feel tired.
Being watchful means we exhibit an alert, vigilant, and awake posture. This watchfulness in prayer includes intentionality, focus, and attentiveness with the Lord.
So how can we approach prayer with devotion and watchfulness? One way might be “Coloring Prayer.” This spiritual practice invites us to be creative with our Creator. Created in His image, we commune with God through creatively in prayer.
If you are able, gather a few colored pens or pencils – five different colors would be ideal and a blank piece of paper. The size of the paper does not matter. I have enjoyed coloring prayer using just a lined sheet of notebook paper and a black pen as well as a white piece of paper with a box of colored pencils.
Take a few deep breaths to just settle your soul.
Begin by thinking of your favorite name for God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. Write it down in the middle of your paper using a colored pencil/pen. Examples include: Abba, Father, Loving Father, Holy One, Wonderful Counselor, Creator, Lamb of God, Son of God, Healer, Redeemer, Jehovah, Jehovah-Jireh, Yahweh, etc. Currently my favorite name of God is Calm-Hearted One from Matthew 11:29.😊
Draw a shape around God’s name, and continue doodling. In the quietness of your heart or aloud, praise God for who He is, thank God for His gifts, grace, and goodness, and confess to God both sins of commission and omission as you doodle. Mentally pray with drawing and doodling, repeating the name of God as a simple prayer within your heart. Allow this time to slow you down with the Lord and be present with Him. If words come, pray them, if not, enjoy the quiet space with God. Be with the Lover of your soul.
Next, wonder about a person or situation that comes to your mind. You might know how to pray for this person or circumstance or might not. It’s okay. Using a different color, in one of the four corners of your paper, write a word or draw an image to represent this person/situation. Draw a shape around the word or picture and continue doodling around the name/image. In your heart, pray. Pray while doodling for that person or just repeat their name or the situation, lifting it to God.
Psalm 5:1 and Romans 8:26-27 remind us that even when we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with sighs and groans. The Spirit of God prays for us and with you, even when you don’t exactly know how to pray. You can rest in the power of God to be with you as you pray. Offer this person or situation to God’s care.
Now, using another color, write the name of another person or another circumstance in another corner of the paper. Draw a shape around the name or image, doodle, and pray. Repeat this for the third corner of your paper as well.
In the fourth corner of the paper, write your own name or draw a picture representing those things upon your heart. Draw a shape around what you’ve depicted for yourself. Pray for yourself with God.
With the last colored pencil, connect all the names and situations from the four corners to God’s name in the center. Draw arrows, curly cues, straight lines, etc. to attach these prayers to God. Colossians 1:15-20 reminds us that everything is connected to God. Rest in God’s grace and mercy. Pray for God’s presence with each person and circumstance.
Thank God for attending to the needs and desires upon your heart. Amen.
Look at your coloring prayer. What do you notice about having a conversation with God in this way? Notice.
Prayer offers space to release life’s anxieties, concerns, joys, and sorrows with God. God welcomes and receives it all. When we slow and still with the Lord, we notice His presence, power, and love.
How can praying in this way help your heart and mind pay attention what is on your heart? In what ways does this experiential prayer help you be devoted in prayer? How does coloring prayer assist your watchfulness and wakefulness in prayer?
I hope this playful prayer practice spurs you on to live intentionally with God, committed and focused with Him.
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Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
Ephesians 6:18 – Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
John 1:3 – Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Jordan Raynor. Called to Create: A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate, and Risk. Ada, MI. 2017.
Paul E. Miller. A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World. Colorado Springs, CO. 2017.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Tauren Wells. When We Pray. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YZZzgJB33E
Matt Maher. The Lord’s Prayer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36hBlBGVFSs
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
June 2-15 – Quarryville, PA
Black Rock – Soul care and teaching for the Black Rock Summer Staff.June 12 – Quarryvile, PA
Black Rock Staff Soul Care Space – Soul care with the year-round Black Rock Retreat staff.