About a month ago, I shared a post about a book that I'm reading called Seeking the Beloved by Wayne Simsic. Over the past month, this book has really helped to change my outlook on the darkness that I have been feeling in prayer. Once again, I highly recommend this book to anyone that has been feeling the darkness in their life. This book just keeps providing me with reassurance that God is present in the distance I feel and that he is using this time to make me grow even closer to Him.
Well my most recent inspiration from this book has affirmed me in my new way of prayer that I started this year in Honduras - Prayer Doodles. As a teacher, I have always thought of doodles as distracting and a lack of paying attention; A student mindlessly drifting away into a drawing. And while I still might stop a student from doodling in class, I have learned that there is something meditative to it when doodling during prayer. I have the ability to clear my mind completely as I color in the phrases or scriptures that God has placed on my heart. I have a moment to sit with them, let them sink in, and truly rest in their presence. One of the reflections for Chapter 5 "From Meditation to Contemplation" really emphasizes this point.
Remember that contemplative prayer is not limited to the words or even silence;
it can flow from and through everything we do.
God's creative impulse to express something of the divine creation
also finds expression in our own creativity.
I know the concept of prayer doodling may be a little outside of the box. In case you don't understand what I mean, here are a few that I am willing to share with the world - the rest are created solely for the divine creator.
I encourage you to sit in God's presence. Let the spirit guide you. If you feel God's creative impulse come over you, whether it's doodling, singing, writing, creating... Do it! God is working in you in those moments, drawing you closer to Him. Get lost for a little bit in the grace of God's love flowing through you.
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