Amy Boucher Pye

Author: Amy Boucher Pye

  • Abiding in the Vine: Praying with John 15

    How can we pray with Scripture, trusting that God will meet us through his word? One time-tested practice, about which I write in 7 Ways to Pray, is lectio divina. That’s a bit of jargon but it’s simply Latin for sacred reading (or prayerful reading). It’s a four-step process that helps us to slow down and engage with the text prayerfully. The four steps are:

    • reading
    • reflecting
    • responding
    • resting

    Join me in engaging with a favorite passage out of John 15 in this way of praying. Last week I spoke at Bethel University, my alma mater, and during the talk gave plenty of time for people to try out the four steps. Now you can too – take a mini-retreat, brew a cuppa, and know that God longs to meet with you!

  • “Now or Never: Desperately Depending on God in Prayer” by Ruth Clemence: 7 Ways to Pray blog series

    How can we turn to God when we face challenges of many kinds? Ruth writes powerfully out of the depth of painful experiences through which she clung onto God, perhaps sometimes by her fingertips. I’m so grateful for how she’s shared and trust you’ll benefit from her grace-filled words.

    Prayer is serious business with God. The cancer I had 10 years ago made a comeback at the end of 2020. It had already been an immensely challenging year, with Covid-19, the birth of my second child, and the death of a close family member.  Prayer became deadly serious to me – as in, ‘Lord, I don’t want to die’. Those life or death, now or never moments cause us to cry out to God from the depths of our heart. Prayer in this season of life has been…

    …desperate. In rushed and hushed breaths, alone and frightened, I groaned to God out loud and silently. In moments of intense pain, I went from not wanting to die to understanding how so much pain could make you not want to live.

    …dangerous. A prayer I prayed before the diagnosis was ‘I want to know the Father’s heart’. That was a dangerous prayer. Suffering was not the chrysalis of change I would have chosen to cocoon myself in. I wanted to become the butterfly without the struggle. That is one of the many reasons of suffering; it often brings forth beauty and growth in our walk with God that we would never bring about on our own. To know God’s heart is to know suffering.

    …deep. I don’t mean lengthy and profound, although prayers may look like that at times. By deep, I mean searching the depths of the heart. Do we really believe and trust God in all circumstances? Suffering chisels away the parts in our life that we think we have control over. Although suffering leaves its painful marks, we can know God is shaping us into his likeness with his own nail-scarred hands.

    …dependent. I prayed many times for God to meet me in a tangible way – ‘now or never Lord’. At times, I have looked in amazement and, regretfully, envy, as others share of how God has met them in a powerful encounter. From my hospital bed, with high dose chemotherapy pumping around my body, I longingly craved God’s palpable touch saying, ‘if not now, then when?’ Although I experienced mercy upon mercy daily, I still wanted what felt like the bigger miracle. God did not answer me the way I wanted him to in that moment.

    Two months later, I was in another hospital bed sharing a room with a kind older lady who was experiencing her own cancer relapse. I felt a strong desire to share the love of God with her. She was on the phone to her friend for over an hour. I knew I had to say something to her. It was now or never. Did she know Jesus in her time of need and the comfort he gives? I prayed, ‘Lord, if you want me to speak to this lady, you are going to have to provide the bridge.’ I was asking God for a window of opportunity to share the gospel.

    After her phone call she said, ‘That was my friend. I forgot that she goes to church on Sundays.’ There was the bridge and an immediate answer to prayer. We spoke about God together, although it felt as if I stumbled through the gospel. God showed up powerfully to me through a dependent cry to him for this dear lady. In every moment, big or small, we need to depend on Jesus. Maybe the greatest miracle in prayer, besides the astounding reality that we can come before God with everything, is how he knows what we need in the time that we need it.

    Ruth Clemence is a follower of Jesus, a wife to Joel, mother to two young children, a writer and a blogger. She loves to write about the hope of the gospel in the ups and downs of daily life. Through experiencing cancer as a 19-year-old and relapsing 10 years later, she has a heart to share the hope of Jesus with others who may be going through a time that seems hopeless.

    Order 7 Ways to Pray here, including in the US, UK, and Australia. You’ll also find lots of resources for small groups – videos and a leader’s guide – here.

  • “Pray Without Ceasing” by Gayl Wright: 7 Ways to Pray blog series

    How can we pray all the time? Gayl‘s post bursts with ideas of how to keep the conversation with God going throughout the day. I think you‘ll enjoy and benefit from reading her thoughts…

    Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
    for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

    1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB

    How often do you pray? Do you think about prayer throughout the day? Or do you forget until you finally take a break? Is it possible to pray at any time during the day no matter what you are doing? In 1 Thessalonians 5, we are told that it is God’s will for us to pray without ceasing. How do we do that?

    One of my friends tells me that she never says Amen. In other words, she has a constant dialogue, an open conversation with God. I like that idea, though I still use the word amen at times as it gives closure to a particular prayer.

    How are we to pray without ceasing or follow the other commands in that passage to rejoice always and give thanks in everything? Notice that it says, “…for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” That makes all the difference. He has given us His Spirit to be with us always.

    GOD’S PRESENCE WITH US

    Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
    If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
        if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
     If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
        if I settle on the far side of the sea,
     even there your hand will guide me,
        your right hand will hold me fast.

    Psalm 139:7-10

    Because God’s presence is with us all the time, we can talk to Him anytime of the day no matter where we are or what we are doing. Knowing that He is with me gives me a great sense of security and peace.

    It’s easy to remember to pray when there are problems and we don’t know what to do. But what about giving thanks for even ordinary things as we go through our days?

    In chapter 3 of Amy’s book, 7 Ways to Pray, she suggests that when we first wake in the morning to place our hands on our heart and “affirm, Jesus lives within me.”  She has similar suggestions for activities throughout the day.

    My days can get rather busy at times and I neglect my special time of reading the Bible and praying. But that doesn’t mean all is lost. I can pray as I prepare meals, clean floors or during most any other household chore. If there is an emergency I can breathe a quick prayer for wisdom and calmness.

    Father, here and now, calm my spirit, hear my prayer, give me grace, help me see you.

    A couple of years ago I set alarms on my phone to remind me to pause during the day to acknowledge God’s presence with me. I discontinued it for a while, but I’ve started it up again. When I hear the familiar alarm on my phone, I stop and think about the presence of God with me. Then I often say a one sentence prayer thanking Him for life, for beauty or for anything else that comes to mind.

    When possible, I set aside a longer time to pause, rest, and pray. Some days I sit on my front porch or walk around outside enjoying the beauty of creation. It gives me time to forget the chores calling my name and relax. I marvel at the vastness of creation and realize that although I am so small in comparison, God loves me, and nothing can take that away. 

    PRAYING WITH OR WITHOUT WORDS

    Praying doesn’t have to be done in a specific way. Sometimes I don’t have words, but I know the Holy Spirit will help me. God knows our hearts and shares our burdens. Sometimes when my day seems overwhelming and things are hard, I write a poem that is like a prayer of lament. It is a way to put words to the aching in my heart.

    Burdens heavy on my heart
    pierce me like a poisoned dart.
    Lord, be near me.

    My weeping eyes seek after you;
    I don’t know what to do.
    Lord, be near me.

    Breaking through my anxious tears
    Your light of peace calms my fears.
    Lord, be near me.

    Full of hope my hands I raise,
    Voicing love and joyful praise.
    Lord, be near me.
    ~gsw~


    Each morning after reading a Psalm, I often write a poem in response which can also be a form of prayer.

    You are gracious, God
    Full of compassion and love
    Your mercy abounds

    You are so patient
    Full of truth, strength and goodness
    Your comfort calms me
    ~gsw~

    The main thing is to keep the communication going between myself and God. Just knowing that He hears anytime is a comfort.

    With the Holy Spirit’s help, may we all be intentional to acknowledge God’s presence with us throughout the day. May we rejoice and praise Him for all His wonderful works.

    Lord, I call on you; hurry to help me. Listen to my voice when I call on you.
    May my prayer be set before you as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering.

    Psalm 141:1-2 (CSB)

    Gayl Wright lives in a log home on a hill in Sunset, SC. She and her husband, Steve, raised 7 kids and have 14 grandkids. Some have chronic illnesses and one son is with Jesus. She was a church pianist for many years, and she also homeschooled her kids. Gayl loves to crochet, compose poems, write, art journal and spend time in nature. She is a seeker of truth, looking for beauty in ordinary things. Her desire in life is to glorify God and encourage others. Currently she serves as a volunteer as Content and SEO Coordinator for Chronic Joy®. Check out her blog Words, Photos and Art.

    Order 7 Ways to Pray here, including in the US, UK, and Australia. You’ll also find lots of resources for small groups – videos and a leader’s guide – here.

  • An Interview with the Artist of Celebrating Christmas

    That is, Amy talks with her dad!

    Join us in my dad’s art studio that he built behind their home in Minnesota, where he talks through some of the paintings that made it into Celebrating Christmas – and some that didn’t.

    Celebrating Christmas available for purchase now – makes a lovely Christmas gift, perhaps even as an early treat for yourself!

  • “Prayer is like . . .” by Amy Young: 7 Ways to Pray blog series

    So often we wish for clear instructions. If you do this, that will happen. Or a, b, and c will definitely lead to d. But life isn’t like that – as we see with Amy Young’s delightful post. I love American football and I don’t love baseball, but I appreciate her wonderful illustration. Enjoy! (And Go Broncos! Go Vikings!)

    Although I’m grateful for the Lord’s prayer, I wish that the disciples would have asked Jesus another question. In addition to asking Jesus to teach them to pray, I wish they’d also asked Jesus, “How does prayer work?”

    You’ve also probably wondered how prayer works. In my imagination (see Chapter 6 of 7 Ways to Pray), I see a group of us around the table enjoying a meal with Jesus. The conversation weaves around and in a lull I ask Jesus my question: “How does prayer work?”

    Since I’m at the table with Jesus and he is earthy and relatable, I believe he would use sports and parts of modern life in his answer. (If there’s one thing to know about Amy Boucher Pye and me, it’s that we love American football. If you hear loud cheers (or groans) for the Vikings or Broncos, chances are it’s one of us.) Jesus smiles at my question about prayer, leans back, and begins to tell a parable.

    I lean in and this is what Jesus shares.

    Prayer doesn’t work like a vending machine where you insert coin after coin, select D6, and wait expectantly for the candy bar you selected to pop out of the bottom of the machine, virtually guaranteed of the outcome.

    Instead, prayer is like a baseball player who steps up to the plate, bat in hand ready to take his turn at bat. He never knows exactly what will happen, but he knows the rules of the game well enough to know what could happen. He could strike out or he could be walked to first base . . . or better yet, he might get on base with a hit. That same batter doesn’t know when he steps up to the plate the duration, will this be a short at bat that will end disappointingly after only one pitch? Or is he about to engage in a long at-bat in which the exchange between the pitcher and the batter almost seems like a battle?

    Sometimes the batter won’t have to do much and he gets on base and is able to score a run for his team. Other times his turn ends in frustration, even anger at a poor call by the ump. And he stomps off indignity after being treated so unjustly!

    His at-bat could result in getting to first base, which of course is exciting, or he could hit a double or even a homerun. On rare occasions the batter finds himself at a crucial point in the game as he steps up to the plate and the outcome of his at-bat can really affect the game’s outcome.

    It’s not that prayer is a game between you and God or that God is the umpire judging the pitcher and the batter. Instead, prayer is an endeavor that involves the dance between the predicable and the wild. It embodies hope and longing, and the risk that unlike a vending machine, there are no guarantees. Prayer teems with anticipation, the collective holding of the breath of everyone watching, the longing for what could be, and the eruption in celebration when the crack of the bat is heard throughout the ball park.

    You’re not guaranteed a specific result when you bat in a baseball game, but you are guaranteed that something will happen. So it is with prayer; mystery, skill, effort, beauty, and even love mingle together as you take your turn and offer your prayer.

    Jesus looks me full in the eye as he says “and offer your prayer.” He knows in my younger years I played on a youth softball team and wasn’t very good at batting. If prayer is like that, Lord help us, Lord help me, we’re in trouble.

    Jesus continues:

    Amy, when you only think of baseball on the major league level, sure, you see the sport at its highest level, but you don’t see it as its richest. There are little leagues, company teams, and far more who play for the love of the game than because it is their job and they’re professionals. I’m not asking you to be an all-star; I’m inviting you into a relationship.

    I reflect on the conversation as the meal comes to an end. In truth, I offer some of my prayers easily but others with weariness because I’ve been praying them for years. Thrillingly I’ve experienced answers to prayers that go far beyond what I could have imagined. I’ve been confused, frustrated, disappointed, delighted, in awe, and humbled by my prayers and the responses from God. While I wish at times prayer was more like a vending machine, in truth, I don’t actually prayer to be like that because then I’d be in control.

    So, the next time someone asks you, “How does prayer work?”

    You can smile and tell them, “Prayer works like a baseball player who steps up to the plate, bat in hand ready to take his or her turn at bat, never sure exactly what will happen, but willing to take a swing all the same.”

    Lord, help me to be such a baseball player. Amen and amen.

    Amy Young: Life enthusiast. Author. Sports lover. Jesus follower. Equipper of cross-cultural worker. Amy is the founder of Global Trellis, co-founder of Velvet Ashes, hosts reading challenges at The Messy Middle, and is the author of 5 books for Great Commission cross-cultural workers.

    Order 7 Ways to Pray here, including in the US, UK, and Australia. You’ll also find lots of resources for small groups – videos and a leader’s guide – here.

  • Praying with a Painting: The grass of the field

    The grass withers and the flowers fall,
        but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8, NIV

    For a mini-retreat, take a few moments to ponder the passage from Isaiah’s prophecy and consider my dad’s wonderful painting of the pampas grass and evergreen tree.

    Grass withers and flowers fall – take in the beauty of the grass with the autumnal colors mixed in, situated next to the evergreen tree. How might the evergreen tree symbolize God’s enduring word?

    Perhaps you’re feeling burdened with many cares and complaints. Think also of Jesus’ loving admonition in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:26–30, NIV) related to the grass of the field:

    “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

    “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

    Give Jesus your burdens and remember that God loves you so much more than even the beautiful things he’s created.

    [Painting by Leo Boucher. Shared with permission; all rights reserved.]

  • ‘Rummaging For God’ by Penelope Swithinbank: 7 Ways to Pray blog series

    How can we look back with God in order to move forwards? Penelope Swithinbank shares from her years of spiritual direction how she helped someone recalibrate her decision-making process as she discerned her movements towards and away from God through the prayer of examen. I love the hands-on nature of Penelope’s exploration of this prayer practice, which can enrich our lives.

    Laura twisted her fingers and heaved a deep sigh.

    ‘I really don’t know what to do,’ she said. ‘I think my job’s about to be made redundant; my parents aren’t well and maybe I should move closer to them, but I love my job, my church and my home here. How do I know what God’s plans are for me? What if I step out of His plans?’

    As her spiritual director/counsellor, I felt God nudging me to give Laura a challenge. I suggested to her that for the next month, four whole weeks, she should ask herself two questions last thing at night.

    First, a question of consolation. ‘What am I thankful for today?’ ‘Where have I known true joy today?’ Or, ‘Where did I see God at work?’  

    And then a question of desolation. ‘Where did I fail God today?’ ‘Where was I not at peace today?’  ‘When or where was I not content, not filled with God’s Spirit?’

    I suggested Laura jot down her answers to the questions, just briefly, so that in a month’s time she’d notice any patterns, anything important, anything that the Lord wanted to point out or suggest to her.

    These two questions are the basis of the ‘Examen of Conscience,’ a centuries-old way of praying that helps us detect God’s Presence in our lives and discern where He is leading and guiding us. It was used by Ignatius of Loyola, (16th C) who recommended praying it daily – and then twice a day, so that people keep short accounts with God.

    Dennis Hamm describes it as ‘rummaging for God’ and says it’s like ‘going through a drawer full of stuff, feeling around, looking for something that you are sure must be there.’

    It’s a rummaging back through the day, knowing that God was there, and we want to discover and be reminded of just where and how He was with us. A prayerfully going backwards through your day, with God’s help, to discern what’s most important – the things of God.

    We want to hear His voice today, not close our ears, (i) and the Examen is one way to help us to do that. While the traditional name is The Examen of Conscience, which sounds as though you’re just looking for moral failures, the word ‘conscience’ probably had a deeper meaning of ‘consciousness,’ of being alive and acknowledging it mindfully. And of being grateful for the many gifts and blessings of the past twenty-four hours. Who doesn’t like getting gifts – but how often do we give thanks for God’s gifts each day?

    Laura agreed to the challenge – and was very excited to try it. She even bought a lovely new journal for her daily Examen night prayer. Not everyone writes down what happens during the Examen, but I wanted Laura specifically to look for patterns and rhythms as she talked with God. I suggested that she begin each time by inviting the Lord to come and be with her and speak to her; then to ask herself the two questions and talk with Him about her answers, and finally to invite the Lord into what might lie ahead for the following twenty-four hours. (ii)

    A month later, a peaceful Laura reported back. Her earlier worried questions had receded, because she had discovered something far more important than the specific whats and wheres and hows.

    ‘God’s plan is for me to be more like Christ in my everyday life,’ she explained. ‘Where I live or what job I do is secondary. Important but secondary. And going to sleep having rummaged around and put it all to rest, and then invited God into the following day, has not only led to extraordinary peace but a much better night’s sleep!  I’m going to be making some important decisions in the next few weeks but now they’re based on a relationship with God and not on my fears and worries. And that’s made a huge difference to my everyday life.’

    (i) Come and kneel before this Creator-God,
    come and bow before the mighty God, our majestic maker!
    For we are those he cares for, and he is the God we worship.
    So drop everything else and listen to his voice!
    For this is what he’s saying:
    “Today, when I speak,
    don’t even think about turning a deaf ear to me”     (Ps 95: 6-9, TPT)

    (ii) The five steps of the traditional Examen.

    Penelope Swithinbank is an experienced pilgrimage/retreat leader, conference speaker and Spiritual Counsellor. She has had an international ministry, including churches in America and the UK, and her most special memory is of opening the US Senate in prayer and being guest chaplain for a day. Penelope is an avid walker and spends a lot of her time stomping in the hills and valleys near her home outside Bath. 

    She is the author of three books, Women by Design and Walking Back to Happiness; her third, Scent of Water, a devotional for times of spiritual bewilderment and grief, has just been published. She is a wife, mother and grandmother and says of the 6 grandchildren that they are so wonderful she should have had them first. www.penelopeswithinbank.com

    Order 7 Ways to Pray here, including in the US, UK, and Australia. The seventh way to pray is the examen, so you can explore this life-giving prayer practice further. You’ll also find lots of resources for small groups – videos and a leader’s guide – here.

  • Praying with a Painting: Let the Heavens Rejoice

    By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    Take a mini-retreat and center yourself in God as you gaze at this painting by my dad, Leo Boucher. Ask God through the Holy Spirit to lead you in a few moments of prayer and wonder. You might want to ponder these lines from the Psalms:

    Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
        let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
    Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
        let all the trees of the forest sing for joy (Psalm 96:11–12, NIV).

    How is God leading you in prayer through the experience of pondering his word as aided by a painting?

  • “Wonder, Walking and Worship” by Fleur Tucker: 7 Ways to Pray blog series

    I really appreciate my new friend Fleur’s thoughts on wonder walking. I’ve never been to her amazing part of the world, and yes, I had to ask her what wattle is, but I too over the pandemic especially appreciated praying outside while noticing God’s amazing beauty. Could you get outside this weekend to do some wonder walking?

    In July 2020 I “stumbled” onto Wonder Walking. I was interstate in hotel quarantine for fourteen days. My Dad was dying in the local country hospital, but I wasn’t allowed to see him due to the COVID 19 restrictions on interstate travellers. Not being one for formal prayers, and coming as it did when I was only allowed 1 hour outdoor exercise daily, Wonder Walking was a literal God-send.

    The hotel where I was isolating was near a walking track that followed the old trainline into the town. Winding through vineyards and alongside open fields, the path was lined with spring blossom trees, wattle and olives. Animals grazed nearby and looked up as I passed. It was often quite cold, but I found great comfort in these walks as they allowed me to reflect on my grief, to pray for my Dad and to pour out my heart along with my tears to God. Sometimes I saw something really lovely like an unexpected vista as I rounded a corner or a love heart that a previous walker had made out of pebbles next to the track. When that happened, I stopped and took a photo on my phone. This made me really focus on the thing that had captured my imagination and created a greater sense of awe.

    Wonder Walking is sometimes called Awe Walking.(1) It is the practice of walking slowly through nature while noticing our surroundings. This deep engagement with nature has been shown to improve mental health, increase gratitude and mindfulness.(2) I would add that it also increases our awareness of God, the creator of our natural surroundings and leads quite naturally into worship and prayer. The hymn How Great Thou Art (3) draws a clear line between these things in the lyrics, “O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made….Then sings my soul, my Saviour, God to Thee. How great thou art.”

    You can Wonder Walk anywhere. Your location does not matter – even people living in the inner city can find wonder in street trees, plants pushing through the pavement and sleepy cats cuddled up on apartment block windowsills. You might have to look a bit more closely, but sources of wonder are everywhere. When we take the time to notice the small details of leaves or are impressed with the majesty of tall trees, we tend to feel relatively insignificant. This “small self” (4) gives us a new perspective. It puts God in a place of pre-eminence and lifts our spirits.

    I found Wonder Walking so beneficial that I’ve continued the practice. It helps me to pray. Walking along while immersed in nature, my mind wanders towards matters of the heart. The things that I’m concerned about just bubble to the top. I can then easily lay them out before God, for His attention.

    Like art, nature has the ability to capture us in a way that restores our soul. Psalm 23 places David outside in nature, by a stream with open green pastures and he finds to restorative. Nature accesses parts of us that are less cerebral and more spiritual. In my experience, Wonder Walking improved my prayer life as it strengthened my connection to God so that I could more easily lean into Him. I come home having benefitted from fresh air, exercise and renewed appreciation for the provision of God.

    If you are looking for ways to reinvigorate your prayer life, I encourage you to consider Wonder Walking. Even if you don’t try it until you are away on holidays, you might start something that enriches your spiritual life so much, that you continue the practice when you return home.

    Footnotes

    1. https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/awe_walk
    2. https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/awe-walk/
    3. The lyrics to How Great Thou Art were written by Carl Boberg in 1886 after he was caught outdoors in a flash thunderstorm, then saw a rainbow when it ended. When he got home he opened his window, heard church bells ringing and put pen to paper in response to his experience, giving us this beloved hymn. https://www.staugustine.com/living/religion/2016-06-24/story-behind-song-how-great-thou-art
    4. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/09/418551/awe-walks-boost-emotional-well-being

    Fleur lives in the very beautiful Northern Rivers region of Australia.  She authored the book Great Questions: a resource for carers in response to the need for local churches to train members in pastoral care.  Fleur is currently training to be a Counsellor.  She loves mentoring women, speaking at events and her new spiritual practice – Wonder Walking. [All photos courtesy of Fleur.]

    Order 7 Ways to Pray here, including in the US, UK, and Australia. You’ll find lots of resources for small groups – videos and a leader’s guide – here.

  • Praying with a Painting: The leaves of autumn

    By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    At this time of the year, I love thinking about spending time in the upper Midwest, when the color of trees rival those in New England. I sense a crisp feeling in the air and take in the slanted sunlight while enjoying the crunch of a Honeycrisp apple. How good is God!

    Whether or not we’re surrounded with beauty in our physical setting, we can take a mini-retreat and pray with this lovely painting by my dad using the practice of visio divina (sacred seeing).

    • Start by welcoming God to join you in this practice through his Spirit. Ask him to help you calm your mind and your heart to receive him.
    • Gaze at the painting for a few moments, slowly and with care. Notice what your eye settles on, spending a few moments there. What captures your attention?
    • As you interact with the painting, ask God to speak to you. Might he be whispering to you in his still, small voice? Sending you a refrain of a song? A text from Scripture?
    • Respond to God through prayers of praise, adoration, intercession, petition, and so on. You may have moved away from the images in the painting, or not. That’s fine – follow the Spirit. Rest in God’s presence, giving thanks for his love and light.
    • As you draw the exercise to a close, you might want to note in a journal any insights you received or impressions you had.