Renew Your Prayer Life: Scripture and the ArtsExemplo

Praying Scripture

Praying Scripture is finding a Scripture that captures your thoughts and turning it into a prayer to God.

“How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.” Psalm 119:103

Scriptures are one of God’s greatest gifts to us, and the words within often express exactly what we want to bring to God in prayer. As we deepen our prayer life and engage Scripture more regularly, our relationship with God continues to expand.

Consider this artwork.

Matthew Pendleton created this abstract artwork “Untitled (Shield).” He begins each piece with a small, abstract shape against a white paper field. Slowly, laboriously, he begins to outline the shape with spider-web thin lines. Never-touching and carefully drawn, these lines begin to take on their own life as the drawing’s topography is revealed.

Matthew writes: “This is a depiction of one’s relationship with God.” Our spiritual journey might be a map, the mountains and valleys emerging from each day’s spiritual battles. The artwork also calls to mind the rings of a tree. Psalm 92:12 says: “The godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.” Nourished by Scripture and prayer, our soul, like a tree, grows steadily stronger and closer to God.

Do you want to pray more Scripture? Here are a few ideas to try:

• You can read Scriptures aloud as a prayer.
• You can recite a memorized Scripture as a prayer.
• You can work with a portion of Scripture and make it a poem or spoken word piece.
• You can illustrate or illuminate a part of Scripture, meditating as you draw or paint.

With any of these forms, you are reading, reflecting, and responding to God’s Word, which will help you to understand and internalize the lessons God has placed there for you.

For instance, you may remember the Scripture where Jesus is walking on water, and his disciples are afraid. He says, “Take courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27). You could pray those same words to call on your courage and be strengthened by Christ’s message when you are scared. You also can change the words a little to make the prayer more personal. For example—“Dear Father, I am afraid. Please help me, right now, to take courage and know that you are here with me. Help me to understand that in Your presence, I don’t need to be afraid.”

If you always pray silently, you might want to try praying some Scripture out loud, even if you say it very quietly and when you’re alone. On the other hand, if you usually pray aloud, you might try reciting a Scripture silently. The brain engages differently through our eyes and ears, and both experiences can be valuable.

Would praying Scripture strengthen your prayer life?

What Scriptures come immediately to mind?