When you need fresh inspiration for adoring God in prayer

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say, how to adore God in a way that doesn’t sound trite or rehearsed, or like we’re simply going through the motions. Sometimes we need a little help. One great way is to read scripture, and pray out of our response to it. But there are other ways of creatively meeting God in prayer.

Recently I was leading prayer at church and I brought along a few objects to provide a little inspiration. Feathers, stones, gift tags, sprigs of rosemary and some crocheted hearts.

I invited people to come and take one or more of the objects and to spend a few minutes listening and reflecting on what God was showing them about himself or about what he has done. Then I invited people to pray their responses aloud.

It was wonderful to see how the Lord used those ordinary items to inspire fresh expressions of adoration to him.

For myself I chose a stone and a heart. As I held them in my hand I was reminded that God is my Rock, that Jesus is the precious cornerstone and a sure foundation. I was reminded of how much he loves me. The two items side by side reminded me of how God removes the heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh.

Have you ever tried anything like this? If not, consider collecting one or two ordinary items from around your house or garden.

Spend a few minutes holding an item in your hands. Pay attention to what it feels like – smooth or rough, soft or hard – feel the weight of it in your hand. Notice the colours, patterns and the details. If it has a scent (like the rosemary we used) then smell it. You may want to rub it between your fingers or bruise it to draw out the fragrance. If your item is edible you might want to taste it.

Whatever you notice, whatever the Lord shows you, use that to reflect praise and adoration back to him.

If you try this out, or if it’s a normal practice for you, I’d love to hear about your experience. Please share in the Comments.

On a Sunday afternoon in spring

I was journaling over lunch today, and noticing my soul’s need for rest and refreshment. So I took the long scenic way home and stopped to photograph some wild flowers by the side of the road.

Some of the flowers are so tiny I nearly stepped on them before I saw them, even though I was looking for them.

I didn’t have my usual camera with me so these were taken with the camera on my iPad. I hope they give you a moment to slow down and breathe before you start another busy week.

When it’s a good idea to turn your back on the dragon

Bard stands with his son atop a ruined, burning tower, clutching the last black arrow that can pierce Smaug’s hide and bring the dragon down. Everything around them in Laketown is on fire, the windlass required to launch the enormous arrow has been destroyed, and Bard is forced to MacGyver his way out of the situation using his son’s shoulder to balance and aim the arrow.

Bard’s son Bain is panting and quivering with fear as Smaug tells Bard that the only thing he can look forward to is his own death. The boy looks over his shoulder at Smaug, scales glowing and enormous wings beating, coming for them, ready to set them alight with his breath.

Bard calls back his son’s attention.

“Bain, look at me. You look at me.”

Bain turns back to his father, and even though he is still afraid, he keeps his eyes fixed on Bard, his back squared to the terrifying Smaug. Bard sights on the one chink in Smaug’s scaly armour, hauls back and releases the arrow …

This scene from The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies, more than any other, was the image I took away with me from the cinema. That moment hit me in the chest as I was watching the film.

“You look at me.”

That’s Jesus’ call to me – to fix my eyes on him and not the things that make me afraid. He is asking me to trust him, to watch what he is doing, and to join him in it.

“You look at me.”

It’s his call to you too.

… And let let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

Hebrews 12:2a (NLT)

What I learned from a 2 1/2 year-old about asking for help

“Can you please help me?”

As I bend down, my 2 1/2 year-old niece hands me a lollipop in a plastic wrapper.

It’s my 5 year-old niece’s birthday and the girls and their cousins have just beaten a piñata to pieces, liberating all the lollies onto the concrete slab of the carport. The piñata started out as a large number five covered in a rainbow of coloured paper strips, and ended in a mangle of torn cardboard quickly forgotten in the scramble for sugared treasure.

The lollipop comes from my young niece’s treasure hoard.

Tearing from the top, I peel back the plastic skin and place the glistening lollipop back into her waiting hand.

There’s something precious in her question. She believed and trusted that I was willing and able to give the help that she needed.

It is one of my favourite auntie moments, being asked for help.

And I can’t help but wonder if that’s a little how God feels when I come to him, asking for help and trusting him to answer.

But so often I try to do things on my own. So often I tell myself that I should be able to do something without having to ask for help.

Even when I really need it.

So often I’m that other version of a two year-old: “I can do it myself.”

Despite all evidence to the contrary.

So often I’m afraid that I really am on my own.

“Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”
Isaiah 41:10, NASB

As I was my niece’s helper, so God is my helper.

I don’t need to beg or whine or demand his help. God is my helper, and he is delighted when I trust him to take care of me.

Christmas: God with us

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

It’s Christmas once again, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, the coming of the awaited Messiah.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:23

One of my favourite Christmas songs is Bryan Duncan’s “The Form of Man” – the lyrics never fail to remind me of the astonishing truth of Christmas:

“He wrapped his love in flesh and blood and he took the form of man.”

The extent to which God would go to dwell among us, to love us, to redeem us, is truly beyond comprehension. With total vulnerability, Jesus the Son of God submitted himself to share our humanity. He walked this earth with us, and entered into our mess.

“God the Father sent His son and we held him in our hands.”

Whatever your Christmas looks like, whatever burdens you may be carrying, may you find peace and rest in Jesus, the one who came to be God with us.

With love and blessings,

Ann

Image sourced here.