Drawing a New Path to God (Active Prayer) - Praying in Color

I use the praying methods described in this book both for my own personal spiritual formation and also within the youth group that I pastor. Try out a new way of connecting with God through Praying in Color.

This book offers a way of visualizing prayers that has made a definite impact on my daily prayer life. The act of writing down names of those for whom I am praying brings them closer to my mind and helps me concentrate on each as I pray. I recommend it as a help tool for those looking to enrich their prayer life

The motive behind this book is pretty great, but there really isn't enough information for there to be a solid book. I read it in about thirty minutes if that. I like it, but I don't know that I would buy it again because I could do ten minutes of research on Googe Image search and have the general idea.

This is a great book. I really enjoyed learning this new style of prayer. It is great for someone like me that has a short attention span.
I read the whole book in a day and I am not a quick reader. But I was very interested in this style of prayer and have enjoyed praying in this way. My Husband and I each have completely enjoyed praying in this way and have totally different styles of doing it but it works!

I like the premise of the book being artistically inclined, myself. However, I do not agree with much of the book on the art of prayer. It is a nice instructional book, and with the writing and publishing I have no argument.

I do disagree with the way prayer is represented however, I do feel that you need to be fully engaged to commune with God, so from that standpoint I cannot give it high marks.

I do like that she does not pretend to be a theologist and her main point is to challenge your thinking on what prayer is. I think everyone should think through what they believe, and I think a challenge is good for that.

My DIL did a weekend retreat that involved coloring and prayer. When she told me about it I decided to purchase something for Christmas that she could use to continue that. I also bought a huge set of pencils since she said that was what she liked. The book came yesterday and I'm disappointed. I expected it to have empty pages in it to draw on too so I guess I really didn't understand the description given. Now I have to go out to try to find something to add to this.

It is a small book. There is a learning curve with most new things and I messed this one up. Gonna be shopping today for something spiral bound and larger.

Being creative...& looking for a simple way to express prayer & worship.
Studied scripture & I like to draw...difficult to combine the two...especially with a.busy schedule
Thank you for this publication...great inspiration!

If you saw me at the coffee shop, scribbling away with my colored pencils, you might think I was doodling --- and pretty primitive doodling at that. But truth be told, I'm praying --- praying in color --- learning a new way to talk with God from Sybil MacBeth's unique first book. And it's not just for artists.

The bright, primary colors of the jacket and the unique full-color interior design grabbed me from the start. MacBeth, a math professor, believes that for those of us who struggle during prayer with wandering minds, restless hearts and intrusive thoughts, drawing with colored pencils or markers while we pray will help us focus and remember our prayers. It also will bring joy back to prayer. "When I draw as a way to enter prayer, I get to delight in my prayer and to feel God's delight that I am making an effort to pray," she writes. Prayer as joy? I was hooked. Praying in color is a simple concept, and it's easy to get started.

I began with an ink pen, drawing a small shape on a page of copy paper (MacBeth also suggests a notepad, blank journal, or any sort of paper you feel comfortable with). My friend Rick had just had a heart attack, and he was the first person on my mind to pray for. So I drew a heart, then put his name in it. Simple. And memorable.

Other ways to begin, MacBeth suggests, include writing one of the infinite names for the Almighty in a shape, a reminder that God is ever-present during your prayer time. Yet another option is writing your own name in a shape, if you are in a particularly difficult situation.

Next, MacBeth says to add detail to the drawing, remembering that this is not about being a fine artist but rather about creating something visual to remember your prayer. Each stroke and each moment you spend on your drawing is time spent with God. I added a Band-Aid to Rick's heart as I prayed for his healing, an encompassing halo symbolizing God's protection and all-surrounding love, and Rick's wife Susan's name leaning on top of the heart (a reminder that she needed my prayers as well).

Next comes the color. MacBeth recommends markers or colored pencils, and notes that some readers like gel pens. I had a good selection of colored pencils, so I used plenty of red, yellow and green to color in my heart and the doodles in and around it. The colors help you bring the symbol of your prayer more easily to mind later, MacBeth believes. I was finished with my prayer for Rick and ready to go to another.

When you move from one person to the next in this way, MacBeth suggests offering a closing prayer, an "Amen" or even more simple, "I'll be back." I like that! If the request is particularly heavy, she recommends taking several deep breaths or standing up and moving around to let go of any tension that might have built up.

When you're finished with your prayer page, you'll have a virtual collage of color, shapes and names. MacBeth calls this a prayer "icon," but evangelical readers need not be put off by this. "I use the word icon with the understanding that an icon helps us to see God. We do not worship the image; it has a transparency about it that lets us see through it to a deeper experience of God and God's presence." Well said.

Each page has step-by-step instructions that clearly illustrate whatever MacBeth is teaching. She integrates personal anecdotes gleaned from her PRAYING IN COLOR workshops, scripture, vulnerable insights from her own struggles with prayer and answers to potential criticisms.

Stuck on what to doodle? MacBeth includes samples of prayer pages or icons, and chapters full of ideas about who and what we might pray for. We can pray in color for our enemies, to meditate on scripture, to recall certain things, for discernment, or even pray using a prefab calendar during Advent or Lent. MacBeth even offers ideas for praying in color with a computer! There is plenty here to get the most artistically-challenged or prayer-challenged person scribbling away.

This would be a terrific book to use during retreats, youth group meetings, prayer groups, and for personal devotion and meditation times. Writes MacBeth, "A new prayer form gives God an invitation and a new door to penetrate the locked cells of our hearts and minds." A beautiful image, and one I'm planning to draw --- the next time I go to God in prayer. Thanks, Sybil!

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God

I dearly love this winsomely delightful and creative little guide to prayer. I have, for years, been doodling and coloring when I pray. My journal is filled with a rainbow of colors, sketches, highlighted and embellished names, and other assorted scribbles that chronicle much of my prayer journeys. It was for this reason that I could not wait to read Praying in Color when I saw it offered in latest Paraclete Press product catalogue. My anticipation and excitement was duly rewarded! Not only do I feel encouraged and affirmed with my own practices (pre-Praying in Color), but I have found new ways to build on my prayer habits as well as discovered how I might share this creative prayer practice with others.

At first glance, a person should be careful to judge a book by its cover, especially this one. It might be easy to assume that this style of prayer might be geared exclusively toward the creative person. This is not the case! I think everyone should give Praying in Color the chance it deserves to help people develop new prayer habits and perhaps truly draw a new path to God. I know from my own experience that many folks exist in a very narrow paradigm when it involves their understanding and practice of prayer. I believe opening oneself to new practices and experiences can broaden those narrow horizons. I think this is even truer when it relates to using different areas of the brain to connect and relate to God. There are so many positive possibilities when I consider how this style of prayer might create new memories and sensory responses in my prayer habits. I'm thinking too, what a great way for a family to spend an evening praying together in this way.

About the Book

The author has arranged her book in a very intuitive flow. It is light-hearted, but still takes the role of prayer very seriously all the while stressing that our prayer life can be filled with delight, joy, and fulfillment. She has provided many illustrations and examples--I think by her own hand--and reemphasizes through them that this method of prayer is not exclusively geared toward artists.

Enlightened

Part Four of the book was very enlightening to me. MacBeth offered some ideas to use this creative style of prayer in some ways I had not considered; some of these follow: creating a drawing that illustrates my personal spiritual journey, use words, drawings, and color to highlight or help verbalize a personal mission statement, and probably the most exciting idea was to incorporate this method in my personal times with Lectio Divina. She provided quite a few other novel (to me) ideas that look forward to trying out as well.

I cannot say enough how joyful this book makes me feel. I have a smile on my face even as I type out this review. I can't wait to share this with a group. I am making plans to add this as a session in one of the retreats I lead on prayer. While this might not be for everybody, I think everybody should give it a try. You might be as surprised with holy delight as I have been.

Seemingly "too" simple or childish for adults, Praying In Color is excellent for any age person. I am someone who doesn't mind sitting still or quiet for a half hour and doesn't have difficulty staying focused, so I really thought I wouldn't need this "silly" activity. I was wrong! After just a few minutes of praying in color, I was hooked. My grandsons, ages 8 and 5, love it. Some of my friends tried it and then tried it with their husbands - they loved it. The possibilities for this activity are endless - what a boost to a prison ministry, or outreach to the deaf - for use by people who are uncomfrotable praying aloud in a group. Teens are excited by this activity as it really allows them to 'get out of the box'. And it is appropriate for people of ANY FAITH. Praying in color is really one of the oldest ways to pray - iconographers refer to their icons as 'prayers in color.' Try it - you will like it!

Being a Christian Counselor comes with great responsibility to pray for others. My prayer list sometimes seems overwhelming with my job alone, and my husband is a youth pastor so you get the picture. Sometimes I tend to become frustrated when I look at my time V. prayers...so when I spotted this book at a garage sale I was very curious for $1. This book has transformed my prayers life. Even though speaking to God directly has been a great way to "cast my burdens" so the speak, I feel much more meditative peace when given the ability to express, through my right brain abilities, what my heart longs to say.

I love MacBeth's emphasis on the importance of someone asking you to pray for them. This struck a cord with me because I feel invited into the most intimate parts of everyone's life through counseling and notice when I pray for people outside of my talking ministry, that I feel stagnant. So I began looking at the phrase "will you pray for me" as one of the most sweetest gifts that anyone could give me. It implies trust and connection/relationship.

I think the last great thing about her book is how short and sweet it is. She gets right to the point, offers practical advice, while still emphasizing the beauty of the act of prayer. It is also nice that on an Sunday I was sick and unable to make a group and read it in two hours. Because of it's short and sweet nature, it also is very forgiving in artistic ability, emphasizing that "everyone can pray in color". This book really fed my soul. I encourage anyone who is: lacking in creativity, needing to change their prayer life, feeling overwhelmed by prayer, haven't connected with that right brain in a while, or if you just love crayons and haven't picked one up in a while...GRAB THIS BOOK :)

I have struggled with my prayer life over the years because I had difficulty staying focused. My mind would wander or I would be distracted by outside influences. Praying in Color has changed my prayer life! This technique has shown me how to stay focused without having to spend a lot of time writing in a prayer journal or trying to come up with the words. Along with my bag of crayons and paper, I am able to focus more on the subject of my prayers rather than the struggles I faced with the actual praying process. Thank you for introducing me to a new method of praying that changed my prayer life! I now pray with more frequency and more focus than ever. I find myself sitting in meetings doodling and praying as I listen to the subject. I ASK to pray for others which I was so hesitant to do before. Thank you for being a blessing to others by sharing this innovative and creative method.

I enjoyed reading this book. When creating a sample of praying in color for a couple of people, I felt the presence of God around me. I enjoyed reading of the different ways of using Praying in Color. For example; scripture memorization, praising our Heavenly Father, praying for others in depth, and praying for oneself.
There were just a couple of places that I read, I felt I disagreed. But, all in all; I enjoyed the book.
I choose this rating because the book is great, with the exception of my disagreement in a couple of areas. I have and would still recommend this book to those whom have a desire to learn of prayer.

After seeing this book reviewed on a website I borrowed it from the library. I read it one night and tried it out the next morning. I now want to buy this book so I can mark it up. Not only is this book about a way to stay actively involved with your prayer time but her writing is very insightful and inspiring. I want to get a highlighter to many of the pages.

This book offers a lovely program to make the feelings of the heart and body accessible through color. Go beyond words and capture the essence of who you are by following the easy processes. I gave this book to my niece and my sister, both artists, so that they could use the ideas to mentor others who want to paint and draw. Whether aspiring artist or a person desiring to access the inner voice that guides each person to live their best life, this is a non-linear version of "The Artist's Way!" Donna P. Savage, Author of The Man and The Shark: A Modern Day Fable of Awakening and Rebirth

This book presents a way to combine prayer and meditation with simple art production. I have been using ideas gleaned from it for over two months and find myself eager to pray each day. I have also bought three other copies to use as gifts -- a good indication of how valuable I have found it to be.

The novel concept of "Praying in Color" has provided a continued focus throughout the week as I add prayer concerns to my sheet. When one considers all prayer needs the mind gets overwhelmed. The Bible instructs us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray without ceasing." This scripture reflects a 24-hour attitude of prayer. I love the idea that we can continue our prayers on a sustained basis with our "cheat sheet." My colored prayer sheet helps me focus in a world that is constantly throwing in interruptions.

In meetings or in church I doodle constantly. It helps keep me focused. This book has bought a new dimension to prayer and doodling. As soon as I received this book I started to put it into practice. I spent over 15 minutes colour praying for my 29yr old son and it was a time of great joy and rejoicing. I've found that these visual prayers stay with me through the day so that I'm beginning to understand more what it is to pray without ceasing.

This book is good.. i mean really good.. (Hey everyone, come look at how good this book is)!.. i love it.. its very creative.. and im not.. so its fun.. and its cool to look at old prayers you drew.. sweet..