From Black & White to Bursting With Color.

Many of us have settled for praying in black and white, whereas Jesus designed prayer to be bursting with color.

I can't paint.

Desperate for any kind of activity during the COVID pandemic, my wife came up with a fun idea to buy a few small blank canvases so that we could paint as a family. One afternoon, we covered our dining room table with plastic, sat down together as a family, and I prepared to impress them with what I hoped would become the next great American painting. I cannot stress enough the optimism with which I started. As I picked up the brush and prepared to make my first stroke, I couldn't help but wonder if I had been unknowingly carrying around this talent for the entirety of my four decades on this planet. Unfortunately, that question was answered in a swift and sobering manner. I am no Michelangelo. Even Michelangelo, the Ninja Turtle, with his three sausage-shaped fingers, could probably paint better than me!

My wife, on the other hand, is a naturally gifted artist. Early in our relationship, she decided on a whim to make me a painting, despite having no training and never having painted before. Unlike the hideous COVID painting I made, hers was gorgeous. It is still hanging on the wall above the desk where I am currently writing, even after 20 years. The painting is filled with beautiful, textured brushstrokes of red, green, blue, yellow, and purple. I have hung it in every office I have had since then, and I still find myself sitting and looking at it for extended periods of time, captivated by the explosive colors.

Here’s the thing: I have encountered some exceptionally beautiful black and white art. I've come across mind-blowing black and white photography that left a lasting impression on me. The depth and emotion portrayed in black and white sketches can be captivating. However, as much as I appreciate black and white art, it is undeniable that it often tends to convey a more singular tone compared to color-based artworks.

Let's consider the original "Wizard of Oz" film as an example. At the beginning, Dorothy's home state of Kansas is depicted in black and white. Yet, when she awakens in the vibrant land of Oz, everything around her bursts with color, creating a striking contrast.

Overall, while black and white art can be breathtaking, it typically lacks the multitudes of hues and shades seen in color artwork.

I bring up this topic because I believe that many of us have settled for praying in black and white, whereas Jesus desires prayers that are bursting with color. Let me explain. Most of us have either been trained or taught ourselves to pray in only one way, following a specific method or model. Additionally, we tend to focus our prayers on the same issues using the same approach. Consequently, these monotonous prayers make the spiritual practice of prayer seem boring and tedious, rather than being dynamic and engaging. Unless you are an exception, I assume that this description resonates sadly with you, as we all yearn for more meaningful and fulfilling prayer-lives. I say this from experience.

I came to faith at a young age, and for the majority of my life, prayer has been a consistent spiritual practice. I would spend time praying for various aspects of my life, including myself, my family, my friends, and my church. I referred to this practice as "praying my list." While these were all good and important things to pray for, over time, it began to feel as though I was simply approaching God as if He were a cosmic waiter, placing my order for the day. Then, something changed.

One morning, as I prayed in the early morning dark of our living room, I was struck by a very specific and sobering thought: "I could never do this again and I’d be ok." It wasn’t that I was praying for the wrong things. I had just been approaching prayer in a limited and narrow way, lacking a genuine connection with God and only engaging a small aspect of my relationship with Him. I was praying in black and white.

The good news is that God has been injecting color into my prayers over the past few years. He’s done so through a multitude of means. My shelves are filled with books on prayer. I have listened to lectures and sermons, delving into the different streams of Christianity beyond my own. I have also explored ancient expressions of prayer and engaged in numerous prayer experiences. I am happy to report that all of these efforts have been fruitful, despite the occasional trial and error in finding what works best for me.

Despite the help of these numerous resources and experiences, it is Jesus' own teachings on prayer that have had the greatest impact. If you are reading this, there is a high likelihood that you are familiar with what we traditionally refer to as the Lord's Prayer. Both Matthew and Luke provide us with detailed accounts of this profound prayer. While many of us have at least read it or perhaps even recited it individually or during a worship service, I wonder how many of us have truly taken the time to contemplate the full extent and significance of Jesus' words. The brilliance of this prayer lies in its ability to encompass nearly every aspect of the human experience. It's as though Jesus enters our narrow, black and white prayers and presents us with the gift of an expansive palette of colors.

These colors have helped me learn to enjoy prayer again, and more importantly, they have deepened my relationship with Jesus. So I want to invite you to take a fresh look at this foundational and formative prayer with me. We will go slowly and do our best to sit with the sum of what Jesus has to say about prayer. By the end, my hope is that we will wonder how we ever went so long praying in black and white when this palette of colors has been held out to us.

Experiential.

Before we dive in, I want to invite you to take stock of your own prayer life, or lack thereof. Find a quiet and secluded space where you can sit with God. Take some deep breaths and settle your body, heart, and mind. As you sit in the stillness, ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern your experience of prayer. Consider not only the things you’re prone to pray about but also how you feel while praying. What does the experience feel like for you? Do you walk away at peace or conflicted? Do you enjoy it or dread it? Is it vibrant and life-giving, or redundant and boring? What is your experience of prayer?

Take your time with this. Before we proceed, it is often helpful to take note of our starting point. As is almost always the case, the outcome of our efforts will depend on the level of commitment we invest. So, this week, let us create the necessary space to engage in a conversation with Jesus about prayer. Seek His guidance regarding His intentions for you. Inquire about His thoughts and feelings towards your prayers (Spoiler Alert: He is not only thrilled and welcoming of our prayers but also has more for us to experience). Dedicate some thoughtful moments to reflect on what you truly desire from your prayers.

I am firmly convinced that those who are willing to allow Jesus Himself to guide their prayer life will discover a deeper and more meaningful experience. Extend an invitation to Jesus, allowing Him to infuse your prayers that to this point have been black and white, with vibrant colors, transforming them into something extraordinary.

An easy way to engage…

On a scale of 1 (dismal) to 10 (divine) rate your satisfaction with your current experience of prayer.

Feel free to comment with only the number, or provide some context. I look forward to hearing from you!