Picture Prayers

Pray Continually

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray continually. This blog is an opportunity to do just that.  Highlighting different guides and styles for prayer.  Please feel free to comment below about your own personal experience with this prayer or any questions you have regarding praying.

Picture Prayer

"For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things, as when we stare into polished metal. I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture. But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face. In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God."

1 Corinthians 13:12 (The Voice)

I remember back to my wedding day, over 20 years ago. I was standing in front of the mirror and this verse came to me in thought. I believe that day I looked better than I ever had before and ever will again.  My hair (thanks to my mom), my dress (thanks to my parents), my make-up (thanks Sue P.), everything was as perfect as I could have imagined.  But God reminded me that I was only seeing part of the picture, a dim and blurry picture. God knows all, he knows the full picture.

In our house, we have a wall with a massive frame on it. That frame holds all of our Christmas card pictures and assorted pictures we have received from weddings, births, funerals, and friends that have moved away. I call it our picture prayer wall. As I walk by, a certain picture will catch my eye and I take a moment to pray for the person or family. I don't know what is going on in their lives at the time, but I know that God does. We may not understand what is happening to people, why disaster, or cancer, or divorce, or heartache, or travel happens, but what we don't understand today, we will one day, in the meantime we trust and ask the Lord to do the miraculous.

There are different ways to pray with pictures:

• Walk around your house and pray for the people in the photos you have out.
• Go through a photo directory you have, maybe your work or church's, pray for people, even if you don't know them, God does.
• Look through your cell phone photos, pray for those in the pictures you have stored.
• Look through the photos on Facebook or Instagram, pray for those you see.
• Choose a charitable organization to look up on the web, go to their staff directory and pray for those you see there.

What to pray:

• Whatever thoughts come to mind, quietly look at the photos, allow memories or things you do know to guide your prayers for requests and praise.
• Pray a simple "Lord your will be done" over each photo.
• Ask God, "Lord, how would you have me pray?" Don't be shocked if a thought comes to mind regarding something specific to pray for that person.
• It's ok not to have words, God sees our hearts and can sense our care for others, and the best part is He knows their needs even when we don't.
• Praise God for the people in your life, whether near or far.
• Perhaps you will be prompted to call someone you have not talked to in a while, maybe God will ask you to pray aloud for them, take the leap of faith and give them a call. Maybe there is a prayer they are waiting to hear.

Thank you for praying,

for turning your eyes and heart to the Father who is able to do more than we could hope or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). May you come to know Jesus more, be blessed, and be a blessing as you pray.

Where do you display your photos?

Have you ever prayed like this before?