June 20
Psalm 139 meditation (using creative arts!)
By Joanna HaraderHelping people connect with God through creative arts is one of my passions.
— Photo provided
Let’s try a meditation on Psalm 139:1-18. To begin, find a quiet space and gather your supplies: Bible, blank paper or sketchbook journal page, black pen, pencil and ink pad (optional).
To engage in the practice:
— Sit quietly for a few moments. Take several slow, deep breaths and ask God to make you aware of the Spirit’s presence with you.
— Read Psalm 139:1-18 slowly and prayerfully — aloud if possible.
— Lay one hand on the blank paper and trace around it with the black pen.
— Turn your hand over and examine the lines on your palm. Use the pencil to lightly sketch in your palm lines. (The purpose is not to get the lines perfect, but to pay close attention to this one small part of your amazing body.)
— As you trace your hand and sketch in your palm lines, know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Imagine the intimacy of God knitting you together in your mother’s womb. Realize that God knows the curve of each finger, each line on your palm.
— If you want, you can also use an ink pad and place your thumb and finger prints in the drawing. Look closely at your fingerprints — nobody else in the world has fingers exactly like yours.
— Now begin writing out Psalm 139, writing the words around the outside of your hand drawing, up the side of the hand, then around each finger and down the other side. When your text has gone all the way around the hand drawing, simply make a second row of text.
— You might want to write all of Psalm 139:1-18, or you might pick out the verses that speak most deeply to you in the moment. (A shortened version for writing out would be verses 1-7 and 13-16.)
— After you have written the text around your hand, simply place your hand inside the drawing. Allow God to speak to you. Accept the reality that God knows you deeply and loves you deeply.
Joanna Harader is pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, Kan., and blogs at Spacious Faith, where this post originally appeared.
Comments
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WHAT A WONDERFUL IDEA...THANK YOU.
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