Praying with Art: Exercise

Settle yourself into quiet. Take a moment to enjoy God’s long loving look. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you in your prayer and ask for what you desire in this time.

Now look at the image before you. Look long, linger, sit with it in a quiet space. Allow your eyes to roam around the picture … to notice the colours … the shapes … the moods… the texture …

Refrain from immediate interpretation of the image. Hold back from judgement.Allow thoughts and feelings to emerge gently – perhaps like water seeping into dry ground.Wait, let be. Be still. Let the image speak.

You might then wish to use one or more of the following questions to help your ongoing reflection:-

Where do you find your attention most resting?
What thought/s do you find yourself thinking?
Which feeling/s or desire/s does the image evoke in you? Which memories are stirred?
Is there something in the picture you wish to change? Do you know why?
Does the image invite anything of you?


Take some time with God to talk about the picture or what it has stirred within you and allow God to respond.


Finish your prayer with an ‘Our Father’ or ‘Glory be …’ or another prayer.


Afterwards, review your prayer and, if you find it helpful, make some notes.