Sunday, June 24, 2012

Prayer Walk - Part 1


I took my Tuesday night Bible study ladies on a prayer walk to close our year of a Bible study on prayer in April. I searched the area to find a park that held all of the elements for a good prayer walk. There just happened to be a park with a learning center, so I felt that was the perfect location for this walk.

I scoured the learning center for unusual aspects and then headed home to write. What I found was that in writing the prayer walk, I was on my own journey. A journey that led me to a better understanding of God’s purpose for prayer in our lives.

Over the next two (or three) days, I’m going to share this walk with you. Why not join me on this journey? Pray as you read through these sections. You’ll have to imagine the setting, because I didn’t take pictures. But I pray that you’ll walk this prayer walk in the imagination of your mind.

Introduction
We are here at Roger’s Grove Park. It is a park, arboretum and outdoor learning center. Here we’ll be able to use some of their space to learn what God has to say to us. We are not only going to pray, but we are going to learn as well.

In the middle of Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving for the Ephesian Christians, he prays this. Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV) says, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

Paul desired for their hearts to be enlightened. God does as well.

That is exactly what Bible study does. It gives spiritual understanding to our lives. Helping us to see clearly what God’s Word has to say to us. When our hearts are enlightened, we are free of false beliefs and are no longer ignorant.

There are three ideas mentioned where our hearts should be “enlightened:”

1) The hope to which he called you;
2) The riches of his glorious inheritance;
3) His incomparably great power.

As we move on through our prayer walk and praise God for being who He is, keep these three things in mind. Allow God to bring a greater understanding of each of them in your life and in relation to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Station #1 – Mosaic (The Potter)
This artwork was created by Susan K. Dailey. It is titled, “Along the River.” Here we see a windmill, nature scene, animals, and the river.

Susan K. Daily.com
It is a beautiful piece with great detail. It also tells a story. The story of this area and how it has changed through the years.

We too, are a piece of artwork and have a story to tell. We are God’s masterpiece and because of the change He has made in our lives, our story becomes part of His story.

Remember Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)? “You are our Father, we are the clay, and you are our potter; and all of us are the work of your hand.”

This mosaic also represents the broken pieces of our lives that when placed side by side, a beautiful work of art is fashioned. God can take what we think is unfixable and mend it. He can make beauty out of ashes.

At this station, we will praise God for being our Potter. Think of the three elements listed above in relation to this topic. Remember the beauty God has created in your life.

1) The hope to which he called you (beauty from brokenness);
2) The riches of his glorious inheritance (how your life has changed);
3) His incomparably great power (what He is able to do in your life).

Station #2 – River (Fountain of Living Water)
We know this river well. It flows through this town and meanders out across the prairie. Where ever this river flows, life flourishes. Plants and animals find refreshment at its banks.

Water is essential for life. Water is essential for our spiritual life as well. Jesus spoke of such living water in John chapter 4. He tells the Samaritan woman that “everyone who drinks this water (from the well) will be thirty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Come Living Water!

At this station, we will praise God for the Living Water He freely gave through Jesus. Without Him, we would indeed be dry and parched.

1) The hope to which he called you (refreshment, hydration, and abundance);
2) The riches of his glorious inheritance (eternal life);
3) His incomparably great power (His ability to bring such life to our lives).

I pray you’ll stop by again tomorrow for the continuation of this prayer walk. To learn what God might have in store for you as you make your way through this “park.”

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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