Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. (Psalm 1:1-3)
 
The Bible is full of imagery. I sometimes pray using imagery, and I’d like to recommend the practice to you. This passage from Psalm 1, which pictures a person devoted to God’s word as a well-watered tree, is not stated as a prayer, but what a great prayer it would make!
 
When a friend was undergoing chemotherapy, I pictured her in a recliner at the treatment center with the chemo drugs dripping into her body through an IV. But I also pictured a waterfall pouring down on her from above, drenching her with God’s mercy and grace. Painting that picture in my mind before the Lord was my prayer for her.
 
One March day as I walked at the park, I noticed tiny wildflowers blooming here and there in the grass. I thought about a woman in my small group who was going through a pressured time, feeling anxious about all the things she had to do. I pictured the tiny pink wildflowers as symbols of joy and asked the Lord to strew flowers along her path that day.
 
I invite you to try praying in pictures this week! Maybe you can create imagery that fits one of these prayer requests:
 
1.  Pray over the Women’s Ministry event this Friday evening. Ask the Lord to use the speakers to open our eyes to what He is doing in women’s lives around the world and awaken our interest in joining His work. Pray for good and godly fellowship that reaches out a friendly hand to women new to Calvary.
 
2.  The guest speaker on Friday is a woman originally from Iran who converted from Islam to Christianity. I’m sure she will remind us to be praying for Muslims, especially for those whose lives intersect ours – that they will hear and understand the truth of the gospel and respond in faith.
 
3.  Please pray for a new ESL Bible study that starts this Friday morning. Fifteen immigrants from our Chinese congregation will have a chance to practice their English as they learn from the book of James, led by several members of our English congregation. Most are new believers; a few are not-yet believers. 
 
4.  Be faithful in prayer for our Chinese congregation. Pray that their first allegiance would be to the Lord as they assimilate to American culture. Pray for strong marriages and families. Ask the Lord to bless our Chinese brethren with steady spiritual growth and a luminous testimony.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert, Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea

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