Contemplative Coloring

Have you ever thought of coloring as a way to pray? Pick up your colored pencils or crayons and discover a creative way to slow down and focus on God. Sharon Seyfarth Garner, author of Praying with Mandalas, offers this advice for finding rest and renewal in prayerful coloring.

1. Everyone is an artist. You are wonderfully made in the image of God, your Creator. Therefore, you have creative gifts embedded within you.

2. Set aside time. Designate time in your day to be with God on purpose. You may choose to mark your prayer time as an appointment with God on your calendar. Allow yourself to let go of your distractions and sit at the feet of Jesus to color and pray on a regular basis.

3. Set aside sacred space. You may find setting aside time for God easier if you set aside a space dedicated solely to prayer. Set aside a special space and gather items you will need for prayer—a Bible, mandalas, colored pencils, a candle, a journal, and so on.

4. Lines are optional. In contemplative coloring, the lines are merely suggestions. Color within them, color on them, draw new lines, or draw beyond the lines. Anything goes!

5. No color is off-limits. Pick the colors that attract you or hold meaning for you. Don’t overthink color selection so that it becomes a distraction of its own.

6. Leave blank space. There is no need to “finish” coloring a mandala. You can leave blank space that you return to at a later time. The blank spaces may even become integral parts of your prayerful creation.

Download a free mandala and try contemplative coloring today.

Sharon Seyfarth Garner, Praying with Mandalas: A Colorful, Contemplative Practice. Used by permission. © Upper Room Books.