PRAY
Begin with a brief word of prayer.
Be still, be silent.
“Please guide my thinking and guide my seeing. Speak with me I pray. AMEN.”
FIRST IMPRESSION
Look on the image. What part of the painting initially drew your eye? Was it a tone, a shadow, a detail? A particular brush stroke? For a moment, think of the very first detail of the painting which stood out to you. Slow your breathing and ask God to speak through that detail.
VIEW
Try not to focus on any one part, let your eyes drift around the image. Focus on what the painting is making you feel. Uncomfortable? Hopeful? Sad? Happy? Does the image provoke questions in you, does it connect with any memories? Is there a Bible verse or a story which comes to mind?
In your third viewing of the painting, begin by looking at the top left corner. Now slowly let your vision track left to right to right, then down and back to the left, as if your eyes are a scanner and you are taking in the whole image. When you reach the bottom of the image look to the centre of the image . Let your eyes rest here. Now, ask yourself the simple question “where am I in this painting and where is God?”
LISTEN
In silence mentally take a step back from the image and once again view the whole. How are you being spoke to through the practice of looking at the painting. What thoughts are beginning to solidify for you. Is God trying to tell you something?
RESPOND
What are you going to do based on your experience? Print the image and pin it to your fridge? Save the image to your computer? Go and read up on something? Pray for someone? Are you going to go through the steps again later to see if something different comes to you?
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