Me: Are you spending some time in prayer?

Prodigal: Yes, prayer is important.

Me: Yes, it is.

What if our prayers were visual? What if instead of hearing our prayers, we could see them? What would we see? I can just imagine what we would see…..

I look up and I see dry cracked barren soil. There are no trees and no shade from the sun that continues to bear down on the hot surface below. There is no signs of green, in a leaf, shrub or grass. The earth has swallowed up all signs of life; after time with out renewing rains. The wind blows and dirt and sand swirl around to irritate your eyes and throat. I look around and there seems to be no sign of this land ending. It is lonely and harsh and it has been this way for a while.

In less than a second, I am removed and placed in the middle of a city block. The street is paved. There are several rows of buildings that are five stories high from the mid 1800’s construction era. The windows have detailed trim with cast iron working around them. I could be in a number of European town or cities. There is a fountain in the middle of the road. Something that is simple, made of concrete substance and allows water to flow down from the top. There are street signs and lamp post and the day is without a cloud in the sky. I want to look closer and I walk toward one of the beautiful buildings. As I draw near, it has been made apparent that I cannot go in. There is nothing behind the building. There is no building, there is a beautiful, decorative hollow shell, in which could be found on a dozen movie sets around the world.

Another transportation takes place and there is a lot to take in. I am standing on smooth stones. There are trees behind me and bushes beside me. There are sounds of birds, squirrels and rabbits scurrying through the area. My eyes train completely on the water in front of me. It is water that is rushing down the side of a rocky cliff. The water continues to move and does not stop, it is a constant roaring that lulls you to sleep. The water falls into a circular stream that has rocks on one end and greenery on the other. There is a peace, that doesn’t come from silence but comes from beauty. I try to soak in all that is around me as I slowly move around. That is when some of the water from the fall splashes on me and I am startled into stopping. The water was a surprise but it was cool and refreshing. It was real living water. I did not know I needed that touch until I received it and then I knew that this was what I have been waiting for. This was a gift from above.

Yes, what would we see if we could see our prayers……

Psalm 94:14-15

For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org