Prayer Labyrinth
How do we hear from God? How do we hear from anything?  How can we hear if we are not listening?  The Prayer Labyrinth is an ancient prayer exercise that will help you to listen…but listening is not automatic.  In order to still our minds and hearts to hear from God, it takes effort and practice.  Take your time as you walk thru the stations.  As you walk, ask God to speak.  Use your journal to record when you think God may be speaking and as you have questions.
Station # 1 – Clean
Question: What is keeping you from God today?
Before you enter the Prayer Labyrinth, spend some time thinking about what things in your life are keeping you from being close to God.  Write those things on the palm of your hand.  Now wash your hands clean.  Imagine that Christ is washing not only your hands, but your heart.
“The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.   They will receive blessing from the Lord” Psalm 24:4-5a
As you enter, take some time to record in your journal what God may be speaking to you.
Station # 2 – Light
Question: Where is the Light of God in your life?
What parts of your life do you see God’s light?  What parts of your life are still hidden in darkness?  Do you want the Light of Christ to bring healing in the darkness?  As you light a candle, ask God to show you any areas of your life that need light and ask Him to shine.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
As you continue, take some time to record in your journal what God may be speaking to you.
Station 3 – Character
Question: What characteristics in your life show Christ to others?
Jesus invites us many times in the Word and in our lives to “come, follow me.”  As we follow Christ, the world is looking at how we live our lives.  The longer we follow Christ, the more we should become like Him.  Spend some time asking God how you could be more like Him.  Pick one or more items from the bowls to symbolize which characteristic you want to have more of.  As you eat it, ask God to make you into the person that He has created you to be.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19
As you continue, take some time to record in your journal what God may be speaking to you.
Station 4 – Fruit
Question: Which fruits of the spirit are growing inside of you?
One of the great things about being a Christian is that God doesn’t expect us to automatically be perfect when we surrender to Christ.  We are forgiven, even as we struggle to grow closer to God.  The key word there is GROW.  The Bible teaches us that when we have the Holy Spirit inside of us it is growing fruits in our lives.  As you take and eat a fruit snack, ask God which fruit of the Spirit He wants to grow in you today.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22
As you continue, take some time to record in your journal what God may be speaking to you.
Station 5 – Creation
Question: What has God created in your life that is good?
This world was created by God and it was created good.  However, when sin entered the world, Creation was stained.  And yet, we can still look around and see that God Creation is still good.  The rain that feeds the berries.  The sun that warms our faces.  The snow that causes us look to the Heavens.  God has also created many good things in your life.  As you take a few small rocks, drop them one by one into the water and ask God to show you what He has created in your life that is good.
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
As you continue, take some time to record in your journal what God may be speaking to you.
Station 6 – God’s Image
Question: How do you reflect God’s image?
The Bible is very clear that all of us are created in God’s image.  We are all works of art by the Master Artist.  We are all uniquely wonderful.  Sometimes we forget how precious we are to God.  As you look at God image in you thru the mirror, write on a sticky note at least one thing about you that reflects God image.  Ask God to show you how you were wonderfully made.
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
As you continue, take some time to record in your journal what God may be speaking to you.
Station 7 – The World
Question: How is God working in the larger world?
Often we can forget that there is a world outside of ourselves. There is a world outside of our family.  There is a world outside of our village.  There is a world outside of Alaska.  And God is there.  God is working in mighty ways all throughout the world.  Have you stopped to think how God is working in the world lately?  Spend a few moments praying for God’s work in the world.  If God brought to mind something about how He is working, use a sticky note to share it with others.  When you are done, write down a prayer on a sticky note for one area of the world.
“Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 15:4
As you continue, take some time to record in your journal what God may be speaking to you.
Station 8 – Footprints
Question: Where is God carrying you?
Sometimes we can’t tell that God is right beside us.  Sometimes that is because He isn’t.  Instead, God is carrying us.  Read the poem “Footprints in the Sand” below.  Take some time to trace your footstep on a piece of paper.  As you look at your footprint, ask God to show you where in your life He is carrying you.
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you." - Mary Stevenson
Station 9 – Forgiveness
Question: What have you done that you need to ask forgiveness for?
At the beginning of this journey you were asked to write down on your hand what was keeping you from God today.  Were you able to let it go?  What other sins in your life are keeping you trapped from hearing from God?  1 John 1:9 says that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  As you take a piece of wood, add it to the cross.  Ask God to forgive you of the sins that are keeping you from hearing from Him.  Leave the piece of wood as you leave your sin at the feet of Jesus. 
“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12
Go now in peace and remember to listen for God speaking into your life each and every day.
 
Prayer Labyrinth Material List

• Notebooks
• Pens
• Lamps for ambiance
• Contemplative music

Station # 1 – Clean

• Washable markers

Station # 2 – Light

• Candles
• Lighter/Matches

Station 3 – Character

• Christian characteristic printouts
• Bowls
• Various edible things like trail mix

Station 4 – Fruit

• Bowls
• Fruit snacks

Station 5 – Creation

• Rocks
• Bowl of water

Station 6 – God’s Image

• Mirror
• Sticky notes

Station 7 – The World

• World map
• Sticky notes

Station 8 – Footprints

• Paper or tubs of sand
• Footprint sample

Station 9 – Forgiveness

• Wood
• Cross 

Prayer Labyrinth Character Traits
Forgiving
Humble
Courageous
Honest
Dependable
Thankful
Encouraging
Generous
Wisdom Seeking
Compassionate

I was thinking about prayer today and remembered this little illustration I made up for the youth group when we were studying prayer.  Enjoy your prayer time with God!

To me, making the choice to abstain from alcohol is a social justice issue as much as it is a religious issue.  We live in a time when there are too many alcoholics.  Some of it is because of lack of education on the issue, some of it is because of unresolved trauma in people’s lives, some of it is because of genetic predisposition to alcoholism, and some of it is for other reasons.  If we are honest, I think we will realize that often the reason some turn to alcohol abuse is because they are victims of social injustice (whether it be the suppression of culture, physical or sexual abuse, extreme poverty, unequal education, or other injustice).
 
Regardless of cause, abuse of alcohol has caused much destruction in Alaska, in our region, and even in our own village.  Now of course, that destruction may well have happened even if alcohol was not a factor.  So abstaining from alcohol simply to lower the amount of social destruction from alcohol abuse may not be a good enough reason (though perhaps it is?). 
 
Let us consider instead another reason to abstain from alcohol.  A huge reason why I abstain from alcohol is to stand in solidarity with my brothers and sisters who have found victory in over alcohol addiction (interestingly, often that victory comes with surrender in faith to Jesus Christ).  However, no matter what your faith is, science acknowledges the reality of physical addiction to alcohol.  Not all become addicted, but to those that do, finding the next drink becomes an all-consuming obsession.  For those who are alcoholics, drinking responsibly is simply not an option.  In our context, many alcoholics have been victims of social injustice and breaking the bondage of addiction is nothing short of a miracle.  I choose not to drink alcohol because I want to stand in solidarity with these miracles.  Faith completely aside – I believe abstaining from alcohol is an empowering action in support of those around us who have turned from victim into victory over addiction.
 
Now when we bring our Christian faith into the mix, I find even further reason to abstain from alcohol.  What is our purpose in life as Christians?  Jesus taught a radical ideal of putting the needs of others ahead of ourselves.  Jesus also charged us to go into the entire world and declare the Gospel message.  In putting others ahead of myself and in declaring the Gospel message, I have to ask – does drinking alcohol help my purpose as a Christian?  Or is drinking alcohol harmless in my purpose as a Christian?  Or does drinking alcohol hurt my purposes as a Christian?  Does is help, is it harmless, or does it hurt my purposes?
 
For many Christians throughout history, perhaps drinking alcohol was harmless in their purposes as a Christian.  For others, perhaps drinking alcohol actually did help their purposes as Christians – in fact, many Christian hymns are old bar tunes!  However, I believe we are in a time and context where drinking alcohol can often harm our purposes as Christians.  Until we can rid our context of the social injustices surrounding alcohol abuse and until my purpose as a Christian can be helped by the drinking of alcohol, I will continue to live a life of abstaining from alcohol.  I do not look down on other Christians who choose to drink responsibly, but I do challenge those who read this to really wrestle with the value of teaching (and perhaps even choosing) abstinence from alcohol as a legitimate and valuable option.  Thanks for reading this much!

​NOTE: This is a repost from a Facebook conversation I had a couple years ago.

It's been a while blogosphere.  Since I've taken a new position with CYAK in October, I have a little more time to update this site, so I'm going to try to update it on Tuesdays as I am able.  Thanks for reading!