Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Teacher Devotions: Picturing the Psalms

Luke 24:45 Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

I regularly suffer from insomnia, so the chances are that you’ll find me reading, writing, or drawing late at night. I do this to keep my mind occupied and to weary my eyes so that eventually I will fall asleep.

For the past two years, I have been working on a special art project. I’m trying to create a drawing for each of the 150 psalms in the Bible. As I read each psalm, I ask God to help me choose the right verse in order to create a symbolic drawing. Once I feel that he ahs shown me what to do, I start putting my crayons onto paper. Each time I finish, I feel fulfilled.

When I first set out to complete the project, I thought it would only take me 150 nights. I was so wrong. It’s probably going to take me about three years to complete the project. Last night I completed Psalm 79, which was a tough one because it’s all about God’s wrath.

I don’t know what I’ll do with the project once I have finished it. In the meantime, I hope that those who come across my picture psalms on the internet will be drawn closer to God. It’s my way of trying to follow in Christ’s footsteps to help people open their minds, so that they can understand the scriptures. Sometimes a picture can convey the message that can’t be done with hundreds of words.

When Christ opens our minds to the scriptures, He does this to affect major changes in our lives. The Bible is not just a collection of ancient stories, it’s a living document that’s meant to shape our ideas, formulate our decisions, and influence our choices each and every day of our lives.

Perhaps you’re at a new crossroads in your life and you need help to make the right decision. Pick up your Bible and look at the Book of Psalms. As you read the personal spiritual trials of people in the past, ask Christ to open your mind to the scriptures. At some point, He will lead you to a verse that speaks to your heart and helps you make the right choice.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know everything about our lives, so when You give us guidance from the scriptures, You are perfectly and fully informed about our circumstances. We pray that You will open our minds to Your words and our hearts to Your ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

If you would like to see the progress that I’m making with the Psalms project, please visit the following link online: http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/sets/72157603288751629/

You can also see my other artwork at http://www.stushieart.wordpress.com

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

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