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Messy Prayer (guest post by Kelly O’Dell Stanley)

May 6, 2015

A note from Becky: As promised, today I’m honored to welcome my friend Kelly O’Dell Stanley to Time Out. Kelly and I met through our amazing agent, Blythe Daniel, and we were delighted to discover a common affinity for the Fox Valley, Wisconsin area—me, because I live here, and Kelly, because a piece of her heart lives in a dorm room just blocks from my favorite coffee shop. So I’ve  been blessed to get to know not only a fellow author but also her daughter, and both of them are beautiful, genuine people. Funny how God can connect his children regardless of miles. I hope Kelly’s post will encourage you to rediscover prayer. And be sure to leave a comment at the end for a chance to win a copy of her new book, Praying Upside Down: A Creative Prayer Experience to Transform Your Time With God.

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Messy Prayer

Surely I’m not the only mom who’s cringed at the unavoidable (but unsavory) task of accepting the artwork being held out by her small child. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? A soggy piece of construction paper, drenched with runny paint, dripping in rivulets across the page. And down your child’s arms. And into your purse, if you’re not careful. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, there might even be glue. And glitter. You just know that if you touch this glorious bastion of creativity, it’s going to rub off on you, too.

Being creative can be messy.

So can prayer.

Then again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If prayer is, in its simplest form, communication with God—a way of reaching hold of a greater power, the greater power—then wouldn’t you want some of that to rub off?

When you pray for someone, when you don’t just toss up a quick little “help her” prayer, but when you get serious, things change. And not just for the person you’re praying for, but for you. I think this is why Jesus said to pray for your enemies—because when you tear down the walls, when you truly try to remove your own emotions, feelings, and judgments, and you try to see a person as God does—you may find that all of a sudden you have a newfound empathy for that person. You’ll likely discover a new, better understanding of that person’s struggles, choices, and behavior. Judgment may cease. And you’ll have a new story to tell, about the time you got involved and saw things change.

One day at church a woman came up to the altar to be prayed for, and I was one of several people who gathered around her. I prayed, “God, please, surround her with people who can help her.” And my next thought was, as though God spoke right back, “You’re a person.”

I was so surprised I opened my eyes. Sometimes the way we can help is by praying. And sometimes prayer will reveal that we can also help by doing.

I will confess, sometimes I’d rather let someone else do the hard stuff, the hands-on, sometimes messy involvement. Just like I’d rather not grab hold of that piece of artwork, lest the runny paint drip down my arm and glitter permanently embed itself in my life. But I do it anyway, knowing that the long-term benefits of accepting my child’s love offering to me far outweigh the temporary discomfort. In prayer, the marks that are made—the transfer of compassion, the creation of shared experiences and deeply-forged relationships, the changes partly effected by the use of my own hands—now those are marks I can live with.

I hope they never wash out.

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This week I’m celebrating the release of my new book, Praying Upside Down: A Creative Prayer Experience to Transform Your Time with God. Leave a comment below to enter a drawing for a chance to win a free copy—and I hope you’ll subscribe to my blog, prayingupsidedown.com. We’ll talk about prayer—ways to approach it, ways to get unstuck, ways to learn to see God in everything (even in glitter and glue). Monthly prayer prompt calendars and an ebook called Praying in Full Color are some of the free downloads available exclusively to subscribers.

Praying Upside Down

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Kelly-Stanley2Kelly O’Dell Stanley is a graphic designer, writer, and author of Praying Upside Down. With more than two decades of experience in advertising, three kids ranging from 21 to 14, and a husband of 24 years, she’s learned to look at life in unconventional ways—sometimes even upside down. Kelly’s essay, “Amazing Grace,” won the Writer’s Digest Inspirational Writing Competition in 2013. She lives in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where she operates her own graphic design business. Full of doubt and full of faith, she constantly seeks new ways to see what’s happening all around her.

Praying Upside Down is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Filed Under: Guest post Tagged With: prayer

Comments

  1. Kellee says

    May 6, 2015 at 6:29 am

    Oh. I’m guilty of praying rather than doing! Thanks for the great perspective! Excited for you and your book!

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 10:01 am

      I hear you! Me, too, but I’m trying to work on that. Thank you!

  2. Synthia says

    May 6, 2015 at 8:37 am

    Such a great reminder!

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 10:02 am

      Thanks!

  3. Richelle says

    May 6, 2015 at 8:52 am

    I always feel like I am doing enough by praying for people. Really I could be doing so much more and I’m sure deep down I already know this. Your book sounds wonderful.

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 10:03 am

      I always try to remind myself—Jesus went away by himself to pray, and then he got busy DOING—talking to people, teaching them, walking beside them. We need both. Thanks!

  4. Rebekah says

    May 6, 2015 at 9:47 am

    Sounds like a helpful book, would love to have a copy

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 10:04 am

      Thanks, Rebekah. Whether you win this copy or not, hope you get a chance to read it—and that you like it! 🙂

  5. Molly says

    May 6, 2015 at 10:38 am

    I always feel like the right words aren’t coming out, but know that God knows what is in my heart.

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 11:53 am

      Yes He does! I believe it’s prayer even when we sit in silence and focus on Him :-).

  6. Shanna R says

    May 6, 2015 at 10:55 am

    Your emails always seem to come at the right time in my day to day struggles. Thank you for your encouraging words. It’s a step in the right direction in my life, even if that only means a few minutes of reading. Thanks.

    Btw, Congrats on your book, I would love to read it!

  7. Kelly Stanley says

    May 6, 2015 at 11:54 am

    Thanks, Shanna!

  8. Tammy says

    May 6, 2015 at 1:13 pm

    I am struggling with time for prayer. I have allowed my busy life to keep me from the most treasured person who dwells in my heart. So it is messy right now as I realize that. A beautiful post.

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 1:26 pm

      It’s a struggle we all have! Try not to feel discouraged—and take advantage of those little moments while you wait in line, or brown ground beef for dinner, or whatever. Prayer doesn’t have to be alone and focused to “count.” Of course, we all need those dedicated times, too, but it’s just not always possible. So just keep trying! I believe God honors those steps.

  9. dj says

    May 6, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    I love that God brought you and Becky together in that unique way -that only He can orchestrate. And He seems to be doing the same for me: first Becky, quickly followed by you! He knows that I’m in desperate need (whether I admit it or not!) of encouragement AND He knows that my prayer life is an area where I not only struggle but desire growth and change! I hope I get the opportunity to read your new book soon -for now, I’m subscribing to your blog and appreciate your efforts!

    • Becky says

      May 6, 2015 at 1:43 pm

      Yay! Praise God!

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 1:49 pm

      Aww, thank you, DJ! Looking forward to getting to know you!

  10. Julia says

    May 6, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    Ah, quiet time with God. That is what I need but can’t seem to make the time for it. My mom always said, if you see a need, then you’re usually the one that needs to do something about it. It’s amazing how God lays things on our hearts that we are so hesitant to act on. May I be bold enough to reach out and meet needs.

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 3:39 pm

      You’re so right. Hoping I can be bold like that, too.

  11. Diana says

    May 6, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    I just want to say thank you. Prayer is something that we all need to spend more time doing. The beauty in prayer is that when you first start to pray for your needs and all the things that are going wrong in your life. Something funny happens over time your needs and wants are forgotten and you began to pray for the needs of others more than anything. Then you began to notice that you forgot to ask God to help you. But you realize that through the prayers for others he has answered you but in a different way that opens your heart to see that your prayers have been answered. Our needs become so tiny that things we felt we needed we really didn’t need. The things we truly need have always been their we just never noticed them before.

  12. Kelly Stanley says

    May 6, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    Beautiful—and true.

  13. Susie says

    May 6, 2015 at 5:56 pm

    Thank you for reminding me that sometimes love is messy – probably always 😀 Thank you for showing me that getting close to someone’s heart, with all the angst and joy in it, is as blessing-full as a child’s artistry, in which they have poured their whole soul.

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 7:44 pm

      The rewards of getting close are so great—why do we resist so much? Thanks!

  14. Sierra says

    May 6, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    I have always struggled with prayer, whether there is a right or wrong way to do it. Thank you for the encouragement!

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 6, 2015 at 7:45 pm

      Just showing up equals success… no wrong way to do it! 🙂

  15. joanna battjes says

    May 6, 2015 at 8:05 pm

    Beautiful, encouraging words, Kelly!
    Being an art teacher, I look forward to reading your book. Thanks for sharing your gifts with us!
    Joanna

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 7, 2015 at 7:29 am

      I have a special fondness for art teachers… even if they use glitter! 😉

  16. Kirsten says

    May 7, 2015 at 5:50 am

    I enjoyed reading this post on Becky’s blog. Prayer/praying has always been a struggle for me. Recently, I began a quest to change that. I look forward to reading your blog for ideas & encouragement.

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 7, 2015 at 7:30 am

      You’re in an exciting place whenever you’re looking for more of God. I hope you find some ideas to help!

  17. Janet says

    May 7, 2015 at 6:01 am

    Great encouragement! Thank you.

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 7, 2015 at 7:30 am

      Thanks!

  18. Michelle faile says

    May 7, 2015 at 7:55 am

    Such a great reminder, excited to read this book!

    • Kelly Stanley says

      May 7, 2015 at 12:48 pm

      Thanks! Hope you like the book!

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If you love your kids but you sometimes forget to feed them lunch, if you're crazy about your husband but some days you want to set his hunting gear on fire, and if you adore Jesus with your whole heart yet you mess up time and time again, then you and I are friends already.

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