Artful Prayers for 50 States E-Book

Alice Briggs

• Herausgeber: Alice Arlene Ltd Press
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 70

Beschreibung

In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, prayer is a powerful weapon to stay at peace in the midst of the storm. I began these pieces as a way to remain at peace, and to do war in the spirit for God's truth and light to break through in every state of the USA.

Zechariah 1:20-21 says this: Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. And I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah so that no one lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to frighten them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.” (NASB20)

I invite you to join with me as we use our creative weapons of warfare: pen, pencil, paint, etc. and saturate the atmosphere of the USA with prayers for God's redemption and salvation. Even if you are not in the USA, but have a heart to pray for those of us who are, your prayers are equally welcome.

Leseprobe

Copyright © 2022 by Alice Briggs

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

ISBN: 978-1-948666-36-7

Published by:

Alice Arlene Ltd Press

PO BOX 94825

Lubbock TX 79493

Contents

Introduction

A Note About the Prayers

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

About the Author

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Introduction

What a crazy few years it’s been, right? Pandemics, fires, floods, and unrest have filled the news like never before. I’ve always been an optimistic person, and while I don’t ignore the bad, I am always looking for the good or humorous in any situation. As coping strategies go, it’s not a bad one. But as the world around me grew more and more surreal, I felt I needed to take a more proactive approach.

As I’ve mentioned in other books, for several decades, art has been a place for me to still all the chaos around me and hear from God. When I did shows, so many people commented about how peaceful my work was and that they enjoyed the peace it brought. Amid the tumult of 2020, I turned once again to my artwork to bring me peace.

I’ve explored the transference of blessings such as healing through my artwork in recent years with a measure of success. I even conducted a small study of prints of my piece Ask and most people reported breakthrough in several areas after they received a print. So, though I don’t know how exactly it works, I know it’s possible.

I tied these things together and created pieces I’ve titled “Artful Prayers”. My first such book began as prayers for friends and family and anyone who viewed the pieces. After I finished those, I created these Artful Prayers for the states, and posted one each day on social media. I had hoped to complete this book earlier, but personal and family health issues preempted the project.

I’m pleased to finally bring these pieces and prayers to you, just as I posted them online originally. I have completed a workbook version as well that’s available as a download printable PDF for you to use as you choose. It includes the line drawings of the pieces that follow here, journalling space, as well as my own prayers for each state as prompts. You can purchase that here: https://alicearlene.com/shop/artful-prayers/artful-prayers-for-the-50-us-states/

As you read and join your prayers with mine, my prayer is that heaven invades the earth and brings peace and wholeness to all those here.

Invades is such a violent term–but it’s the most accurate that I know. I’m constantly intrigued by the oxymorons in the Bible. The last shall be first and the meek inherit the earth. And we are the army of the Lord who are to bring peace.

It’s probably partly my being raised in church, and going to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and singing that great song “I’m in the Lord’s Army”. I loved all the actions with it. I’m not sure why, but that song has resonated with me ever since at interesting times.

But fighting is so violent! Surely that’s the Christian thing to do… Ah! But the weapons that we fight with are not of this world, but they have the power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4, NIV) Yet, we’re given armor, the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit among others. (Ephesians 6:14-17) So how are we fighting this war?

And then I found this:

Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns. So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. And I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah so that no one lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to frighten them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.” Zechariah 1:18-21

Interestingly, the word craftsmen means exactly what you think it means, one who is skilled, a fabricator of a material, a carpenter, mason, artificer, engraver, etc. I thought maybe it was some sort of allegorical use, and maybe some would interpret it as such. But whenever possible, I find the simplest, straightforward interpretations to be the best. And, I’m a bit biased as I like this one.

These verses dropped into my spirit and it was like a lightbulb went on. “Oh! This is how I fight. My paintbrushes and mark-making tools are my swords and arrows. I get it, now.”

I find it interesting that art has always been deemed a bit of a wild card. Artists have had very interesting reputations in recent years and have been considered disruptive and dangerous more often than not. I’m not a fan of art that’s edgy or pushes boundaries just for the sake of watching societal norms shatter. I think that’s a twisting of what God intended for his artists to do.

Pablo Picasso said, “We all know that art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand.” I’m not sure I entirely agree that art is a lie, though it can be. And, it isn’t in actuality the thing it represents, so there’s that. But, I think that there is something transcendent about really good artwork that points us to the truth, goodness, peace, and hope.

After all, the first thing we see God doing is creating. He is first revealed to us as a craftsman himself, creating light and earth and sea and flesh. So I think we do express a unique aspect of his nature when we create, and even when we engage with things that are created for that purpose.

Let me pause here and let you know that I’m using the term create here very broadly. In the Zechariah passage above, it doesn’t say artists; it says craftsmen. Artists are one type of craftsmen, but so are builders, plumbers, mechanics, and more. I don’t think that one form of creativity or skill is any better than another. They have their unique purposes and places in the world and all who do them well should be honored.

It always hurts my heart when people see my work and show by their comments that they feel less-than because their gift differs from mine. Your job is to be the best version of you there can be, and mine is to be the best version of me. I don’t expect that everyone who reads this is called or desires to be an artist. And, I don’t hope that this changes your mind. What I do hope is that you ask God how you can be a craftsperson and celebrate that unique place in his army he created only for you.

With that in mind, my tools in this case were ink and watercolor. I picked them up and prepared to fight the chaos, fear, and unrest of all kinds in the best way I knew how. Not only for my sake, but also for all who would see the pieces and read the prayers that I prayed with them.

My hope when I created the pieces as well as now, is that the artwork and prayers would act as a spark of an idea. That each person who felt the same stirring within them I did would take up the tools of their craft and create to terrify and throw down the horns that have arisen against God’s plans and purposes in the earth at this time. So that we can set the people free from the lies of the enemy wherever they may be found and bring them hope and peace.

Another oxymoron: peaceful warfare.