Some people tell me they like the idea of Praying in Color but feel unable to doodle. So here are three pre-doodled, coloring prayer templates to download with suggested ways to use them. Partially colored examples of prayers are next to the template. Each template is available as a .pdf. Click on letters .pdf below the image. Download the template, then print it.
A. Choose a name for God–Almighty One, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Creator…– and write it in the big space in the center of the page. Writing the name is a way to invite God into your time and to center yourself for listening. Start to color with markers, pencils, gel pens,…. Feel free to add additional lines and arcs if you want more spaces for color. In some of the empty spaces write words that come to you. Or write the names of people for whom you want to pray. Think of each stroke as a non-verbal prayer. Coloring in this template can be a time for just you and God OR a time of prayer for you, God, and other people.
B. Use this template in the same way as A.
C. This template is intended for intercessory prayer. Start by praying the words along the vine. Feel feel to write your God name in one of the large leaves. Then in another large leaf, write the name of someone you are praying for. Color the shape and its details. Add more detail if you want. Color the smaller leaves around it. Then pray for another person by writing the name in another leaf. Write names in the smaller, blank leaves or add your own doodles.
P.S. Let me know what you think of this idea, please.
Oh this is a lovely idea. I do like doing my own doodles too, but these are perfect for when it feels even harder to pray. I’ve just printed off the vine and branches to take away to our church camp in a few weeks. I’m hopeful that one or more of my children might end up wanting to join in too :-)
Thank you!
I hadn’t thought of the prayer stations. Thanks for that idea. Maybe an enlarged version could be a way for lots of people to add their names and prayers. A communal prayer emerges.
I like the idea of enlarging one for a group to use.
A great idea to get things started or when arranging prayer stations
During Lent I ran a Praying in Color group at my church. I used a theme of the path to the cross and created several different coloring sheets reflecting that theme. Everyone received copies of all the sheets. We colored and then shared our thoughts and completed sheets. Everyone was able to take home the sheets they had not gotten to to use at home. The feedback that I got was that for many of them it was easier using the coloring pages as a starting point instead of starting with a blank page.
Is there a chance you saved them in a way that would allow you to share? Love your description of the path to the cross. Perfect for Lent.
You can share the post or download any of the templates. Is that what you mean?
I’ve been looking and looking for Mandalas to color as a form of prayer. I saw your post on Facebook from the Holy Disorder of Praying Monks group that led me to this. Thank you for these wonderful tools for prayer. (I’m in New Hampshire just in case you are curious.)
Thanks, Linda.
What a great idea to “jumpstart” someone who has a prayer’s block
I love these. Will definitely use them. Also some simpler versions would be great for children.
Good idea.
I am taking them to the High School Church camp in Iowa — they really love them. I am the chaplain and create worship/prayer stations around camp.
That’s great. Have fun, Linda.
What a marvelous idea! I love to doodle and draw – and to “journal” – and often put names of people or situations I am praying about in the margins – this would put it “all together” in the “hands of God” !
I like your idea of using a doodle as a way of putting it all in the “hands of God” – perfect visual to remind me where to leave my prayers & concerns.
This is a really good idea! How do you feel about people using your pages in church (for prayer rooms/stations etc)?
Sure, Allys, you’re welcome to use them. (Of course, buy a copy of Praying in Color–the original or potable edition–for more ideas. :) ) Peace.
Taking a closer look. Sounds like a great way to teach others to pray :)
Beautiful! I agree that, although I like to do my own doodles, this is great for those ‘harder’ days…and for those who shy away from praying in color because they are intimidated by the blank page. I might take your idea of a big one that becomes more like a community doodle for an intergenerational event in our church this fall, as well as having some for them to color on individually or take home
I like the idea of making a wall-sized one so the whole congregation could participate. I totally understand the intimidation of a blank page–especially for art. For years I wouldn’t even attempt a doodle.
Really cool idea! I work with Christian high school students and think this might be a great “alternative path” into contemplative prayer. I hope the positive response inspires you to keep publishing these.
I may have missed this somewhere–apologize if I did–but is this in book form somewhere?
The templates are not in book form–yet. Pondering that idea. What do you think?
But you can make your own with ideas from Praying in color–Portable Edition http://www.amazon.com/Praying-In-Color-Drawing-God-Portable/dp/1612613535
brilliant!! Please do more!
Thanks for the encouragement.
I absolutely LOVE this idea! Seeing as I am not that artistic, this is wonderful for me. I can ‘color’ and pray at the same time. I do this a lot-shhh don’t tell hahha. It’s relaxing and just eases my mind.
<3
My friend Sheila Bates pointed me here. These are lovely. I produce a coloring book using a similar idea. On the left-hand side is the name of a virtue – which can be thought of as a name of God – and on the right is a mandala to color while meditating on the virtue. It is called the Virtues Meditation Mandala Coloring Book. (Available on Amazon). I would be happy to send you one for review if you are interested. I believe that coloring while thinking about God is a great way to pray, and wish you the best.
It sounds like what I need, a new way to pray and therapy for my hands! How can I get one and how much does one cost?
Found it on Amazon & similar coloring books on eBay (several with free shipping)
in the corner of our chancel, we have a “prayer center” where people can come up and pray interactively during worship or during the week. We thought it would be used by adults, primarily. But they are too self conscious to come up during worship. Kids, though, have made it their own space and this kind of coloring is their favorite thing. Thanks for these new ones. We have the Praying in Color books in the prayer center.
That’s a wonderful idea:-) Sabrina from Paris ;-)
I deal with PTSD and am having a pretty rough time right now. Journaling makes things more real and hence makes me feel worse. I usually release things through art and I LOVE this idea! I brought myself some new colored pencils to get started. I also work as a peer counselor/recovery resource specialist and I printed out extra copies to share with others for whom it might be helpful. Thank you!
Hi Lynn, Please do share copies with others. I hope they are helpful. Peace, Sybil
I have just discovered your book and blog. I love the idea of praying this way and am going to get started with these templates as I can do this with my 10 yr old daughter. Thank you so much for sharing these. I have also shared the link with a friend who is wanting to spend time with her children doing journalling and just spending time with God together and I think she will love this idea too.
Thanks, Roxy. I hope you, your daughter, and your friend have a playful and prayerful time with the templates.
Thank you for these!
YES!! Thank you!
These are perfect for jump-starts or those who are stuck on how to begin. My personal preferences are #1 & #3 as they are simpler & have more open space to write (since I like to include lots of words/phrases in my doodles). Thanks for sharing! Look forward to seeing more.
Not a fan of mandalas, at all. The same idea could be used with the paisley’s, fans, gardens of flowers, etc….
Love this idea. I am going to use it this afternoon as a part of an all age service that we run.
This is a fantastic addition to our “God Space” stations.
thankyou.
Great. Hope it goes well.
Love the idea of leaves, this is just what I needed to start my “Praying in Colour” group off
Interested to see why people picked the one they picked- one is free formed, one is symmetrical and one has a very distinct pattern even though it is not symmetrical. I bet each form may consciously or unconsciously reflect the momentary view of God.
Such a lovely idea. I hope to share this with others and having the pdfs to use helps counter their “I don’t know how to doodle” reaction. I’ve been using this idea for quite some time and extended it to my note-taking during worship service and in personal Bible study.