Praying With Compassion

One thing I do often when I pray for people, that might seem outside the box for some, is to pray without using words. What I mean is that instead of forming coherent sentences through an inner monologue where I lay out my concerns for people in a narrative form, I quiet my mind and heart, and visualize images.
I start by picturing the person or group of people in my mind. I take whatever I know about their struggles or story (whether that’s addiction, trauma, sickness, fear, anxiety, etc.), and I see them in my mind suffering under the weight of what they’re going through. Sometimes I actually picture them in chains, beaten down, weeping, or standing alone and lost…whatever helps to draw me into their story and reality. It might sound strange, but by picturing them this way I actually begin to feel a small taste in my heart of what it must feel like for them all the time. It can be incredibly moving, and it’s a quality that followers of Jesus need to practice more…compassion…softening your heart to see and feel through the perspective of other people.
It’s important to start here because of what happens next.
For many, prayer is an objective and emotionally dry exercise that happens primarily in the mind. We repeat words and phrases – sometimes without allowing them to move from our mind and mouth into our heart. I wonder if that’s what it’s supposed to be like…
In Scripture, prayer is a powerful and transformative thing! It can change lives, change hearts, change reality. It can break down prison walls, cast out demons, and raise people from the dead!
So, after forming a picture in my mind of someone lost and hurting, and spending time feeling with compassion in my heart; next, I picture Jesus entering into the scene. And this matters – Jesus isn’t a distant, judgmental, or unapproachable figure. He is the complete embodiment of love, kindness, mercy, healing, freedom, goodness, and light. Jesus sees and feels exactly what is happening. He knows the struggles and pain that is happening, and He always has the desire to heal, lift up, and bring back to life. He comes into the reality of this sad and dark picture, and instantly I can feel hope and the possibility of redemption.
The scene continues. Jesus enters the picture, approaches the broken and chained person, and takes them in His arms. Then, after some time of simply holding them and being present, the feelings in my heart shift from sadness, despair, and confusion to peace, comfort, and even happiness. The chains begin to fall away, the bruises and dirt begin to disappear from the person in the arms of Jesus, and their tears are replaced with laughter. Everything…whatever it is…is going to be ok.
At the end, I feel hopeful. I feel at peace. I feel a renewed sense of confidence that Jesus sees us, He is with us, and He will guide all of us through whatever we are facing.
I know this isn’t magic; but it is powerful. This type of prayer reinforces what the Enemy tries so hard to make us forget. It reminds us that above all things, Jesus loves us, sees us, is present with us, and desires to lift our burdens, bind up our wounds, and give us life. It also helps to move us out of our usually self-centered frame of mind and into a Jesus-centered perspective…which is a much better place to be.

For all of us on this Friday, live in the reality of that hope! Open your hearts to each other. See and feel with compassion what others are going through, and allow Jesus to enter the picture. He sees us, He loves us, and He desires above all things to set us free from whatever is holding us in chains!