Psalm 33:3

"Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." (NIV)

Prayer starter: 

More than half a dozen times in Psalms alone are we told to "sing to the Lord." Singing is obviously a perfect instrument to praise the Lord and to exalt Him. But it is also a perfect way for us to express our joy and gratitude. Singing can be a very emotional activity and therefore lends itself to channeling any overflow of emotions. It works for joy and gratitude, but it also works for deep sadness and mourning. 

I like to think of coloring as a "silent" way to sing to the Lord. It's a more introspective kind of "song." You can praise God in silence as you ponder all the things you have to be joyful about. Coloring gives you the opportunity to dedicate a short block of time to the Lord and to meditate on your blessings. 

Use this activity to think of all the ways in which God gives you joy and thank Him for all of the people and things in your life that give you joy. 

Maybe you have had a rough few days, weeks, or even months and find it difficult to think of something to rejoice in. Start small. There are many small things that can bring us joy if we consider them extraordinary rather than "normal" or "dull." 

Specifically, in the context of this coloring activity, think about the joy of color and the fact that you are able to perceive color at all. Many animals are not able perceive color the same way humans do, and even some people see only a limited color spectrum. Think about a gray and foggy winter day, when you can barely see more than a few yards ahead of you, and the whole world around you seems to close in on you. Then, think about a bright summer day bathed in light and colors all around you. Doesn't that just make you want to shout for joy? Color brightens our mood and generally makes us see the world in a more positive light, literally and figuratively.

So go ahead, be thankful for color and take it from there. I'm sure you can come up with some additional sources of joy in your life, even if you have to start small.

Be Brightly Blessed! 


To print out the images, use Explorer or Mozilla. The Google dialog box apparently does not allow for a full-page printout. Set the printer orientation to "Landscape."

                                                     

Short version

Long version