 Several years ago I was struggling with some anxiety about challenges in my life. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t focus on daily tasks, and I was consumed with worry about the future. I had always been faithful to spend time with God in the morning, reading His word, meditating on Scripture and writing in my journal, but even that was feeling flat. I needed a way to regain control of my thoughts and to restore joy to my time alone with God.
As I sat at my desk one morning before dawn, doodling aimlessly and letting my thoughts wander while reading my Bible, I came across Psalm 108:1; “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.” I remember having the thought, “I wonder what soul praise looks like?” On a whim, I typed the word “praise” into my internet search bar and started scanning through the images that popped up. I came across a picture of a flower that made me pause. It was a beautiful close-up photo of a fragile, bright pink blossom, unfurled in all its glory. As I studied the image, I thought about how this particular flower was exposing its innermost vulnerable part of itself to the sun for nourishment. And it clicked! Here was a picture of what it looked like to praise God with my soul! Baring my deepest self to His light, seeking the nourishment of the Son; trusting Him for my sustenance and radiating all the glory of His creation. I continued to stare at the picture, mesmerized. Then, slowly I began to write. I wrote and wrote that morning; inspired by the photo. Thus began my new approach to time with God! As I employed this concept of using images in my quiet time, I began to spend more time with God; going deeper in His word and experiencing more intimacy in my prayers and meditations. I began to verbalize what the images were showing me through poetry, anagrams, writing my own psalms, etc. And God became more real to me, through the use of ALL my senses; sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. As I continued this process, it occurred to me that it was like sitting at a feast; a banquet that God had spread before me of which I was invited to partake. The story of Matthew 22 came to mind, where a king invited all his subjects to a wedding feast for his son, but no one would come. So he sent his servants out to find people. He told them, “go to the street corners and invite everyone you can find to come to the banquet,” (Matt 22:9). And I knew that this was what God was telling me to do. He wanted me to share the invitation to the banquet with everyone I knew; to teach this method to others. And so, “Come to the Banquet” is an invitation to experience all that God has to offer us through our senses; to “taste and see that the Lord is good”. If you’re feeling like your relationship with God has been a little dry, and you long for a more vibrant, personal, intimate time with Him every day, then this workshop is for you!” Come to the banquet and discover what God has to say to you!
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