“Glory in God’s holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” – I Chronicles 16:10-11

Puzzles and mazes can be great entertainment and mentally challenging.  We enjoy overcoming the obstacle set before us.  But when we seek answers for direction or purpose, and the “pieces” we are working with are our very lives, our future, our families, the stakes are rather high.  It is in these crossroads moments that a different type of prayer can be especially helpful.  This is the purpose of the prayer labyrinth.

Whether using a paper labyrinth and “walking” the path with your finger, or a large-scale physical one, the focus and purpose is the same: Seeking God.  It is helpful to enter the labyrinth with a question in your mind – seeking an answer from God – or support from God for a struggle.  Before you begin, start with a simple prayer: Lord, help me to experience your presence in this time.  Give me guidance and answers to the problems I’m facing.  Open my mind and my heart to know your will, and courage to submit my will to yours.  Amen.

While you walk toward the center of the labyrinth, keep that question in your mind and allow God’s presence to guide your thoughts.  They may feel like wandering thoughts, to match the meandering path you are physically walking, but sometimes the quickest way to the place you are going is a crooked path.  When you reach the center of the labyrinth, stop for a moment and repeat the prayer from the beginning.  Oftentimes, God will reveal an answer or a solution in the center of the labyrinth.  But please don’t be discouraged if you do not have an epiphany moment at the center of the wandering path.  God will still use the time to mold and shape your mind and heart.  As you leave the center and retrace your steps back to the place from which you came, once again, allow God to wander through your thoughts as you wander through the labyrinth.  Perhaps you will be praising God for the answer you have been given.  Hopefully you will have a renewed sense of God’s presence and peace, even if you don’t have the answer which you seek.

Jeremiah reminded the people of Israel, while in exile in Babylon, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord,” (29:12-14)  Even when we don’t get the answer we were looking for, we will find God.  And perhaps God’s presence was the answer all along.

Lord, help me to experience your presence in this time.  Give me guidance and answers to the problems I’m facing.  Open my mind and my heart to know your will, and courage to submit my will to yours.  Amen.