Have you ever thought of prayer as simply resting in God’s presence, like enjoying time with a close friend? This episode of Art and Prayer explores contemplative prayer through Revelation 7:9–12 and Jan and Hubert van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Together, scripture and art invite us to balance our prayer life, listen for God’s voice, and enter more deeply into God’s presence.

Revelation 7:9-12

What is contemplative prayer? Many of us grow up thinking of prayer as speaking to God—asking for guidance, help, or blessing. But prayer is also about balance. Just as healthy friendships include talking, listening, and simply enjoying one another’s company, so too does a healthy relationship with God. Contemplative prayer opens the way to that balance, helping us rest in God’s presence without the need for constant words.

In this episode of Art and Prayer, Rev. Rob McPherson guides us into this deeper rhythm of prayer through the rich imagery of Jan and Hubert van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, the central panel of the Ghent Altarpiece. This monumental work is not only a masterpiece of art but also a “school of prayer,” designed to lead worshippers into spiritual reflection. The painting, together with Revelation 7:9–12, provides a doorway to slow down, listen, and enter into God’s presence.

The Lamb at the center of the scene pours its blood into a golden chalice, echoing the Eucharist at the church altar, while a fountain of living water symbolizes cleansing and eternal life. Around the Lamb gathers a vast, diverse community: angels in prayer, prophets, poets, apostles, clergy, hermits, pilgrims, virgin martyrs, and confessors. These figures reflect the immense crowd of every nation and language described in Revelation, all lifting their praise to God. The painting calls us to see ourselves within this multitude and to consider where we might stand in the company of faithful witnesses.

Through contemplative prayer, we move step by step: listening to scripture, opening our hearts through art, reflecting deeply, and then returning to scripture with fresh ears. This rhythm invites us to go beyond enjoying art or learning scripture—it leads us into a life-changing encounter with God. The questions posed throughout this prayer time—What words stand out? Where would I place myself in this scene? What is God saying to me?—help anchor prayer in both the present moment and the ongoing journey of faith.

As we finish, we are reminded that each new encounter with scripture and art can open fresh insights. God’s presence is always near, waiting for us to notice, to listen, and to rest. Contemplative prayer is not about perfection or silence but about showing up, slowing down, and opening our hearts. Each time we return, we may see something new in the art, hear something new in scripture, or discover something new in our lives. In this way, contemplative prayer becomes not only a spiritual practice but a way of being with God.