I say all this because I’ve come to realize lately that sometimes, it might help for me to change how I picture and visualize the person at the receiving end of my prayers. Who do you picture as you pray? If I close my eyes right now and visualize the person I’m praying to, it’s Jesus. I can picture Him just like I saw Him in Sunday School illustrations back when I was little. Actually, it’s kind of a conglomeration of that Jesus and the one from “The Chosen.” Who or what exactly do you visualize? 

The picture of Jesus I just described is a representation of who Jesus was when He lived and ministered on earth before His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into Heaven. Of course, we don’t know exactly what He looked like, but that’s somewhat of a best guess. When I think of Jesus, I think of someone who was (and is!) kind, loving, patient, forgiving and compassionate. He taught and nurtured His disciples day after day, and He helped and healed people constantly according to what we read in the four gospels. When I picture Jesus as we read about Him during His time on earth, I find myself praying in ways that align with these parts of His character that stand out to me. I’ve noticed that I think about the Good Shepherd, the provider, and the way to eternal life. Consequently, my prayers tend to align with those same roles, characteristics and ideas. 

However, you can also visualize God when you pray. In comparison to Jesus, who we often picture as a friendly, serene man with long hair walking around in His sandals loving people, the Bible gives us a quite different visualization of God reigning in His throne room in Heaven. Here are a few examples: 

Ezekiel 1:26-28a

Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

Daniel 7:9-10

“As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”

Isaiah 6:1-4

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

Revelation 4:2-11

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Did you catch all of that? Brilliant light, blazing fire, a sea of clear crystal glass, a robe filling the room, winged and many-eyed creatures worshiping, a rainbow… The Bible’s descriptions of Heavenly throne room visions are not for the weak of heart. These descriptive pictures present a place of intense brilliance, splendor, glory and majesty. And this is not a vision of God’s future reign. Revelation 1:4 says God was, is and is to come. That means His heavenly reign is outside of time. He’s been reigning in His majestic throne room, and He is right now, too, and will forevermore. 

So. How might your prayers change if you visualized that throne room, with God on the throne, as you pray? I don’t know about you, but with that picture in mind, my prayers are instinctively filled with more praise, honor, reverence, awe and worship. I know God welcomes and hears everything I have to say, but starting out with a request for help with a difficult coworker feels a little lame. If I close my eyes and envision God sitting in His incredible throne room, I can’t help but spend so much time reverently honoring who He is. 

Does He still want to hear about my difficult coworker? Absolutely. Scripture says we can present any petition before God. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6

But as I pray over petitions big and small, the way I approach God in prayers is significantly impacted by the way I’m picturing Him. And if I picture God sitting on His throne surrounded by an emerald rainbow and blazing lamps with lightning flashing and thunder sounding, I might feel inspired to pray even bigger and bolder. Don’t you think? Not that Jesus can’t handle big and bold prayers—of course He can. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are three in one. Together and separately they are all-powerful and perfectly sovereign. That is one of the great mysteries of faith! But different mind pictures can inspire different kinds of prayers, which is just so cool to think about. 

So who or what do you picture when you’re deep (or shallow) in prayer? Different visualizations on different days might bring some powerful depth and meaningful enhancement to your prayer life. Today, thinking about compassionate Jesus might be perfect as you pray for a heart of mercy for a friend. But tomorrow, picturing God’s majesty and splendor might be just what you need as you worship the King of kings and ask Him to direct your life toward Him. Either way, you can’t go wrong. Either way, your prayers are heard. Thanks be to God for His accessibility to His people.