The Prayer Pack

Allofuspray indifferentwaysatdifferent stages inour lives.SometimesourwayofprayingchangesaswegrowinourrelationshipwithGod.

We live in amulti-sensoryworld,where our senses are often overstimulated –evenexploitedandpolluted.Inaworldwhereitisokto‘feel’butwhere’touch’hasbecomeadangerousword.Wecantasteandsavouralloftheworld’sfoods,and are constantly invited to indulge and pamper our bodies with sensuousluxuries.ButoursensescanalsohelpustoexperienceGod.WewerecreatedtoseeasGodsees,tohearasGodhears,totouchasGodtouches,totasteasGodtastes: we can reach out to God using our senses. We are invited, like thePsalmist, to “taste and see that God is good.. . to look towards God and beradiant.”(Psalm33)

Some Biblical texts that can be used for practicing this way of praying:2Cor.5:15;Ecclesiasticus16and17;Acts16.

Booksuggestions

Booram,B.andBrent,B.(2012)Awakenyoursenses–ExercisesforExploringtheWonderofGod,IVPBooks.Bristow,Stella(2006)SensingGod-IdeasandresourcesforCreativeworship,Inspire.Ferlo,Roger(2001)SensingGod–ReadingScripturewithallOurSenses,CowleyPublications.Norris,Gunilla(2011)SimpleWays–TowardstheSacred,BlueBridge.Richards,Anne(2007)SensemakingFaith–Body,Spirit,Journey,ChurchesTogetherinBritainandIreland.

Frontcoverimage:DReynolds

Prayingwiththefivesenses

Godineverythingwesee,hear,touch,tasteandsmell

WecanfindGodineverythingwesee,hear,feel,smellandeventaste.UsingoursensescanhelpusrealiseourLord’spresenceineverydaylife.

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Prayingwiththesenseoftaste

Thesenseoftastegoesbeyondtheexperienceofeatinganddrinking.Thetasteofwinecanspeaktousofjoy.Thetasteofamealcookedforyoucanspeakofloveandfriendship.StIgnatiusstressestheimportanceof‘tastinginteriorly’.

Whathaveyoutastedtoday?

SpeakwithGodforafewmomentsaboutthesetasteexperiences.

Whenyouhavecometotheendofyourprayer,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandgivethanks,orusewordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.

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Prayingwiththesenseoftouch

Touchingprovokesafeeling:acoldstonewillmakeyoushiverinvoluntarily;caressingaflowerwillgiveyouasenseofitssweetness,itsfreshness.

Butoursenseoftouchalsostimulatesouremotions,andcanliterallytouchourheart.

Whenyoutouchanotherperson,youcreatearelationshipwiththem.

Takethetimetothinkaboutwhathasbeengiventoyouthroughthesenseoftouch.WhathaveIreconnectedwiththroughtouchingsomeoneorsomething?

SpeakwithGodforafewmomentsaboutthesethings

Whenyouhavecometotheendofyourprayer,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandgivethanks,orusewordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.

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Prayingwiththesenseofsight

EverythingweseeandlookatcanbeanexpressionofGod.ThebeautyofcreationspeakstousoftheCreator.Thevisiblerevealstoustheinvisible.

Thinkaboutwhatyouhavereceivedthroughyoureyesinthelastfewdays.Whatimagehasstayedwithyou?Whatisyouroutlookontheworldandonotherpeople?Whathaveyouseenthatyouhavemarvelledatandcangivethanksfor?

Towhatorwhomhaveyouclosedyoureyes?

TakeafewmomentstotalkaboutthesethingswithGod.

Whenyouhavecometotheendofyourprayer,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandgivethanks,orusewordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.

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Prayingwiththesenseofhearing

Theworldisfullofsounds.Wehearsomuchmorethanjustwords:voices,creaking,banging,scratching,birdsong,music,andevensilence.Whenwearelisteningattentively,engagingourwholebody,weletGod’svoicepermeateourbodyandsoul.

Howhaveyoulistenedrecently?Whathaveyouheard?Whatwordorsoundhasstayedinyourmemory?

Forwhatdoyouwanttogivethanks?

Towhatorwhomhaveyouclosedyourears?

SpeakwithGodforafewmomentsaboutthesethings.

Whenyouhavecometotheendofyourprayer,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandgivethanks,orusewordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.

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Prayingwiththesenseofsmell

Ascentortastecanoftenawakendeepandpowerfulemotions.Smellsoftenrelatealsototransformation,suchaswoodburningorfoodbeingcooked.

Allowyourselftorevisitoneofthesesmells;reconnectwiththiseventinyourlife.

TalktoGodaboutyourexperiences.

Whenyouhavecometotheendofyourprayer,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandgivethanks,orusewordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.

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