Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
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.
-1-
Prayingwiththesenseoftaste
Thesenseoftastegoesbeyondtheexperienceofeatinganddrinking.Thetasteofwinecanspeaktousofjoy.Thetasteofamealcookedforyoucanspeakofloveandfriendship.StIgnatiusstressestheimportanceof‘tastinginteriorly’.
Whathaveyoutastedtoday?
SpeakwithGodforafewmomentsaboutthesetasteexperiences.
Whenyouhavecometotheendofyourprayer,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandgivethanks,orusewordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.
-6-
Prayingwiththesenseoftouch
Touchingprovokesafeeling:acoldstonewillmakeyoushiverinvoluntarily;caressingaflowerwillgiveyouasenseofitssweetness,itsfreshness.
Butoursenseoftouchalsostimulatesouremotions,andcanliterallytouchourheart.
Whenyoutouchanotherperson,youcreatearelationshipwiththem.
Takethetimetothinkaboutwhathasbeengiventoyouthroughthesenseoftouch.WhathaveIreconnectedwiththroughtouchingsomeoneorsomething?
SpeakwithGodforafewmomentsaboutthesethings
Whenyouhavecometotheendofyourprayer,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandgivethanks,orusewordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.
-5
Prayingwiththesenseofsight
EverythingweseeandlookatcanbeanexpressionofGod.ThebeautyofcreationspeakstousoftheCreator.Thevisiblerevealstoustheinvisible.
Thinkaboutwhatyouhavereceivedthroughyoureyesinthelastfewdays.Whatimagehasstayedwithyou?Whatisyouroutlookontheworldandonotherpeople?Whathaveyouseenthatyouhavemarvelledatandcangivethanksfor?
Towhatorwhomhaveyouclosedyoureyes?
TakeafewmomentstotalkaboutthesethingswithGod.
Whenyouhavecometotheendofyourprayer,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandgivethanks,orusewordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.
-2-
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.
-3-
Prayingwiththesenseofsmell
Ascentortastecanoftenawakendeepandpowerfulemotions.Smellsoftenrelatealsototransformation,suchaswoodburningorfoodbeingcooked.
Allowyourselftorevisitoneofthesesmells;reconnectwiththiseventinyourlife.
TalktoGodaboutyourexperiences.
Whenyouhavecometotheendofyourprayer,gentlybringyourselfbacktotheroomandgivethanks,orusewordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.
-4-