High Tides and Sea Breezes

On the way to 5 Senses to Prayer Book 2 - #12

Hi friends

A little late this week but I’m here! As you may know I live within walking distance of several beaches on a peninsula that sticks out into the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland. We live 400m from one beach and it’s only 800m to the other side of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.

Today’s prayers show the flavour of my part of the world… and I’m very aware that even within my own country, it’s not always easy to access a beach.

If you do live, work or holiday near a beach, maybe these prayers will resonate with you. If not, I invite you to think of a way your own surrounding landscape can influence your sensory prayers.

In today’s post I have included photos showing some of the many faces of Big Manly Beach. A walk to the beach helps me feel refreshed, energised and grounded. This is the place of prayer for me. A place where I talk to God. A place where I hear from God. A place where I get to a ‘just right’ place within myself.

Where are your places you find it easiest to talk to God?

Nothing about me
    is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together
    out of human sight,
but with your own eyes you saw
    my body being formed.
Even before I was born,
you had written in your book
    everything about me.

Your thoughts are far beyond
    my understanding,
much more than I
    could ever imagine.
I try to count your thoughts,
but they outnumber the grains
    of sand on the beach.
And when I awake,
    I will find you nearby.

Psalm 139:15-18 (CEV)

On the journey

Caroline

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Sea Breeze Prayer

Sense of Smell – Adoration & Praise (AP.SM.6)

On a windy day at a beach, you can stick out your tongue and taste the salt in the air. You can smell the salt. There is something majestic and awe-inspiring about the sea. It can be wild, thunderous and unpredictable, while at other times it appears soothing, calm and tranquil.  If you live near the sea, or, if you have opportunity to visit the sea, stand looking at the waves, smelling the salt in the air, considering how God is like the sea, majestic and awesome, yet soothing and calm. Pray a prayer of adoration and praise to God. 

Getting ready checklist

·       Beach access

Further suggestions and adaptations on using this prayer

Individual

If you live near a beach this prayer can be part of your regular prayer routine.  Maybe this is a prayer you pray each time you walk along the beach or just occasionally.   It may be a prayer you can share with others who visit with you.   If you don’t live near a beach but have the chance of taking a holiday at a beach location, take some time to pause and reflect and enjoy this prayer.

Small Group

This prayer could work as part of a camp or retreat near a beach.  You could either gather as a group on the beach and pray together or invite people sometime over the day or weekend to walk along the beach and take time to pray by themselves a prayer of adoration and praise to God.

Visual Images - Static, Projected, Live Props

·       Beach

·       Sand

·       Waves

Key

Equipment (*)

From the... (Outdoors)

Preparation (1)

Suitability (PS, I, SG, LG)