Experiential Prayer
The following exercises are presented as doorways to prayer through sensory experiences. Some Scriptures are suggested, but if the Holy Spirit brings another to mind for you then go with that one.
Aromas
The sense of smell often triggers the strongest memories. You can click on any of the pictures below to open it as a larger image, including a caption.
When you do, remember a time when you smelled this aroma. Try to recall it in as much detail as you can - what are you smelling? What are you hearing? What are you seeing? How are you feeling? What are you doing?
Invite Jesus to let you share this memory with Him. Ask Him to show you where He was in this memory, what He was doing, how He felt about you then, how He feels about you now. Then praise and thank Him for His presence and love for you!
When you do, remember a time when you smelled this aroma. Try to recall it in as much detail as you can - what are you smelling? What are you hearing? What are you seeing? How are you feeling? What are you doing?
Invite Jesus to let you share this memory with Him. Ask Him to show you where He was in this memory, what He was doing, how He felt about you then, how He feels about you now. Then praise and thank Him for His presence and love for you!
Faces
You'll need a mirror - a hand mirror will do.
Imitate each one of the faces made by our young friends here. Use the mirror to help you get a good match. When you've got one of the expressions down pretty well, hold it for a bit and consider -
Spend some time in the presence of Jesus, asking Him to show you how He sees you, and how He feels about you.
Suggested Scriptures: Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 34:5; 2 Corinthians 3:13-18
Imitate each one of the faces made by our young friends here. Use the mirror to help you get a good match. When you've got one of the expressions down pretty well, hold it for a bit and consider -
- What muscles am I using to hold this expression?
- What am I sensing (feeling, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling, etc.) right now?
- How do I feel about myself as I'm making this face? How do I feel about myself as I see myself making this face?
- How would I normally like to see myself? How would I normally like others to see me? What if they saw me this way?
Spend some time in the presence of Jesus, asking Him to show you how He sees you, and how He feels about you.
Suggested Scriptures: Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 34:5; 2 Corinthians 3:13-18
Fish
Here are some "fish sandwiches" from our Vacation Bible School last year. You can make one yourself with a regular sandwich by cutting it into a fish shape; or go someplace and buy a fish sandwich. As you eat it, consider these questions:
Sometimes a person who "seeks the will of God" may find that they don't like the portion of His will that finds them. In the safety of the presence of Jesus, ask Him to show you such a time in your life. Talk to Him about it, how you felt (and maybe still feel?) about Him putting you in that position, and listen for His response.
- Imagine that you are the whale that swallowed Jonah. How do you feel, and what do you pray while Jonah is in your belly? How do you feel, and what do you pray as you throw up Jonah onto dry land? How do you feel, and what do you pray about surrendering to the will of your Father after this incident?
- Imagine that you are one of the 153 fish that managed to evade Peter and the disciples all night, only to get caught at the command of Jesus (John 21). How do you feel, and what do you pray about surrendering to the will of Jesus while you are in the net?
Sometimes a person who "seeks the will of God" may find that they don't like the portion of His will that finds them. In the safety of the presence of Jesus, ask Him to show you such a time in your life. Talk to Him about it, how you felt (and maybe still feel?) about Him putting you in that position, and listen for His response.
Right-Brain Tulips
Here's a gallery of photographs of tulips at the edge of our local cemetery. Actually, it's a gallery of one photograph of tulips at the edge of our local cemetery. I ran that one photograph through each of the "effects" editors in Picasa 3 and saved it to this gallery.
if you have Picasa 3 or another photo editor you can do this with your own photos - have fun with combinations, or just pick a bunch of them. Be sure to run the effects sliders all the way one way or the other to get the fullness of the effect.
Anyway, to use this gallery -
if you have Picasa 3 or another photo editor you can do this with your own photos - have fun with combinations, or just pick a bunch of them. Be sure to run the effects sliders all the way one way or the other to get the fullness of the effect.
Anyway, to use this gallery -
- Select any one of the photos. You can slideshow them all first, if you like.
- Put the selected photo on fullscreen on your computer or mobile device.
- Sit with that image for about two minutes. Don't analyze the image - instead, for those two minutes try to be aware of the feelings that are arising within you as you look at that image.
- Are those feelings and that image tied to a memory? Is it a memory of "times past"? A specific memory? Is it a good memory, one you might use as a resource for future healing? Is it a memory of a time of wounding?
- Are you in a safe place where you are willing to explore that memory? If so, go ahead and explore it. If not, make note of it in your journal for a time when you are in a safe place.
- Go on to another photo, make a journal entry about this one, pray, sing, or whatever the Holy Spirit moves you to do.
