5 Prayers to Pray at the Beach This Summer
Share
Summertime can be more than just warm weather—it can be a much-needed break from the rigors of daily life throughout the year. If you have children or grandchildren in school, or if you work in the school system, perhaps you have summers off and can take advantage of not having to wake up and “do life” so early every day. If you work year-round, your schedule might not change, but you might be able to take advantage of things like longer daylight hours, going barefoot, short sleeves, and plenty of sunshine. It can be a season of pure, unadulterated, sensory delight, between the fragrances and the greenery all around.
But neither fear nor the illusion of freedom can stand up to the extraordinary power of God.
Whether you’re dogpaddling or bodysurfing, wading ankle-deep or swimming toward the horizon, consider this prayer at the beach on “swimming well.”
Father God, what I “swim through” in life can be wonderful and challenging—sometimes both at the same time. These experiences can sometimes steer me from the truth. I might begin to believe a lie, and feel paralyzed and powerless. Or I might begin to believe all is well and that I don’t need you after all.
But the truth is that you are with me always. I’m created to be in perfect unity with you, fully dependent upon you. As Scripture says in Hebrews 13:5, I know you never leave me or forsake me. I’m never left alone to handle my nightmares by myself, nor am I ever possibly able to achieve on my own anything that comes close to your perfect glory.
Grant me the peace of understanding that in you I can swim well no matter what happens in life. You conquer all predators, for as the Bible reminds me, we are not to fear those who can harm the body (Matthew 10:28), and staying on your righteous path helps keep me from being dragged into the undertow. And remind me that any taste of earthly freedom pales in comparison to the eternal freedom we receive in Christ Jesus.
I love you, God. Amen.
When life is stressful or busy and our nerves are frayed, many of us can get impatient. But at the beach, we often expect all our problems to simply disappear, and find ourselves surprised how quickly we get irritated with little things like sand in the car or a thunderstorm when we should be basking in the sun. Remember as a kid being warned to wait 30 minutes before swimming after lunch? That half hour felt like forever!
Life happens in the little moments, and cultivating a spirit of patience helps us discover unexpected treasures in life. If you struggle with impatience, consider this prayer:
Dear God, in today’s fast-paced culture, I get so used to having my way right now, and I get really frustrated when things derail my plans, my expectations, my timeline, or my imagination. But you, God, are so much bigger than me, so much mightier. You made heaven and earth—indeed, you made time itself! You have a plan and a perfect time that is far better than my own, and even if I cannot see it, this doesn’t mean it’s not at work. Help me to trust you and surrender to your will. Help me to look for the small blessings hidden within what seem to be obstacles and cultivate a heart of gratitude and joy. In your name I pray, amen.
Floating in the ocean or relaxing on the shore feels so good. But our fast-paced lives can be hard to leave behind. We bring our phones and our watches to the beach with us, and often feel we have to be occupied constantly, whether that’s building a sandcastle, flipping through a magazine, or tossing a beachball. Sometimes, it’s as though we forget how to rest.
If this can be you, consider this prayer:
Heavenly Lord, rest is a good thing! You showed us how to rest when you took a breath after you created the world. Resting gives us time to enjoy relationship with you and take a much-needed moment to look around and bask in your beautiful world and its many gifts. Psalm 46:10 reminds us to “be still and know” that you are God. Lord, help me tuck this Scripture in my heart and learn how to stop and be still in the peace and knowledge that everything I possibly need is in you. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
May your time at the beach enrich your soul. May it help you disconnect from the world and reconnect with your creator God, now and forever.
More from this author
What Are the Seven ‘I Am’ Statements of Jesus?
Do We Still Need to Honor the Sabbath?
Is It Ok to Question God?
Photo credit: Unsplash/Seoyeon Choi
