Praying with balloons? I heard it from my granddaughter.
She told me all about it (and I mean all about it) after a Father’s Day celebration at her other grandparents’ house.
While the family gathered to celebrate Dad (a celebration that included a graduation bash and bon voyage party!), they released helium-filled balloons. They watched them float up, up and away as a form of prayer for loved ones, and especially those fathers who had already gone to their heavenly reward.
I thought, What a great way to pray.
And what a fitting picture of prayer, too, one that a five-year-old can grasp. We often think of our prayers “ascending,” an image that happens to have a Scriptural basis. The last book of the Bible, The Revelation, describes a heavenly scene in which “The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God.” (Revelation 8:4, NLT)
So why not pray with balloons? I can think of three ways to do so. Maybe you can come up with more.
1) Hold the balloon in both hands.
Pray, silently or aloud, and imagine your prayers flowing through your fingertips and filling the balloon. When you’re finished, let it go, perhaps while quoting Psalm 102:1: “Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you!” (ESV)
2) Release your balloon.
Pray, silently or aloud, as you watch it float off. Keep praying until you can no longer see it, then close your eyes and visualize it arriving in the presence of God.
3) Write your prayer on the balloon itself.
This can be the name of a person you’re praying for or a burden from which you’re asking deliverance.
READ MORE: PRAYERS FOR INSPIRATION
Several safety and environmental concerns to keep in mind:
- Use latex balloons. They are biodegradable, and when adequately inflated, an 11″ helium-filled balloon will explode at a height of about 30,000 feet.
- Use a hand-tied balloon rather than a balloon that is closed with a string, ribbon or clip.
- Make sure you release the balloon in a broad area that is completely free of trees, wires, etc.
- Hold the balloon with your fingers before releasing. Don’t use a ribbon or string, as these can present dangers to wildlife and the environment.
