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PRAY NOW: TODAY'S PRAYER
Hospitable - Rest
God rested on the seventh day.
Genesis 2:2 (Revised Standard Version)
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Prayer
God,
I'm wabbit,* I'm weary, I'm worn out.
Often it feels as if I'm running on half empty.
Harassed because it seems I've never enough time to do everything.
Frustrated with my lack of energy to do things as well as I'd like,
or within the timescales I, or others, have set.
Meltdown and breakdown,
exasperation and exhaustion,
sometimes feel just one more step, one more task, away.
And yet,
I know, God, you want it otherwise
for me, for my neighbours, for our world.
When I pause to listen to my body, to nature,
to you,
there is a rhythm which jolts us from frenetic
twenty-first-century living.
A rhythm where rest and relaxation,
fallow periods and holidays are built in.
Not add-ons or extras to be earned.
Forgive me God,
when I abuse your creation -
pushing myself and others too hard.
Help me to follow Jesus' example,
to learn to do nothing regularly,
to practise the art of resting mind, body and spirit.
For you love each one of us for what we are,
and not for what we strive to do.
* A Scots word meaning tired out.
Readings
Exodus 23:10-12 Rhythms for the land and human living
Mark 6:31 Jesus invites his friends to rest with him
Prayer activity
Put a date and time in your diary to take some time for yourself to do nothing but
be in a place you find relaxing by yourself.
Prayer for the Church
Those
involved in Christian counselling and healing
especially the Christian Fellowship of Healing and other similar groups, and any
local group in your church or area.
Blessing
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10 |
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