With all the noise in the world, do you hear the voice of God? Your calendar tells you what to do, but do you remember who you are? Being comes before doing. This is a call to put first things first. Return to the Lord with this daily pattern of prayer and devotion. Set aside this time as a sanctuary. Find a space free of distraction and follow this pattern.
Invocation
Making the sign of the cross, I say,
O God, I am restless until I find my rest in you. I cease from my work today, and I praise you for all your work. This day of rest is set apart by the name of the Father, and the of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
Jesus, sometimes I look at all the work that needs to be done and I feel like I can never pause, not even for a moment. But you said your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Grant me rest in you. (Matthew 11:30)
Confession
I submit myself to examination before God.
1st BE SILENT: I am in the presence of the living God. Be silent. (silence for reflection)
2nd EXAMINE: Am I willing to commit myself wholly to God? Am I willing to break every sin I am aware of? Will I give up everything that contradicts what God wants for me?
3rd PRAY: Lord, I release the tight fist of my grip. I yield to your way. Let the breath of your Spirit move me where you will, even if I don’t want to go. Lord, my hands are empty. What do you want for me? What is your will? Whatever you want, I will obey.
Word: Luke 10:1-2
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Meditation
Have you ever worked at a job that was perpetually short-staffed? The hours go up and so does the stress. Morale and patience go down. It’s not a fun place to be.
Jesus says “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”. At first it sounds like the Kingdom of God is short-staffed. And it’s up to those of us who are left to somehow, someway bring in this abundant harvest. And that’s on top of all the “other” work we have to do.
But notice who the field belongs to. Whose harvest it is. It’s not yours. The harvest belongs to Jesus. He is the Lord of the harvest and He is the one responsible for the field. Jesus’ yoke is easy. His burden is light. And so you can rest, knowing that the Lord of the Harvest is working even when you are not.
Prayer for Rest
- For physical, mental, and emotional health.
- For times of joy, delight, and leisure.
- For a Sabbath day free from work, tasks, and stress.
- For a holy time of worship.
Prayer
O Creator of heaven and earth, you have made for us a day of rest. You give me times of work and times to cease from that work. Grant me good rest today that I may serve you with vigor tomorrow. Free me from obsessive overwork. I trust you enough to believe that you provide for me even when I sleep. I find my rest in you. In Christ’s name, Amen.