Yours In Rest

Lord of Shabbat,

Teach me your rest,

let me learn from you

who are gentle and humble in heart.

Call me

and let me recognize your voice once more,

to know that I’m your own,

I’m yours,

resting in your presence,

green pastures,

quiet waters,

right paths

that you lead me on,

knowing all is well with my soul

because my Good Shepherd knows,

my Prince of Peace has me.

I lay it all down this Shabbat,

my burdens, my cares I cast upon you,

and as darkness always brings the morning light,

I rest,

knowing your presence is my hope and restoration.

I trust you Lord.

Amen.

Work Rest

Lord,

I praise you for your rest,

rest in your love,

rest in your Word,

rest in your commands,

rest in simple obedience to you,

and a relationship with you.

Let my work be rest

as I give my gifts, talents, and skills

back to you for your glory.

Place me where you would maximize your glory

through my life.

Deliver me from making work an idol,

wrapping my worth into my performance,

shrinking back in fear of failing.

Grant me your vision,

boldness, courage, faith, determination,

discipline, diligence, and persistence

to see your plans and will birthed through my life.

Ready me for your kingdom come.

I bless you Lord.

Amen.

Upon His Shoulders

Lord of my rest,

I bless you.

I receive your comfort,

healing and refreshing,

depleted and needy

for your Spirit and grace.

Thank you for rest,

break into my frenetic cycles

where my wheels only spin

and I’m more stuck than I know.

Shine your light

on the root of my anxieties,

so I can’t cover it up,

and help me

to cast all my cares on you.

Break through my muteness,

open my mouth,

so my heart can spill forth the cries

pent up behind my futile actions.

When the world weighs heavy on my shoulders,

and surrounding sin and pain grieve me,

I choose to remember you,

my Lord,

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace,

the government is upon your shoulder.

I praise your Name.

Amen.

Love Alone

Lord,

I praise you for your rest,

that I can fall back into your love

unchanging, unwavering, strong, powerful, and pure.

I see my broken promises,

my feeble efforts, my striving, my own religions,

to prove myself to you… to me

when you have loved me all along.

Your perfect love drives out all condemnation and judgement.

My life makes sense only because of your love,

my purposes, my call, my destiny

is empowered by your love alone,

I stand firm, hidden in your love,

in your Spirit.

Not by my strength or my might,

but by the power of your Spirit,

I live, succeed, and thrive.

I can do all things in and through you

who empowers and gives me strength,

I’m fully sufficient in you Lord,

because you are my everything,

you are my all,

your love overflows,

surrounds, covers, and goes before me.

Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the shadow of your love

forever.

I bless your Name.

Amen.

Entering Rest

Lord of my rest,

I enter into Shabbat,

into your presence,

so thankful for your mercy,

for your acceptance, joy, and open arms,

your faithfulness even when I’ve been unfaithful,

your delight when I come,

just as I am.

I’m so grateful for your invitation,

to step out from the the world’s frenetic race,

into this Shabbat you’ve made for me

into the garden to just be

simply me in your wondrous presence.

So I’ll enter your rest,

confident and secure,

washed in your blood,

laying aside my burdens,

giving them to you,

falling into your grace

again and again,

setting my mind,

my eyes upon you

and finding only shalom peace

with a full heart

and praise on my lips.

I bless you this Shabbat,

tasting and knowing you are good,

sweet, holy, and wonderful.

I love you Lord.

Amen.

Lord Of My Rest

Lord,

Let me surrender to the flow of your rest,

pausing in the ebb,

lying still on the shores

of your mercy and grace.

Breathing in your presence,

refreshed as the mist and spray of your Spirit

cleanses and washes away the week’s turbulence.

Let me lean back into your love and acceptance,

resting fully on all the grains of sand

of your thoughts toward me,

caring, concerned, wise, devoted, nurturing, empowering,

your strength and support emanates within me.

Let me bask in the radiance of your glory,

rays of light gently hitting my face

making it aglow with your joy and beauty,

my back warmed against the praises

rising through all creation

bursting like sunset

from the depths of the earth

to the farthest shore

to the mountaintops,

all singing, crying out,

glory, glory to God in the highest.

I bless you, the risen One,

for ushering me into your rest.

Amen.

Entering Calm

Lord of Shabbat,

I praise you for rest,

the rock of my salvation,

safety and security are in you alone,

laying all soul weariness at your feet,

comforted and refreshed under your talit,

drinking from your springs of living water,

you are the source of life,

your presence heals and revives.

I put aside the distractions,

my worries and cares I cast onto you,

I choose to quiet my soul,

be still,

and draw near,

trusting you will draw nearer still.

Thank you for your open arms,

that you never stop waiting,

with open arms, embracing heart,

I praise you for choosing me,

that you are all I need, will ever need.

You are my everything Lord,

I bless your Name.

Amen.

Shabbat Shalom

Lord,

I praise you and thank you for your rest.

Lord of Shabbat,

thank you for eternal, spiritual rest in you,

living waters flowing to my mind, heart, and body,

regenerating cells and bringing life,

I praise you for this day each week

to come… and rest.

I love your presence,

I love your Spirit,

and I choose to trust you Lord,

Loosen my grip on my life,

and help me to surrender all once more into your hands.

Grant me the grace to commune with you,

gift me with prayer —

with words and spirit,

to enter into your heart,

see with your eyes, hear with your ears,

and to know your heart beating

throughout your Word.

Replenish me, rejuvenate me,

in all the dry, weary places.

In you alone am I revived and restored.

I bless you Lord,

Lord of my rest and heart.

Amen.

Warm Your Heart

^{Photo by Devin Avery on Unsplash.}

Lord of Shabbat,

You are the light of the world,

calling me out of darkness

into your marvelous presence.

In this night ending in beautiful day

I draw close,

entering into your sweet rest,

warming my heart against yours,

you are my flame of hope.

I lean in, trust in, depend on you,

letting go of my cares,

your warmth and life revive me.

I sit at your table,

surrounded, infilled by Abba and Son,

in the fellowship of your Spirit —

and my cup is full,

my joy is complete.

I bless you, Lord of Shabbat,

Amen.