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A Prayer about Entering God’s Rest

by | Jul 10, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Entering God’s Rest

For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. Hebrews 4:10

Lord of the Sabbath,

May we hear and heed these words in Hebrews. 

In our busy, noisy, rushing world, 

we often ignore your invitation to rest. 

Your people long ago ignored your invitation, 

choosing instead to serve other gods 

who seemed to offer them 

what they wanted when they wanted it. 

They refused to trust in you, 

and therefore you said,

“They shall not enter my rest” (Hebrews 4:5-6). 

You have given us everything we need 

for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), 

and all we must do is believe 

this good news, rest in it, 

and love out of it. 

Today and every day, 

may we still ourselves 

and say no to the world’s 

clanging demands 

in order to receive 

the profound rest 

you have offered us. 

May we truly cease striving 

and know that you are God (Psalm 46:10).

In the name of Jesus, who gave us rest. Amen.

Read Hebrews 4:1-13. 



A Prayer about All the Coming at Christmas

by | Dec 22, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about All the Coming at Christmas

Come, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Lord Jesus,

During the Christmas season, we sing the word “Come” 

several times a day (if we sing along with our playlists).

Why? Because of course, Christmas is about 

your coming, God coming to earth as a human.

It’s about people seeing you, God-with-us, 

knowing you are the Savior of the World 

and inviting others to come and behold you! 

But perhaps most of all, Christmas is about 

your startling invitation to us: 

“Come, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, 

and I will give you rest.” 

You, the Savior of the World 

came to us so that you might invite us 

to come to you.

You, the Savior of the World, 

invite us to lay our heavy burdens, 

the ones that weary us the most, 

our sins and our futile attempts

to save ourselves, 

on you. 

You invite us to come 

that you might give us rest. 

You invite us to come 

that you might give us 

a different yoke, 

a light yoke, 

an easy burden. 

You invite us to come, 

that we might learn from you, 

a gentle and lowly teacher 

who transforms us 

into gentle and lowly people.

Lord Jesus, may we hear and receive your invitation, 

not only in this season, 

but throughout our lives.

In your inviting name. Amen.

Read Matthew 11:25-30.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about Slowing Down

by | Sep 8, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Slowing Down

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ Mark 6:31

Gentle and Wise Jesus,

You beckon us to rest, to slow, to still.

But we have things to do, places to go, people to see, 

(all for the sake of the kingdom for sure). 

There’s no time to stop!

Forgive us.

Draw us in to your Story, 

how John the Baptist, the disciples’ dear friend, 

had just been beheaded, 

how, though they didn’t know it, 

a huge crowd would be coming for dinner, 

of how your plan was being orchestrated 

all around them and in them 

through every moment (Mark 6:26-44). 

May we follow your lead as you rose

“while it was till dark…

and went off to a solitary place, 

where [you] prayed” (Mark 1:35). 

May we follow your lead 

as you “withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:15-16). 

This September Saturday, 

before the noise of the football games begins, 

after the busy morning of kids’ soccer games, 

may we spend some quiet time simply resting in you. 

And as we do, 

may we hear you whispering your delight in us, 

may we hear you

calling us into the work of love 

you have equipped us to do. 

In your calming name. Amen.

Read Mark 6:26-44; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:15-16.

A Prayer about Calming and Quieting Our Souls

by | Nov 18, 2021 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Calming and Quieting Our Souls

Trustworthy Father,

How we all need 

the calm and quiet 

David speaks of. 

May our hearts not be “lifted up”—

that is, may we not be proud know-it-alls, 

May we not “occupy ourselves with things 

too great and marvelous”—

that is, may we not spend our energy 

trying to figure out things 

you haven’t chosen to reveal to us (Psalm 131:1). 

Instead, may our souls be quiet and calm, 

just like a baby full up on mother’s milk, 

just like a baby nestled in her mother’s arms. 

As we rest in you like a weaned child, 

we will discover what it truly means 

to “hope in the Lord 

from this time forth and forevermore” (Psalm 131: 3).

In Jesus’ peace-giving name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 131.

A Prayer Thanking God for Rest

by | Jan 29, 2021 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer Thanking God for Rest

Father,

I opened my iPad this morning to a kind gift sent by a friend, 

an elegantly designed image  of the verse, 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Father, you have been so good to us. 

Still us and stop us in our striving, 

and return us to our one and only rest, 

the gentle and lowly Jesus. 

He has given us rest from the heavy guilt of our sin; 

he has given us rest from our fear of man; 

he has given us rest from our fears of harm. 

In him we find the only true rest for our souls.

We thank you and praise you, Lord, for rest.

In Jesus’ beckoning name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 116.

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