Prayers for rest and sabbath

Learning to keep a day of rest

For weary bodies and souls that have forgotten how to stop.

Also for sabbath · day of rest · sunday rest · rhythm · weekly rest · unplug · keep the sabbath · rest day · slow living · margin · boundaries with work · holy day

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. You shall labor six days, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates;
Exodus 20:8-10, World English Bible
On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work of creation which he had done.
Genesis 2:2-3, World English Bible
He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Mark 2:27, World English Bible
“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of Yahweh honorable; and honor it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you will delight yourself in Yahweh, and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth, and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father;” for Yahweh’s mouth has spoken it.
Isaiah 58:13-14, World English Bible
There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:9-11, World English Bible
It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh, to sing praises to your name, Most High, to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night,
Psalm 92:1-2, World English Bible

A prayer

Original writing, not a quotation of Scripture.

Lord, I want a rhythm with room in it. One day a week that belongs to rest and worship and the people I love, without the inbox. It feels impossible with everything that's asked of me, and I know it will take practice.

Help me start small, protect the time I set aside, and notice you in it. Teach me that stopping is an act of trust, because you can hold my life for a day without my help. In Jesus' name, Amen.

← All situations