Communion – Moment by Moment

The following excerpt is from Vantage Point: A New View of Rest, Rhythm and the Work of God by Brenda Jank.

God speaks to us through creation. He speaks to us through His Word. He speaks to quiet hearts. (Busy hearts, too, but the reception can be fuzzy.)

When I was little, I was baffled – baffled by Jesus’ desire to pray. “Why would Jesus want to pray?” Prayer was about getting stuff. “He was God,” I reasoned. “Jesus didn’t need anything.”

Jesus needed nothing. Jesus desired the presence of His Father.

Do you think he was homesick? Maybe. Am I ever homesick? Do I ever long for the presence of my Father?

Over the years, prayer for me has moved (and is moving) from getting things to getting God.

Part of that journey includes dialogue – embracing a relational attitude to prayer. It’s about learning to listen to God, not only in His Word (which is primary), but how to listen to God in stillness.

For me, listening to God in prayer is attending to His Presence. It is being still. It is knowing He is present. It is entering into a stillness that is quiet enough to hear His heartbeat and His song. It is where I feel most deeply loved.

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV rises up to spotlight this truth.

The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Stillness reminds me I occupy a treasured place in the heart of God. This promise is found in Psalm 46:10a NIV.

Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10a NIV

In stillness, God reveals Himself to me. I cannot see God. I cannot hear God. I cannot feel God.

But I can know God. And in knowing God, He assures me of my identity, directs my footsteps and shapes my heart’s desires.

Prayer For Sabbath

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe. You are the Author of Love and Life.
You have given us the opportunity to work this past week the privilege of serving You and Your Kingdom in visible and invisible ways.

For the work of our hands and heart, we thank You.

We thank you for the things we did out of duty and the things we did out of delight for projects, demands, chores, sore muscles and acts of kindness for all that was planned and unplanned.

Lord, receive it as our gift to You.

For all that was left undone because of distraction or laziness, forgive us, Lord Jesus.
For all that was left undone because we obeyed the Spirit’s leading, we recognize Your handiwork and give You thanks.

Now, the Sabbath lies before us and we are ready to cross the threshold.
Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the world
You created and crafted this day of Sabbath Rest.
You bless it.
You crown it with glory.
You call it holy.
Through it, You call us out of darkness into Your love and light.
It is to be a day of refreshment and celebration.
It is a day of devotion and delight. Set apart since the beginning of time,
You alone release us from the bondage of duty and demand.
As Your chosen people, we will embrace this day of Sabbath Rest.
In keeping it, we remember You as our Creator and Rescue Redeemer.
We do this now, with joy.

Enter our home and hearts today.

Amen.

Dear Lord, help me to make every Sabbath about you. Quiet my heart, give rest to my soul, and refocus my spirit for true renewal comes only from you. Holy Spirit please help me to be intentional with my time and worship, and encourage me to find rest in you alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 New International Version (NIV)

Moment by Moment

Tag: Communion

God Speaks

Rest in the Sabbath

Prayer For Sabbath