Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week we’ve been thinking and praying about what the Bible says about the resurrected Jesus. But today it’s the Sabbath, so we’re taking a break from our regular pattern to pray a little differently.

The Bible tells the story of God making the Universe and everything in it in six days. Every Sunday we remember the Sabbath, when God rested and enjoyed everything that was made.

Pause

We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.

Pause

Reflect

Bible Reading

Let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit may want to say to us from today’s Bible reading.

Read by Sasha
Matthew 11:28-30
[Jesus said] ‘Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.’
Matthew 11:28-30 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible reading?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

Ask

ASK Prayers

Jesus says ‘come to me’. He doesn’t say ‘come to me when you’re good enough’, or ‘come to me when you’re old enough’, or ‘come to me when you understand enough’.

Thank You, Jesus, that You love us just as we are, and You invite us to come to You, just as we are.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Jesus says, ‘I will give you rest.’

What ‘heavy loads’ have we been carrying this week? Maybe someone we know is unwell? Maybe we’re struggling with a difficult friendship? Maybe we’re worried about something? Maybe no-one else knows what we’ve been carrying inside? But Jesus knows, and He says, ‘all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, I will give you rest.’

Thank You, Jesus, that we can bring all our worries to You, because You care for us. (1 Peter 5:7) Thank You that when we come to You, You give us rest.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Jesus says, ‘accept my work and learn from me. The work that I ask you to accept is easy.’

Thank You, Jesus, that the things You ask us to do, and the way that You ask us to live, isn’t a heavy load. We thank You too for giving us extra strength and courage through the Holy Spirit.

Let’s pause and listen for a moment. What might Jesus be asking us to do or say for Him this week?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Now, let’s press pause and talk about our Sabbath question which is: As our week comes to an end, what was good about it – what are we thankful for? It could be something big or small.

• PAUSE the audio player now

Yes

Memory Verse

As we finish our time together, let’s say this week’s memory verse one last time:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Sabbath Blessing

May this Sabbath bring rest and joy to our hearts and our homes.
May today be a little less go, go, go, and a little more slow… slow… slow…
May we care less about things, and care more for people.
As we relax in God’s love, may we take time to listen and remember that we are all God’s children.