3 Min Read
25 July 2018
Finding the balance between work and rest seems to be a constant juggling act, and often it feels like both are fighting for our precious time.
This week, someone tweeted that in the creation account, humans are created on the sixth day – just before the seventh day of rest. They made the point that humanity’s first experience of the world – and of God – is not a day of work, but a day of rest.
“Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done…”
Genesis 2:2
We are called to invest in rest. But what if our prayer lives could actually help us to do rest better?
So often, we make prayer a to-do list item that fits around our work or study schedule. But what would happen if we put prayer first? What if prayer became the starting point for everything else?
We are called to invest in rest. And what better way than in communication with our creator; an opportunity to step out of our busy bubbles, into the presence of God who refreshes and restores.
There are countless ways to allow prayer to shape your rest time. Here are some of our favourite ideas:
Breath Prayers: this is a simple short prayer that you can fit into a breath, designed to be repeated throughout the course of the day. Check out this blog for more information.
Take time: When you’ve pencilled in some intentional time with God, don’t rush it! Check out these ideas for ways to slow down your quiet times.
Liturgy: Often we’re so quick to speak when we pray, which means we can often forget the significance of our words. Liturgy – written prayers – are a brilliant way to focus on what we’re saying, and can be repeated over and over again. Get started with these ideas.
Lectio Divina: Literally meaning “sacred eading” this simple way of reading the Bible slowly is specifically to help you hear God as you read. Find a guide to Lectio Divina here.
So today, however busy or quiet your day feels, invest in rest as you pray, and allow your time with God to shape everything else you do.
