Thursday, July 7, 2011

A Prayer for Thursday, July 7, 2011

“I Will Give You Rest”

Some of us, O Lord, need to wake up to the fact that we carry heavy burdens and that we have weary souls; indeed, it is those who delude themselves as to the state of their lives—those who claim peace when they have no peace, who claim control where they have no control, who deny their need for grace when all they need is grace—who are in the most trouble.

Pry open the eyes of those of us who have closed our eyes to the state of our lives that we might be able to see the rest that you offer us in Christ Jesus.

Some of us, O Lord, need to wake up to the fact that we choose to continue carrying heavy burdens that you have taken from us and that we choose to continue pursuing wearisome lifestyles when you have given us rest; we still try to be good enough or busy enough or respectable enough when your grace and what your grace produces is all that can ever be enough.

Pry open the hearts of those of us who have realized our need to come to you for rest but who have not fully accepted it and are not fully living in it.

Your rest is too great a gift to turn down. Help us to receive it gladly and fully.

Amen.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 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)

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