A Prayer for Rest

Lord, You told us to “Come” and that You would “give us rest.”
Well – we come now – many of us bent, sweaty and exhausted, weary indeed.
Mentally and physically we are bone tired, wound up, and beaten down.
Some of us are too tired to think, eat, or even sleep. Our mental and physical fatigue is more than we can bear.
Some of us have fashioned a yoke for ourselves –
Others have been grabbed and shackled, held hostage,
slaves of a master who wishes to break our spirit and whither our hope.
Speak to us that word that silences our restlessness, breath on us your breath of peace, and free us from the tyranny of our schedules, schemes, and the tiring work of religion devoid of faith, hope and love.

Give us this day, O Father, the peace of mind which is truly rest
Free us from the binding yoke of sin – that we have done to others – and from sin that has been done to us.
Take from us
All envy of anyone else
All resentment for anything which has been withheld
All bitterness against anyone who has hurt or wronged us
All tiresome rage devoid of grace
All boring laziness filled with idleness
All foolish worry about the future and all futile regret about the past.
Let the feverishness of our efforts to earn your love find its cure in Jesus’ work on our behalf – the cross and resurrection.
Help us to accept what you have already done for us – saving us from our sins.

As we share this restful meal
Help us to recline at the table,
Loosen our belts,
And laugh with thankfulness.
Help us to be
At peace with ourselves
At peace with others
At peace with you

Help us to
Accept your easy yoke of friendship,
your loving arm of compassion draped over our shoulders
Help us to discover a light burden that we can bear, even enjoy,
And help us to find rest for our weary souls.