Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest ~ Matthew 11:28
On this day where those in the United States remember Juneteenth with a holiday, the Matthew passage above certainly resonates. Many people still carry incredible burdens, something that the recognition of Juneteenth helps to spotlight. Seeing those challenges is important and yet can sometimes make Christ-followers weary themselves, trying to find ways to resolve those challenges and help all people to an ever-improving quality of life.
When confronting any burdensome problem, is it possible that the best answer is sometimes REST?
Richard Foster, in his book Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, spends an entire chapter on The Prayer of Rest. He discusses this simple Sabbath Prayer – “Be still…Rest…Shalom” This prayer arrived to him in a wonderful way described beautifully in the book.
In the context of “Be still…Rest…Shalom,” Foster later continues with commentary on these three classic practices of the Prayer of Rest:
- Solitude – “voluntarily abstain from our normal patterns of activity”
- “Silencio, or the stilling of what the old writers called ‘creaturely activity’ “
- “Recollection: “It means tranquility of mind, heart and spirit”
Can you find time today for Prayer of Rest behaviors – solitude, silencio and/or recollection? May it be so, while also finding time for Juneteenth reflection…
Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit…
https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth
Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 20, 2021:
- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 and Psalm 9:9-20 or
- 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 18:10-16 and Psalm 133
- Job 38:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
- Mark 4:35-41
Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?** If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE
CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com
STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!
CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE
