Summer Sabbath Practices – 7.10.2018
BREATH PRAYER: FATHER, transform my heart in this ordinary time.
CENTERING:
O Lord, in the morning You hear my voice;
In the morning I plead my case to You, and watch.
Psalm 5:3
SETTLING IN:
- In a journal, note the day, time, and place you’re sitting.
- Open with silence. Set a timer for 1, 3, or 5 minutes so you can be free to rest and breathe deeply.
- Complete the following sentence in your journal: Today, I feel ________________.
- Read the centering verse above slowly (aloud or silently).
- Pause for a few moments of silence, then pray this week’s breath prayer.
PRACTICE:
JOURNALING
Some people have bookshelves lined with years of journals, detailed chronicles of their days, months, and years. Some have Bibles and other books filled with underlined passages and handwritten notes. Some keep a written calendar with bullet points recounting to-do lists or appointments. Journaling takes many forms, but at its core, journaling is a method for remembering. For the Christ-follower, journaling is a way to remember God’s work in our lives.
If you’re a consistent journal-keeper, read through an entry from about a year ago. Let this jog your memory in thinking about the joys or anxieties that were then on your heart. What does this reveal to you about God’s activity in your life? What has He taught you in the past year?
If you aren’t historically a writer/journaler, consider why that might be. Are there other methods for remembering that might be more enjoyable or helpful for you? Keep in mind that journaling doesn’t have to be great, moving prose or grammatically flawless. It needs only to serve as a reminder of what God has done in your life.
Choose one of the journaling prompts below and spend a few minutes writing, sketching, compiling quotes or Scriptures, or otherwise taking note of what God is doing in your life at this time. Even one word is okay!
- Today I feel …
- Lately I’ve been worried about …
- I’m really excited about …
- I’ve been wondering …
- I had a dream the other night …
- This song has been stuck in my head …
Review what you journaled, offering your words, drawings, or ideas up to your Father as a prayer.
Summary: Write in your journal a brief summary (five sentences or less) of your practice.
Closing: Father, transform my heart in this ordinary time.
If you are unsure how to begin listening for God’s voice and leading in your life, listen to this message by Larry Green, given at the Parish. Feel free to reach out to us at info@parishanglican.org for more information or help with these practices.
