Summer Sabbath Practices – 7.17.2018

BREATH PRAYER: FATHER, transform my heart in this ordinary time.

CENTERING:

Test me, O Lord, and try me;
examine my heart and my mind.
For Your love is before my eyes;
I have walked faithfully with You.

Psalm 26:2-3

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:
CONFESSION

The heart of intimacy is to be fully known. To be known, we must open ourselves up completely to the other—both the good and the not-so-good. Confession is a path to intimacy with God. He does not want us to confess our sins because He wants us to hear us beat ourselves up. He wants us to confess because His forgiveness restores the intimacy that we (and He) so desperately desire.

Breathe deeply and and ask the Lord to help you lower your defenses and to guide you to the things that He would have you confess. If you need help, try praying the following prayer:

Lord, while my flesh wants to cultivate the appearance of “goodness” before you and others, I acknowledge that my heart deeply wants and needs true intimacy with You. I lay down all pretense and defense and ask Your Spirit to bring to mind any sin that erodes the intimacy between us.

As sins and sinful tendencies come to mind, confess them to the Lord. Resist the inclination to justify or explain your sin. Also, resist the inclination to beat yourself up during the confession. Simply acknowledge your sin to Him and ask for His forgiveness.

After you have confessed your sins to Him, rest and rejoice in the fact that you are forgiven. Not because of anything that you have done, but because of the work of Christ on the cross.

Meditate on this verse and thank Him for his forgiveness.

They’ll get to know me by being kindly forgiven,
with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.

Hebrews 8:12 (MSG)

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.