Reflections for our week of Prayer and Fasting. Monday: Breathing in
As part of our week of Prayer and Fasting we’ve asked members of our community to write a short devotional each day to help us focus our prayers. To kick off the week Ellen Hopkin helps us to reflect on breathing in as we encounter God's presence. Praying for us each to experience His presence deeply in every aspect of our lives.
Focus verse: Exodus 33:14 "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
‘Just another Manic Monday’ is a song that many of us will have heard. No doubt, at this very moment I am probably trying to persuade teenagers to get out of bed, while feeding the dog and packing lunches, and hopefully not getting the last two muddled. It is the same every Monday in term time and it can indeed feel manic.
In Exodus we read:
‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest’ (Exodus 33:14)
Really? God will provide rest in the middle of a Monday morning? It seems unlikely upon first reading these words. But perhaps it’s about the effect that the presence of God has on us, even when your youngest child can’t find their other school shoe.
What would happen if we started to breathe in and breathe out regularly?
What would happen if instead of being expectant for Monday being manic, we were so full of the presence of God that Monday was just, well, Monday?
We know as Christians that by living in the presence of God we aren’t immune to attack or difficulty, in fact we are taught to expect it. But we are not expected to face those things alone or without help.
How can we breathe in more of God’s presence? Well, we must choose to engage for starters. And there are many simple and lovely ways to do so.
· Reading his word
· Praying (or if you have no words, try just listening)
· Putting on some worship music
By doing these things we become more in tune to the presence of God and can begin to move through life with the confidence that only his love can provide.
We may not get ‘rest’ as we typically imagine it this Monday. Although a poolside recliner and a drink with an umbrella in it would be lovely.
But rest could look like this.
Perhaps I will learn to take a moment before snapping at my son because he can’t remember where he put his shoe. Perhaps it will mean that you don’t continue to tell yourself you’re a failure on the way to work because you know that Jesus' love surrounds you. Perhaps it will mean that you lean more towards words of comfort for someone instead of criticism because the spirit prompts you. Perhaps it will simply mean that you don’t get so irritated when other cars don’t let you pull out of your parking space.
This is where the rest is to be found in the presence of Almighty God. This is where the ’manic’ is muted.
But better than that, you will begin to bless others.
Why not consider actively joining in with this week of prayer and fasting as a first step towards finding the time to regularly ‘breath in and breathe out’ the presence of God?
Question for reflection;
Where would you like to see more ‘rest’ in your life?