| Allow yourself time for this moment with God |
Make it special. Will you make a cup of tea? Do you want to sit in a special place? Will you light a candle? Take five deep breaths. Check-in with how you are feeling – in body, in mind, in spirit. Take five more deep breaths and ask God to abide with you in this moment.
| Bible reading for today |
Job 1:20-21
Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’
| Imagine this |
Begin by becoming still — sit comfortably, with your feet flat on the ground, and your hands resting comfortably on your lap. Gently notice your breathing as you become still.
Turn your palms down and allow yourself to notice what you are carrying today: a concern, an anxiety, or something that weighs on your heart and mind.
Your palms down become a picture of your choice to turn this concern over to God.
Release it into his hands. When you feel ready to move on, turn your palms up as a sign of your desire to receive from him.
Continue to sit with you palms up and gently make Job’s prayer your own:
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
You can turn your hands palms down and use the cycle as many times as you like.
You can read more about this kind of prayer here.
| Do nothing |
Take some time simply to sit in stillness and silence. As you come to the end of this time, relax your posture and give thanks — treasure this time with God.
| End this time with the traditional language General Thanksgiving |
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
Hi Sarah, I’ve very much enjoyed the ‘Abide’ series we’ve been working with recently, but the readings for Monday and today have been really helpful. So good to ‘invite’ God’s presence in such a simple way and ‘do nothing’ for a while. Do hope others have found it as useful as myself……..and ‘thank you’ for all the hard work you have put into preparing this for us.