week Nine of Ordinary time

by Christian and Maddie Roberts

Scripture:

Psalm 62

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;

    from him comes my salvation.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,

    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a man

    to batter him,

    like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

    They take pleasure in falsehood.

They bless with their mouths,

    but inwardly they curse. Selah

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

    for my hope is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation,

    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;

    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;

    pour out your heart before him;

    God is a refuge for us. Selah

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;

    those of high estate are a delusion;

in the balances they go up;

    they are together lighter than a breath.

10 Put no trust in extortion;

    set no vain hopes on robbery;

    if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken;

    twice have I heard this:

that power belongs to God,

12     and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

For you will render to a man

    according to his work.

Reflection: 

Friends, welcome to week nine of Ordinary Time. As we continue pressing into a year that is ever-changing and ever-demanding, I am encouraged that the invitation to Sabbath is ever-present and ever-accommodating to fit our deepest needs. 

I am reminded of a recent season where I found great frustration with the idea of Sabbath. My prayers felt like an endless cycle of asking God for more--more work, more relationships, more meaning, the list goes on. But Sabbath doesn’t seem to fit with the idea of wanting more. Rather, the natural inclination of Sabbath is to intentionally make space for less. I was saddened by the narrow idea that maybe Sabbath wasn’t for me, since literal rest was the last thing I wanted. This tension begs the question, What is Sabbath to the underworked, the lonely, the restless, to those who are seeking more? As I wrestled with this question in community and with the Lord, I was reminded that there is grace and freedom and creativity in how we cultivate Sabbath rest. In every season, Sabbath is an invitation to rest in God’s abundance. It is an invitation to humble ourselves before an all-powerful and all-loving God. Rather than put our hope in our productivity, our high estate, or any other thing which appears to offer stability, our Father asks us to seek refuge only in him--to quiet our souls in His presence.  

When rhythms change, needs shift, and routines are upended, God’s call to restoration is always consistent, timely, and good. As you move through this week, I invite you to draw near to God and ponder these questions with Him:

• In this season, how is rest difficult to come by? Why could this be? Are there things you seek refuge in other than God?

• We often think of rest in terms of naps or alone time. What other types of rest could your Sabbath cater to? Spiritual rest? Relational or emotional rest?

• What is God doing in your life right now? What would it look like to join Him?

Prayer:

Collect for Rest:

Holy Father, who meets the weary soul with rest: grant to us, your servants, the comfort and refuge of your presence, that in it our love for You and for our neighbor may be renewed; through the mercy of Jesus Christ, our rock and our salvation. Amen.

Collect for Humility:

Almighty God, to whom all power belongs: grant to us, your children, humble and quiet hearts, that while resisting vanity and pride we would set our hope only on You and your steadfast love; through Christ our lord. Amen.

Interested in writing your own collect prayer? Try using this template and the language of Psalm 62 as a guide.

I. Address or Invocation

Start your prayer by naming God.

II. Acknowledgment

Describe a characteristic of God that is central to the prayer.

III. Petition

Ask for something that you (or we) need.

IV. Aspiration

Describe what you wish the result of the petition to be.

V. Pleading

Conclude the prayer by recognizing Christ’s mediation.

Song:

I’ll Not be Shaken (Psalm 62)

Wendell Kimgrough