Week 12 - "My Repose in the Night"

Here is this week’s part of the great prayer we've been studying!

Chilcote took this prayer that is divided into four roughly equal parts and provided a theme for each section:
Part 1: Who is God to me? (first paragraph of prayer)
Part 2: What can I give to and ask of God? (second)
Part 3: How does God shape my life? (third)
Part 4: How do I live as a disciple of Christ? (fourth)

Today, we continue with part one from Chilcote.

Scripture

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

Meditation

I suspect that many readers immediately recognize the scripture reading from Matthew’s gospel and have found it meaningful over the years. Who has never felt worn out by life? Who has never sought rest from toil? Jesus promises rest to those who link their lives with his own. He offers us a yoke, a harness that enables him to share our life and our work. He comes alongside to lead, to guide, and to support. He says, in essence, that we need never be alone. Jesus offers his companionship and accompanies us into every labor, every circumstance in life. Not only that: we learn from him as we live and work side by side. His own gentleness and humility rub off on us as we practice faith with the master, as we apprentice our very life to the One who is life itself. And at the end of our day and the end of our days, we find repose in him.

John Wesley translated a German hymn by Gerhard Tersteegen that reflects upon the human yearning for repose – rest in the knowledge that all things will be well – in our lives. He uses the word repose twice in his translation. In the first instance, it signifies the deep longing in our hearts; we sigh for this rest. But it is also the realization that Christ rules the heart, when no rival usurps the unfathomed love God offers to us in him, this gift of repose liberates us to be God’s true children.

Prayer

Gracious Lord, rest of the weary and gentle guardian of the way: come alongside me and ease my burden, for I offer myself to you as the apprentice of your gentle and humble ways that I might find repose in you in the course of my days and throughout all eternity. Amen.

As a recap if you would like to read it, here is the great prayer from Elizabeth Rhodes:

"Grant me, gracious Lord, a pure intention of heart, and a steadfast regard to your glory in all my actions. Possess my mind continually with your presence, and fill it with your love, that my whole delight may be to repose in the arms of your protection. Be light to my eyes, music to my ears, sweetness to my taste, and full contentment to my heart. Be my sunshine in the day, my food at the table, my repose in the night, my clothing in company, my succor in all necessities.
Lord Jesus, I give you my body, my soul, my substance, my fame, my friends, my liberty, and my life. Dispose of me, and all that is mine, as seems best to you, and to the glory of your blessed name. I am not my own, but yours; therefore claim me as your right, keep me as your charge, and love me as your child. Fight for me when I am assailed, heal me when I am wounded, and revive me when I am destroyed.
My Lord and my God, I ask you to give me patience in troubles, humility in comforts, constancy in temptations, and victory over all my ghostly enemies. Grant me sorrow for my sins, thankfulness for my benefits, fear of your judgments, love of your mercies, and mindfulness of your presence for evermore. Make me humble to my superiors and friendly to my equals, ready to please all and loathe to offend any; loving to my friends and charitable to my enemies. Give me modesty in my countenance, gravity in my behavior, deliberation in my speech, holiness in my thoughts, and righteousness in all my actions. Let your mercy cleanse me from my sins, and your grace bring forth in me the fruits of everlasting life.
Lord, let me be obedient without arguing, humble without feigning, patient without grudging, pure without corruption, mercy without lightness, sad without mistrust, sober without dullness, true without duplicity, fearing you without desperation, and trusting you without presumption. Let me joyful for nothing but that which pleases you, and sorrowful for nothing but what displeases you: that labor be my delight which is for you, and let all weary me that is not in you. Give me a waking spirit, and a diligent soul, that I may seek to know your will, and when I know it may I perform it faithfully to the honor and glory of your ever blessed name. Amen."

Part Thirteen coming next Monday...
pcraig