prayer for holiday rest
Author: Whitney Hopler
Bible reading:
“It is no use rising early and staying up late, struggling to find something to eat, for he gives sleep to those he loves.” – Psalm 127:2, NIV
Listen or read below:
Where are you planning to vacation this summer? As you prepare, you may feel tired and excited. There’s a lot to do when preparing for a trip! Maybe you stayed late at work and did extra chores at home, trying to get everything done before you leave. You may feel like you have to work even harder to finally earn the right to take a vacation. But even on vacation, you may feel pressured to see as much as possible, make the most of every experience, and return home with the best memories possible. But you don’t have to feel stressed during the holidays. What if you decided now that this vacation is not a task for you to complete, but a gift from God to receive?
God’s wisdom found in Psalm 127:2 can be an important reality check in your busy life. It becomes clear that waking up early, staying up late, working and striving to make even the slightest bit of progress doesn’t actually give you what you really need. This verse reminds us that God “gives sleep to those he loves.” Rest is God’s idea. Although you may often feel the pressure to always be busy in this fallen and broken world, the Creator designed you to need rest.
Jesus modeled the importance of rest, and we can look to his example for the inspiration and motivation we need to rest. Jesus was never in a hurry, even when there were strict demands on his time. He frequently stepped away from crowds and focused on being with his Heavenly Father in quiet solitude. Jesus slept with confidence even in the midst of a storm that threatened to capsize the boat he was riding in. When his disciples woke him up, he simply commanded the winds and waves to be still.
If you don’t get enough rest, your health will deteriorate. You don’t have to dive into the ground to take a break during the holidays. You are allowed to rest simply because God loves you. We can rest without feeling guilty because God wants us to.
Spend some time in prayer before you pull out of the driveway or head to the airport for your trip. Tell God how tired you really are. Don’t downplay or ignore it. Whether you’re physically tired, mentally tired, or spiritually tired, name the tiredness you’re feeling and honestly offer it to God. Ask God for more than just a break from your schedule. Ask Him for spiritual rebirth and resurrection. Pray for opportunities to fully recharge in ways that bring you closer to God and bring you joy.
When you choose to truly rest on vacation or at home, you are demonstrating strong faith. You are saying that you trust God to do what you cannot do for yourself, to meet all your needs, and to answer all your prayers. You are also choosing to believe that God is always in control. God never sleeps, so you can rest without worry knowing that He always has your best interests at heart.
When heading on vacation, intentionally try to forget about family and work worries. Don’t panic or get frustrated with yourself if anxious thoughts keep popping up in your head during the holidays. Pray about all your concerns, trust that God will resolve them, and bring your focus back to the present moment. Please do everything you can to enjoy your vacation. Why not try looking for some wonderful moments during your trip, such as savoring the taste of food without rushing or taking a leisurely walk while listening to the chirping of birds? Believe that God is doing an invisible but important work in your soul while you are not doing, but just being.
Let’s pray:
Dear God,
Thank you very much for your holiday gift. Please go ahead of me and prepare a place where I can truly release. Stop trying and release the pressure to have everything perfect. Slow down, sit without guilt, allow my body to move gently, and let my body rest. Silence the noise of responsibility and give me spiritual rest, turn my worries into prayers and rely on You to help me in everything that concerns me.
Above all, please give me mental rest. Restore the joy that has been lost from your life due to the stress of being too busy. Teach me how to focus so I can connect with your constant presence. May you return from this vacation refreshed in every sense of the word.
Thank you, God. Amen.
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Whitney Hopler helps people discover the wonders of God and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at major media organizations including Crosswalk.com, the national publication of the Salvation Army USA, and Dotdash.com (producing the popular Angels and Miracles channel). She currently leads communications operations at George Mason University’s Center for Human Services Advancement. Connect with Whitney on her website www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.
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