August Breather Month
We invite all of our Lifesprings community leaders, prayer partners, stewards, and friends to join us for the month of August in practicing sabbath rest as God might lead. Over the next four weeks, Tuesday Together writings will center around the theme of rest. In place of all our regularly scheduled meetings, we invite our community to spend more intentional time each day in silence, solitude and rest with God, to focus on “being” with Him rather than “doing.” There is no formula or set of rules for “breather” month — just take time to “be” with God.
Here is a PDF with some suggestions to help you draw closer to God during the month.
We pray breathing a month of refreshing Sabbath air will be a time of life giving and soul strengthening for you.
Listen:
“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)
Reflect:
I was seven years old when I first noticed these words inscribed across the altar at church. As a child, I imagined that coming to God and taking His EASY yoke meant that my life would be carefree and full of laughter and love. Indeed, it has included this but, not only this. Life tends to pulse with both the EASY and HARD and, as many reading this will relate, the hard can be rough on the soul. Jesus’ words offer us a tremendous gift. Listen…
“Come… Take… Learn… Rest.”
How do we come to Jesus? What should we take and learn? Is His rest for real? Offloading heavy burdens can be tricky because we get use to carrying them. Worry, fear, unforgiveness, and resentment, for example, are heavy loads and, like an ox dragging around its iron plow, the weight of them is wearisome. It slows us down, confines our love, and steals our joy!
So, COME, yoke up! AND always, the first BEST step is to put everything down, (thoughts included) and sit with Jesus! This is slowing. TAKE! Taking what Jesus offers requires action. Watch Jesus in the Gospels, get honest with Him in the Psalms, receive His corrections, notice His goodness and give thanks throughout the day. This is faithfulness. LEARN! Gather up and consider the Truth you’ve been given. Let it inform, convict, protect and empower your heart and mind. This is living awake and aware!
The SOUL REST Jesus offers is for REAL and happens in His arms! It’s not complicated but does require that we turn toward Jesus, set down our loads and receive our humble and gentle Savior — Come, take, learn, rest!
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” (Augustine)
Prayer of Response:
Jesus, I confess that I drag around a lot of worry and fear. Help me trade my yoke for yours. I am grateful that you are a gentle and humble Savior…really grateful!
Questions to Ponder:
- Are you weary from carrying heavy burdens? What are you dragging around?
- Have you heard Jesus call you to come? Are you in need of His rest?
- Are you ready to trade your burdens for His yoke of peace?
Breath Prayer:
As a new weekly rhythm, join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale(Breathe in): Come. Take. Learn.
Exhale(Breathe out): Rest.
—Submitted by Judy Villanueva
Judy lives with her husband in Colorado, near the kids and grands. She completed her masters at Fuller Theological Seminary, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Spiritual Director, and writer. Her Bible reflections can be found at listeningforlove.net)