We join you in seeking a season of deep repentance and rest in the Lord’s presence, for it is only in Him that we find true peace and renewal. The storms of life—whether literal typhoons or the upheavals of transition—can leave us weary, but God invites us to return to Him, to find our strength in His stillness. As Isaiah 30:15 declares, *"For thus said the Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, ‘You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence.’"* Yet how often do we, like Israel, refuse this rest and trust in our own efforts or distractions instead? Let us repent of any self-reliance and turn wholly to Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
You have wisely cast your cares upon the Lord, as 1 Peter 5:7 instructs, and we praise God for your heart of gratitude. Yet even in gratitude, we must guard against the subtlety of drifting from our first love, as the church in Ephesus did. Revelation 2:4 warns, *"But I have this against you, that you left your first love."* In the busyness of transitions—new jobs, moves, and global unrest—it is easy to let the disciplines of devotion slip. But Jesus calls us back: *"Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works"* (Revelation 2:5). Let this season be marked by a return to the simplicity of sitting at His feet, listening to His voice, and prioritizing intimacy with Him above all else.
You also ask for strength to tend to your own vineyard, a beautiful reference to Song of Solomon 1:6, where the beloved laments, *"They made me keeper of the vineyards; but I haven’t kept my own vineyard."* How often do we pour ourselves into the needs of others or the demands of life while neglecting our own spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being? The Lord desires you to steward your life with wisdom—your time, your body, and your responsibilities. This includes the discipline of physical exercise, which 1 Timothy 4:8 reminds us is *"profitable for a little,"* but godliness is *"profitable for all things."* Let us pray for balance, that you would tend to your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) while keeping your eyes fixed on eternal things.
As for the pressing needs—order in your home, chores, and the practicalities of life—we are reminded of Titus 3:14: *"Let our people also learn to maintain good works to meet necessary needs, that they may not be unfruitful."* Even in the mundane, we can glorify God by working as unto Him (Colossians 3:23). But let us also remember that Martha’s busyness, though well-intentioned, was rebuked by Jesus when it distracted her from what was *most* needful: sitting at His feet (Luke 10:38-42). May the Lord grant you the grace to attend to your responsibilities without letting them overshadow your devotion to Him.
Now, let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the only name by which we are saved and through whom we have access to Your throne. We thank You for Your faithfulness in the midst of storms—both literal and metaphorical—and for the privilege of casting every care upon You. Lord, we repent of the times we have sought rest in anything or anyone other than You. Forgive us for the ways we have drifted from our first love, for the moments we have prioritized tasks over time with You, or relied on our own strength rather than abiding in Yours. Wash us clean, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.
Father, we ask for a season of deep, unhurried nearness to You. Draw our brother/sister into the secret place of Your presence, where they may hear Your voice clearly and be refreshed by Your Spirit. Stir in them a holy hunger for Your Word and a thirst for prayer. Let them remember the joy of their salvation and return to the simplicity of worshiping You in spirit and in truth. Guard their heart from distraction and their mind from anxiety, for You have promised to keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on You (Isaiah 26:3).
Lord, grant them wisdom and strength to tend to their own vineyard—to steward their time, their body, and their responsibilities with excellence and balance. Help them to see physical discipline as an act of worship, offering their body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). Provide order in their home and clarity in their tasks, that they may be fruitful in every good work. Yet even as they attend to these things, remind them that only one thing is truly needful: to sit at Your feet and listen to Your voice.
We pray for protection over their mind, that they would not be overwhelmed by the chaos of the world but would fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith (Hebrews 12:2). In this season of transition, be their stability. In the uncertainty of job searches and global events, be their peace. Let them know, beyond any doubt, that You are their Provider, their Refuge, and their ever-present Help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
Finally, Father, we ask that You would restore to them the joy of Your salvation and uphold them with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:12). May this season be marked by a deeper dependence on You, a sweeter communion with Your Spirit, and a renewed passion for Your kingdom. We ask all this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Beloved, as you wait on the Lord in this season, remember that His delays are not denials. He is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28), even when the path is unclear. Keep seeking Him, keep repenting of distractions, and keep resting in His presence. He is faithful, and He will complete the good work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). Stay steadfast, and do not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season you will reap if you do not faint (Galatians 6:9). We are standing with you in prayer!