happy New Year friends is a cherita here and if you set a goal this year to pray more consistently and intentionally then I have good news for you not only do you have this podcast as a resource but our friends at Moody Publishers are offering you a 40% discount on my book prayers of rest daily prompt slow down and hear God's voice so just this next week from January 2nd to the 10th you can go to Moody Publishers. Calm and enter the code prayers of rest for that's 40 at checkout to get your special podcast listener discount all right let's jump into today's episode
 welcome to the prayers of rest podcast I'm your host ashrita to a Jew and I'll be leading you in prayer using a simple guided prayer for Matt with the acronym rest that respite God's goodness express your neediness seek his Stillness and Trust his faithfulness
 as we begin find a quiet place where you won't be interrupted and take a deep breath as we enter into God's presents together
is home 46
 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble therefore we will not fear though the Earth gives way through the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea do its rivers and Waters Roar and foam for the mountains tremble at its swelling
 so let's move into a time of prayer will begin with the are which is recite God's goodness what is true about who God Is In this passage God you are a refuge you are our strength and you are ever present to help at it God who commands the universe and who holds everything together and who is the Lord and king of her all desire is for us to come to him what a privilege
 thank you God but you are not far off that you are not removed from what's going on in our lives that you are not indifferent to us that you can just create the universe and set into motion and then go away but you are here with us our refuge our strength or ever-present help in time of trouble
 in the next few moments praise God for how he has shown his goodness and you are life
 how to move into a time of expressing our neediness and Lord we confess that even though you are or ever present help here refuse your strength so often in my own life it's true that I don't run to you that it's easier for me to get swept up in the headlines it's easier to check social media or it to check out with comfort food with so many different addictions we run to instead of you who God we confess our sin to you we confess that our hearts are prone to wander that were quick to run the other way instead of running to you
 in the next few moments I encourage you to confess to God where is it that you're running instead of running to him and ask him for his help that he would draw you back into his presence that he would give you a desire to run to him instead
and now we move into a time of seeking his Stillness God is our refuge and strength that means that was in him we can be still we can be at peace
 so encouraged you in the next few minutes to become aware of God's loving presence surrounding you this very moment right where you are whether you're in the kitchen you're in your car on your way to work or you're getting the kids ready wherever you are let's just take a few moments to become aware to seek his Stillness
go to loving God that he would be our refuge and our strength
 do that as we move into trusting his faithfulness the T in the rest acronym let's tell god with heavy on her heart was entrusted to his Loving Care
 are you God
 this verse says that therefore we will not fear
 we will not fear the Earth moves it gives way the mountains move into the heart to see no matter what happens in our world or in our circumstances we are not slaves to fear because perfect love casts out fear and where you are there is perfect love so we take time right now to place before you those very things that are causing fear in our heart we entrust them into your loving care knowing that there is no better place than in your hands in the next few moments tell God what's heavy on your heart what are the things that that you need to entrust it to him instead of fearing them or worrying about them give them to our refuge and strength and trust him to take care of them
have you listen to today's passage again take a moment to reflect what stands out to you what do you feel God is saying to you through this passage and what do you want to say back to him is Psalm 46
 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble therefore we will not fear for the Earth gives way through the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea do its rivers and Waters Roar and foam for the mountains tremble at its swelling
 now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our savior be glory Majesty power and authority through Jesus Christ Our Lord before all ages now and forevermore amen
thanks for listening if you enjoyed this episode what do you leave a 5-star review so others can find this podcast to thank you so much for helping spread the word you can also download a free bookmark with the rest prayer format to use anytime you'd like simply go to prayers of rest. Calm to get your free prayer bookmark today until we meet again may you rest in God's loving presence