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I noticed something about myself recently. I get lazy on the weekends. I look at Friday night through Sunday night as “time off” from godliness. Not that I would actually say that! I would never consciously pursue ungodliness, but I fear sin creeps in quite quietly.
So here is a prayer I’ve crafted for the weekend:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for another week — of breath, of life, of smiles. I take my very life for granted so much, but the fact that You have brought me to another weekend is indeed praiseworthy.
As I look at these next few days, Lord, I know that You have good works prepared for me to do (Ephesians 2:10). Forgive me for being lazy when it comes to pursuing them, for thinking that Saturdays are for taking a day off from good works. Give me open eyes to see them and a willing heart to do them, for the good of others, and for Your glory.
Give me discernment and awareness about how to best use my time (Ephesians 5:15-17; Colossians 4:5). You know that it’s too easy for me to waste precious minutes in many ways.
Help me not to get lazy in relation to my thought life (Philippians 4:8). Studying all week leaves me mentally tired, but I know that’s no reason to “shut off my brain,” whether it’s through TV or fluffy novels.
I echo Jonathan Edwards’ 61st Resolution: “Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it — that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc.” I know that I can only do that by Your power, Lord.
Help me not to get lazy in relation to my words (Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 4:24, 6:12, 22:11; James 1:19, 16). It’s a great temptation to not “bridle my tongue,” as James commands, to be slow to hear, but much faster to speak and faster to anger. Forgive me.
Give me the desire to hunger and thirst for Your Word this weekend, and to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It’s easy to get distracted with meaningless things, to sleep late and ignore morning devotions. Give me the strength to be disciplined, but with joy.
I pray for the grace to look past this weekend to eternity, to keep the coming of Christ in mind through the mundane Saturday routine (James 4:14). Help me remember that this life is but a mist, a passing breath. Give me hope and an urgency fueled by that.
Help me to prepare well for Sunday, to not waste my Saturday, but to ready myself to hear Your Word proclaimed and to take part in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:27-28). Help me to examine myself and my motives, for I know that You know me better than anyone.
Father, bless me this weekend as I pursue Your glory, through Your Word and the edification of my physical and spiritual family.
Make this weekend less about me, and all about You. Forgive me of my sins, and lead me in righteousness, for Your name’s sake. Give me the strength to mortify sin, to not “wait for the miracle,” but to “act it,” as John Piper put it, by Your power. Give me purpose and willingness and joy and an overwhelming desire to pursue godliness this weekend.
In the name of Jesus and only because of Him… Amen.
This is really helpful and great material! I experience the same sort of laziness when it comes to godliness as well. Right now, during my summer vacation, I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact that I’ve been slacking way too much when it comes to religion, so this post came at exactly the right moment for me. Thanks for sharing this.
Jaquelle,
Thank you so much for sharing this prayer with us. I confess, I tend to sleep in and entirely disregard my morning quite time with God on many Saturdays. It’s something I need to really work on.
I would like to ask, do you think I should have a morning devotions on Sunday or does church fill that role of the day?
Thanks,
– Trent
Hey Trent. I’m so glad that this prayer could minister to you. It was my delight to share it.
In regards to your question about devotions, thank you. It is a question I’ve thought through myself, and it’s an important question. Personally, I do my devotions on Sunday mornings (as well as the other days of the week) because I think it aids in my sanctification and draws me closer to the Lord. I find doing them on Sundays is especially beneficial because worshiping individually through personal devotions prepares me better to worship corporately with God’s people.
And when I think about the joy that my devotional time gives me, I don’t really want to miss out on that.
I hope that makes sense. Blessings to you!
Thanks a million Jaquelle.
Wow, this was incredible, Jaquelle! I’m going to print this out and put it up by my bed. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this.
Wow, that is so true! I will print it out and use this! Thanks for sharing Jacquelle!
Amen! Unfortunately it’s too true. We are all guilty of spiritual laziness at one time or another, especially on the weekends! Thanks for the helpful words.
Amen sister!!
Jaquelle, thank you so much for sharing! This is a great reminder to keep our focus where it should be, even when it is so easy not to! I love that you guide the prayer of our hearts to be to “Make this weekend less about me, and all about you” and to ask for the desire to hunger and thirst for His word. Both those are so key!
Amen. With all my heart, amen.
Such a wonderful Prayer, It brings you back to God, as each weekend goes by.
I appreciated this as well, and I also will be printing it out.
This is awesome! Thanks for giving us a prayer actually on my Birthday. That’s what I needed to start another year! 😀
God Bless,
Liam
That is so cool, Liam! I’m glad I could encourage you, and happy birthday!
Thank you for that.
thank you very much