Toward the end of 2019, I was struggling with falling asleep. Especially as I would try and fall asleep on Sunday evenings heading into a new week, my heart would be overwhelmed with processing all the interactions from church earlier in the day and sorting through the tasks awaiting me Monday morning. My heart would race. My mind would ping from a conversation I had to a book I read to the manuscript still needing more editing, ending up in a discouraging place that was not conducive to rest.
And yes, I would pray and reflect on Scripture and avoid caffeine and all the other usual suspects. But I still struggling to voice my feelings and hit reset.
So I decided to write out a simple prayer for Sunday evenings. I knew I kept struggling with the same feelings week after week so I decided to head them off with a thoughtful, purposeful prayer.
And it worked. Naming those feelings and claiming God’s sovereignty was just what my soul needed to relax and climb under the covers. I started writing prayers for the other days of the week which I plan to share in upcoming posts. As we know each day brings unique challenges, my heart needed to hear special messages on those days as well.
So if you find yourself a little anxious and if your thoughts won’t stop pinballing as a new week unfolds, you’re not alone. Let’s set our hearts at ease in the presence of the One who holds it all together.
A Simple Prayer for Sunday Evenings
Lord, I come to you as one week ends and another already begins to unfold. Bring me peace and clarity as I process all that the past week brought me and bring me peace and confidence as new unknowns stretch before me. Remind me that I don’t have to process everything tonight and I can be content with unanswered questions and undone tasks on my doorstep (Psalm 131).
I don’t have to fuss and flit about for your approval because in you, I have a delightful inheritance. I can also rest in the boundaries that you have placed around each day (Psalm 16:6).
I don’t have to think all the thoughts, for you are God, not me.
In you, not me, all things hold together. You stand before this new week in authority, not me. (Colossians 1:17).
In Jesus’ name, amen.