First of all, congratulations on making it to the finish line and entering into Christmas break!!!! It always feels like a mad dash this time of year, and what a wonderful thing to look forward to the next two weeks of break with a different routine and pace.
Today's word is "release." Of course, I could quote the cheesy song from Frozen as a reminder to "Let it Go," but I think I will spare you.
The thing that comes to mind is something that is from a book I read when I was in college called Celebration of Discipline by a wonderful author named Richard Foster.
He describes a way of praying called “Palms Down, Palms Up” in these steps:
Today's word is "release." Of course, I could quote the cheesy song from Frozen as a reminder to "Let it Go," but I think I will spare you.
He describes a way of praying called “Palms Down, Palms Up” in these steps:
- “Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of your desire to turn over any concerns you may have to God. Inwardly you may pray, ‘Lord, I give to you my anger toward John. I release my fear of my dentist appointment this morning. I surrender my anxiety over not having enough money to pay the bills this month. I release my frustration over trying to find a baby-sitter for tonight.’ Whatever it is that weighs on your mind or is a concern to you… release it. You may even feel a certain sense of release in your hands.”
- “After several moments of surrender, turn you palms up as a symbol of your desire to receive from the Lord. Perhaps you will pray silently, ‘Lord, I would like to receive your divine love for John, your peace about my dentist appointment, your patience, your joy’.”
- “Having centered down, spend the remaining moments in complete silence. Do not ask for anything. Allow the Lord to commune with you, to love you.”
Know that I am simply praying for you today with palms down for these things----
for this Christmas break, for your family, for life with Sifa, for your friendships, for stuff at school especially with your world history teacher, for soccer, for basketball...
And I am turning my palms up---
and hearing God's reminder of His love for you. Zephaniah 3:17-19 comes to mind: "The Lord our God is with you. He is mighty to save. The Lord will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing."
Try out the palms up/ palms down sometime and see what comes up for you. :)
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