Prayer from the East Syrian Orthodox Offices
Strengthen, O our Lord and our God, our weakness in thy compassion, and comfort and help the wants of our soul in thy loving kindness; waken the sleep of our thoughts and lighten the weight of our limbs. Illuminate the darkness of our minds, and stretch forth your arm and confirm us, and give us strength and a helping hand, so we may arise and confess and glorify you, without ceasing all the days of our life, Lord of all. Amen.
Breath Meditation Practice
Take some deep breaths: In through the nose, out through the mouth, three at least or more. As your mind wanders, return your focus to the breath.
Saturday Reading
Job 28: 20–28
Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds in the sky.
Destruction and Death say,
“Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,
for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
When she established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,
when she made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,
then God looked at wisdom and appraised it;
God confirmed it and tested it.
And she said to the human race,
“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.”
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Take a minute (more if you like) to simply name your loved ones. Practice not over-thinking. Just naming. Focus on your feeling of love for each one.
Closing: Prayer from the East Syrian Orthodox Offices
As a breath prayer. On the in breath: Waken the sleep of my thoughts. On the out breath: Lighten the weight of my limbs. If you like, pick another line to return to through the day.
Strengthen, O our Lord and our God, our weakness in thy compassion, and comfort and help the wants of our soul in thy loving kindness; waken the sleep of our thoughts and lighten the weight of our limbs. Illuminate the darkness of our minds, and stretch forth your arm and confirm us, and give us strength and a helping hand, so we may arise and confess and glorify you, without ceasing all the days of our life, Lord of all. Amen.
Benediction
Go in peace: wash your hands, love your neighbor, you are not alone.