September 2 – A Heart at Rest
Gregg’s Reflection
There was a time when prayer for me was mostly about effort—finding the right words, the right posture, or the right focus. But as I’ve grown in contemplative practice, I’ve discovered that the deepest prayer is often the most simple: resting quietly in God’s love.
Henri Nouwen writes that prayer of the heart brings us to rest, not escape. In this rest, I am not withdrawing from the world but becoming more available to it. I no longer come to God to prove myself or to earn His favor, but to consent to being loved as I am.
This rest becomes a wellspring of compassion. When my heart is at rest in God, I am less anxious about outcomes and less defensive in conflict. I can meet others with peace because I am no longer trying to extract from them the affirmation that only God can give.
Scripture
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
Psalm 116:7
Thus saith the Lord God, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
Isaiah 30:15
Ancient Quotes
When the mind descends into the heart, it finds there rest and peace in God.
Theophan the Recluse, Philokalia
In whom shall I find repose but in the human who is peaceful and humble.
St Ambrose
Modern Quotes
Prayer of the heart is standing in the presence of God with the mind in the heart. That is where God dwells and that is where we find rest.
Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart, p. 70
Journaling Prompts
- Where in my life am I striving instead of resting in God?
- How does resting in God prepare me to show compassion to others?
- What practices help me return to God’s rest when my heart feels anxious or restless?
Throughout this week we’ve discovered that prayer is less about effort and more about consent — consenting to grace, to silence, to the brief flashes of God’s presence, and to the love already flowing in the depths of the heart. The Prayer of the Heart shifts us from striving to communion, from living in the head to resting in the center where God meets us. May this simple, ancient practice open your life to a deeper peace and a more constant awareness of God-within.
Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 35 Reflection: Prayer of the Heart