Liturgy of the Hours Sext
With the day of prayer beginning at 6am, the call to prayer at noon is referred to as sext, the sixth hour. When we center our day around the Liturgy of the Hours, it changes us. We are transformed by these pillars of fixed prayer times. While our days are typically scheduled around breakfast, lunch and dinner, praying through the hours causes our day to be governed by God’s priorities. In turning to prayer in the middle of our day, we remember we can lay our burdens at his feet for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Matthew 11:30
Prayer becomes the activity our day hinges on and reorients us physically and spiritually to be filled with the One who sustains us beyond measure and we can realize we don’t have to carry the weight of the world but we can lay it down at the altar.
Psalm Meditation: 145:14-16
The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.
When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
Notice the video ends with a tight fist reaching up, then the hand gradually opening as it reaches out and down in a gesture of surrender and releasing something.. Feel free to try this gesture during your journal responses.
Journal Prompts:
Visualize your fist holding tightly to something. Can you name what it is you are holding?
Is there a weight you are carrying that you need to lay down and allow Jesus carry it for you?
Is there something you’ve been guarding that you haven’t been willing to trust God with?
Can you identify what it is? Allow God to show you where your mistrust is and how to let him into that place.
Breathe in while making a tight fist and pray: Take this burden
Breath out while opening your hand and pray: I release it to you
Repeat 2-3 times and write your responses in your journal.
Amen.
Director/Dancer/Producer: Libby John
Music provided by Ben Johnson