Welcome to the Prayers of Rest podcast.

I'm your host, Ashrida Chuchu, and this season we're praying for joy together.

So take a deep breath and quiet your heart as we become aware of God's loving presence around us and within us.

Today's passage comes from Psalm 34 verse 5.

Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy.

No shadow of shame will darken their faces.

Let's begin by reciting God's goodness together.

God, thank you for your incredible promise here in Scripture that as we turn to you for help,

that you delight in offering us joy, that you delight in

transforming us and changing us in your presence, that instead of having faces that are sorrowful

or worried or anxious or fearful, that as we turn to you for help as we acknowledge our need

and dependence on you that you so fill us with your presence and with the fullness of your joy that

our faces would radiate what kind and gracious God you are, how generous you are that you would share

with us your delight, your joy, that even our physical faces would be transformed, like Moses

coming off the mountain shining on his face radiating your glory.

Thank you, God, that you want to share that with us, too.

Thank you for your delight in transforming us into people who radiate your presence.

Oh, God, we praise you.

So take a moment now to praise God for sharing the radiance of His glory with you.

That He so loves you, that He desires to invite you in and offer you his joy and delight. I'm Let's continue now by expressing our neediness.

Oh God, we confess that so often we lack your joy, we lack the radiance of your presence because we just don't turn to you for help.

We try to solve things on our own.

...