Welcome to the Prayers of Rest podcast. I'm your host, Asherita, and I'll be leading you in prayer

using a simple guided prayer format with the acronym Rest. That is, recite God's goodness, express your neediness, seek his stillness,

and trust his faithfulness. As we begin, find a quiet place where you won't be interrupted

and take a deep breath as we enter into God's presence together.

Today's reading comes from Philippians chapter 2.

Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider

equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.

Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human

likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death,

even death on a cross.

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that

is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth

and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God,

the Father.

Let's begin by reciting God's goodness,

praising Him for who he is and for what he has done.

Jesus, we thank you for your loving obedience to the Father, for sacrificing your own life for us,

for being obedient to the Father, to the point of death on a cross. It was love that held you there.

But thank you that that's not where the story ends, that we have forgiveness for our sins

because of your death on the cross, but we have hope for eternal life because of your resurrection.

God, you raised Jesus from the dead, triumphant over sin and death, over Satan and destruction

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