Tefillah (Prayer ) | A Prayer for the Holy Shabbat Day

Almighty YAH, I come before You with outstretched hands and an humble heart. Blessed are You, O YAH our Elohim, creator of the heavens and earth, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to observe the holy Shabbat day, the seventh day, the day of rest from all our labors. You commanded us to cease all work and to find rest as You commanded in Exodus 20:8, 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ Enable us to observe a true rest for our mind and body. As the sun rises in the east and the busyness of the world increases, we turn our focus towards You, the source of all light and life. Today, we pause from all our labors from dawn to dusk, setting aside the burdens of the week to honor Your divine order as we seek refuge in Your loving embrace. May the cares and worries that weigh heavy on our hearts be lifted, replaced with the serenity that comes from knowing You are in control.

I thank You for the gift of ‘rest’, for the stillness that quiets our anxious minds and restores our weary bodies. As it is written in Psalm 46:10, 'Be still, and know that I am GOD,' May this Sabbath be a time of profound stillness, when we quiet the noise of the world and listen for Your still, small voice. Help us to set aside the cares of the world and focus on You. Speak to us, Almighty YAH, and may we have the wisdom to hear and the understanding to obey.

Focus our minds on you as we observe this day, your day, a day of praise, worship, and rest; for you commanded us to keep it holy. And let our enemies know that thou art YAH our Elohim, the Holy One of Yisrael, our redeemer and only savior. You are indeed worthy of our praise.

I thank you for your covenant of the Shabbat day, the sacredness of this day, a day set apart for worship and praise. May your people, the people of your covenant, the children of Israel, use this time to connect with You through prayer, meditation, bible study, worship, praise, and reflection. I ask for Your guidance as we delve into the wisdom of the Torah. May its teachings illuminate our paths and inspire us to live lives of righteousness, holiness, and compassion.

May our hearts be filled with reverence, awe, and thanksgiving as we reflect on Your goodness and mercy, May our souls be still, like the waters of the still fountains of Your creation, as described in Psalm 23:2, ‘He takes me to lush pastures, He leads me to refreshing water.’

May our bodies find rest, like the land that was to lie fallow every seventh year, as You instructed in Leviticus 25:4 'But in the seventh year the land must have a Sabbath of complete rest - a Sabbath to YAH. You must not sow your field or prune your vineyard.’

Let our mouths be filled with gratitude, like the offerings of praise brought to Your temple, as we read in Psalm 100:4, 'Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!’

I pray that this Sabbath be a time of renewal, a time to draw closer to You, and a time to strengthen our faith. May Your Word be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, guiding us in Your ways, as it is written in Psalm 119:105, ‘Your word is a lamp to walk by and a light to my path.’

As we gather with family or members of our congregations, may our hearts be filled with love, peace, and joy. Bless the food we share, the conversations we have, and the laughter that fills our homes and places of worship. May this time together strengthen the bonds of family and friendship, reminding us of the preciousness of brotherly love and unity as David said in Psalms 133:1, 'Look! How good and how pleasant it is when brothers truly live in unity.'

I pray for those who are suffering, sick, tired, weary, hopeless, helpless, vexed, oppressed, or depressed in their spirit, and also for those who are in need. May Your love surround them and bring them comfort, healing, and peace knowing that you hear the cries of your people and you reward every man according to his ways.

I offer my continuous praise, knowing that You are worthy of all glory and all honor. May this Sabbath be a testament of our love and devotion, a day of true observance and heartfelt praise. As the Sabbath draws to a close, may we carry its peace and blessings with us into the week ahead. May we be renewed in mind, body, and spirit, and ready to face whatever challenges come our way, knowing that You are always by our side. I thank and praise you for another holy shabbat day that you allowed us to partake of with the blessings of many to come.

I ask that you Save us, O YAH our Elohim, and gather us from among the heathen, so that we may give thanks unto thy holy name, to worship in thy holy temple, and to triumph in thy praise. Blessed be the name of YAH Elohim of Yisrael from everlasting to everlasting. HalleluYAH! HalleluYAH! Praise the Power of Avraham, Yitzkhak, and Yisrael, for He is worthy, most worthy, definitely worthy to be praised! Selah