“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” Psalms 37:7 NLT
What is it you most want to accomplish in the next month? You may have a bunch of ideas swirling around in your head in answer to that question. It may be to simply survive everything that is on your calendar already. But I want to ask you to focus on the thing that is most important to you. You might call it a hope or desire, but it is a goal all the same. Do you have a plan to accomplish that goal?
If you have made a plan on how to reach that goal, mental or concrete, have you factored rest into your plan?
“Rest?! How does rest figure into reaching a goal? I don’t have time to rest!”
That may be your answer. But consider something. Is God a part of that plan you’ve made? Remember that setting God-centered goals is about living a God-centered life. How does rest figure into that? How does rest lead to flourishing?
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”(Ex. 20:8 ESV) That is one of the Ten Commandments. We all know the Ten Commandments are the standard for living, right? Everyone knows that stealing, murder, coveting are sins against the commandments. Why is it that we disregard this commandment from God?
In the Christian community, we often think of Sabbath as a day to do church things, so we get busy working on church things and never rest. Is doing church things what makes the day holy?
Holy means set apart for God to use. In the Old Testament, only the priests were allowed to do their work on the Sabbath. People were even stoned for working on the Sabbath. It was a really big deal! So, if Sabbath is not about doing church things, holy must mean for God to use our rest for His glory. What a radical idea!
What would happen in your life if you began to honor this command? What might God do in you so that He could do more through you? And how does all of that connect with goals, rest, and flourishing?
Sabbath declares trust. When I rest by obeying the Sabbath, I am declaring that I trust God to meet my needs. I believe that He will come through for me. He will provide financially. He will help me fulfill His purpose for me. He will take care of those I love.
I don’t have to continuously strive for what I need or want. I can trust God to lead, provide and to act on my behalf. I flourish when I stop striving and trust Him to provide.
Sabbath replenishes my body. Whether you are a CEO or a stay-at-home mom, your body and mind are constantly busy taking care of the details of life. Paying the bills, solving that problem at the office or in the field, traveling, making meals, doing laundry…all the things. Life is full of decisions and activities that deplete our inner resources. You know exactly what I mean. Your body needs time to rebuild those resources through rest and self-care. Your brain needs a break from constantly solving the myriad big and small challenges that arise each day. That is why God instituted the Sabbath for a people who had spent four hundred years as slaves in Egypt. Think of how refreshing that must have been for them! But also, what a challenge. It was the opposite of the way they had learned to live. What about you?
When you practice Sabbath, you give yourself time to recharge, and that leads to better choices and energy when you turn your attention back to all the things. You have more to give as you face your challenges, and that leads to flourishing.
Sabbath restores my soul. When you and I choose to rest we give Him room to work. When we stop our scurrying, we give ourselves room to ruminate, to reflect, and allow God to heal the places that get shoved aside in the busyness of life. Restoration happens as we rest.
I learned Scripture academically, but until I began to live it and let it change me, I had nothing to give. I was busy doing church things. That was good, but when I began the practice of Sabbath, and began to narrow the focus of my serving, what I contributed became more effective and more satisfying.
As Sabbath has become part of our regular routine, I notice the difference when our Sabbath is interrupted. My body is more tired. My mind is cloudier. My creativity is stifled. It’s more of a struggle to get through the next week.
Sabbath is not a cure-all. But it is a gift. God didn’t command it for no reason. It’s His day to pour into you. As you do things that replenish you, you experience His presence, His love, His restoration of your soul. Sabbath is the means by which you make room in your life for God. It’s a reminder to do that more than once a week, but every day.
Dear friend, flourishing is built into God’s plan for Sabbath. He commanded it, not to restrict you, but to give you a space where you can connect with Him without the distractions of survival. It’s a time to express trust that God’s got the details, to rest your body and mind, and let Him replenish you. God’s presence in my life and yours is the key to a truly flourishing life.
Remember the Sabbath, my friend. Keep it as a time set apart for God to connect with you and you to connect with Him. You will flourish and make more progress by stopping than by pushing forward with no rest. Sabbath rest is an investment in your future self.
Key Question: How does rest lead to flourishing?
A Scripture to Consider: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” Psalms 37:7 NLT
A YES Challenge: Consider intentional ways that you need to rest as you keep Sabbath. If you are not already keeping a Sabbath, plan how and when you will begin.
Prayer: Father, I forget that keeping Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. It’s so easy to skip because my life is so full. There is so much that I need to do to care for my family and to serve Your people. Help me remember that keeping Sabbath is a declaration that I trust You to provide for me and to take care of all the details. Show me how to keep Sabbath for Your honor and glory.
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