Sabbath
Blog – 9-21-16
Imagine you come home one day and see a beautiful gift with a big red bow sitting by your front door. It’s one of the most elaborately wrapped gifts you’ve ever seen, something people would put all over Pinterest!
You see the gift, you admire the gift, you wonder what’s inside the beautiful package, but instead of ripping into it, you simply walk by it. You ignore it. You can’t spare the time it would take to get through all that gorgeous wrapping.
The next day you see the gift again, it looks so lovely, you think, but you just don’t have time to open it. You’re just too busy. This same pattern is repeated until days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and still that delightful, lonely gift sits on your front porch just waiting to be opened.
You will never know what the gift inside that box is until you take the time to open it.
My friend Rachel, who I’m touring with right now, challenged me today about my frantic work pace and not taking time to Sabbath. Her words felt like God speaking directly to me.
She’s right. I don’t Sabbath well.
I’m leaving that gift unopened.
I love ministering to people, but it is becoming a problem because I’m not taking a rest during the week to make up for working through the weekend. I take an hour or two here and there, but it’s not enough.
My body and mind are crying out for more rest because they were designed that way by my Heavenly Father. Our Creator rested, and He designed us to need rest as well.
Have you been where I am or are you there right now, my friend? Are you caught up in striving? Are you failing to unwrap the gift of rest?
Think about it. It’s probably one of the greatest gifts, other than grace, that God gives us. He tells us, rather He commands us, to rest. Take a break. Chill. Recharge your batteries.
I love the New Living Translation of Exodus 20 where the 10 Commandments are found. It says,
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.”
Seems like something we would all jump at, don’t you think. Someone is actually telling us to rest! Sounds awesome.
The nugget of truth I think I’ve been missing comes in Verse 11 where it says:
“For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them;
but on the seventh day he rested.
That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”
When we don’t honor the Sabbath we don’t receive the blessing. We leave the gift unopened.
I don’t know what blessing God has in store for you and me individually when we are faithful and honor the Sabbath, but I’m determined to find out. I ask you to keep me accountable on this one! It’s one of my biggest struggles. Ask me how I’m doing, and I will be honest with you!
Those of you who struggle with this one, please let me know any ways you have found that work for you. I need help!
I encourage you to share with me and with others the blessings you have received from your Sabbath. And then go take a nap!
And speaking of naps, check out this video by Rachel. It’s awesome!
Rachel Barrentine’s “Go Take a Nap” Parody
Hugs and love,
~Jill