My mind is always so active. Even when I’m not doing something, I’m usually thinking about what I’m going to do next. I struggle to slow down and rest.
Even my leisure activities are usually efficient. I watch TV while knitting, often as gifts. I try to catch up on reading my online articles while I watch a movie with my husband or listen to a podcast.
These are all things I enjoy doing, but I have trouble really enjoying them if I’m doing them all at once!
I want to cultivate more margin or Sabbath in my life, and yet I find that I have very little idea how to do this. In a culture that pushes me to do more and rest less, I struggle to find rest functional. I’ve often said that sleep is a necessary evil and dreamed about all I could accomplish if only I didn’t need to sleep.
Yet, God himself rested. The all-powerful ruler of the universe chose to rest. It certainly wasn’t because he was tired, which means it must have had a deeper purpose.
There used to be a time when I tried to keep Sunday for family and rest. But my Mondays seemed to arrive earlier and frequently I find myself running loads of laundry and trying to get ahead on the other work of the upcoming week.
“I’ll feel so much more relaxed tomorrow if I could just get more done today.” I told myself. But then Monday came, and so did even more work. I hadn’t rested, and now I was burned out and bitter about the constancy of my work. It turns out, work never stops unless we make it stop.
If God, who is outside of time and is limited by neither hours nor energy chose to take one day of seven to rest from his usual work, I have to believe it was to set us an example of how he wanted us to live. Click To TweetFor some of us, Sabbath may be rest, but it may also be celebration. Last winter I was reading The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg in preparation for teaching on the topic of the discipline of celebration. He said that one way to cultivate more celebration in your life is to set aside a day to focus on it.
“Eat foods you love to eat, listen to music that moves our soul, play a sport that stretches and challenges you, read books that refresh your spirit, wear clothes that make you happy and surround yourself with beauty—and as you do these things, give thanks to God for his wonderful goodness. Reflect on what a gracious God he is to have thought of these gifts. Take the time to savor joy, then direct your heart toward God so that you come to know that he is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Nothing is too small if it produces true joy in us and causes us to turn toward God in gratitude and delight”
John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted
Sabbath doesn’t have to mean complete absence from activity (though I think there is certainly room for that). The focus should be on things that turn our focus back towards God and his goodness. Carving out time to fully embrace and experience our lives instead of rushing through them. Reveling in the sensory experience of living. Standing aside to see the wonder in creation and to wonder at the Creator himself.
Don’t just do something, stand there. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
I think a Sabbath would be nice,
but the clock is running far too fast,
and while I should take God’s advice,
I am not going to last.
There is so much I’ve left to do
and much was left too late.
If I let up I’m going to rue
the emptiness of fate.
I have to squeeze the value full
from every moment I am given
and spend my heart with all my skill
until my soul itself is riven.
When I’m finished, gone and done,
perhaps the time for rest will come.
This post spoke to me as just this week I mentioned to a friend how my mind keeps thinking long after a conversation. I am finding I must focus my mind on Him during the times of needed rest, for as I do, He stills me. Then comes blessed rest. Blessings!
We love to keep the Sabbath ( Sunday for us). We love to sing praises, give to Lord what already belongs to Him and hear great preaching and teaching. We go home, eat a light lunch and have a Sunday afternoon nap. Then we watch tv together ( America’s Funniest Videos). Great post!
💛Terri
Could you please read my post ACRONYM•ACTIVE? I am number 8 on the list of blogs.
A beautiful reflection on the Sabbath! Thanks for sharing!
I love the Sabbath! I’ve discovered that when I take time to do what God wants me to do (worship with others, spend time in his word and his creation, provide hospitality, and rest physically and mentally), I have so much more energy to face the week.
I know this is true, but yet I always struggle to force myself to power down. I keep thinking I’ll rest when I have time. But I know the reality is that I won’t have the time unless I take the time to rest. 🙂
My wife and I had a chance last week to get away and see powerful waterfalls, majestic mountains, and beautiful fall colors. It was good to be away from all the bustle, to be still and know that He is God.
Time for rest is so important. I think I do try to do too much at times but I have been trying to prioritize sleep more lately and it has definitely helped.
This is such a good reminder!
Thank you for this timely reminder! It can be challenging finding Sabbath rest, but ever since I realized it’s about God serving me on this day through an activity (or none at all) that I love, it has become much more enjoyable. Have you read Shelly Miller’s “Rhythms of Rest”? It is a great book on this topic!