Living From a Place of Rest: SabbathSample

Is your Pace of Life Out of Sync with God? So far in this reading plan on practicing the Sabbath, we have seen that God, in His gracious mercy, weaved into the fabric of creation a rhythm of six days of work and one day of rest. Furthermore, the gift of Sabbath rest creates space for us to linger in the presence of God, helping us to let go of the outcomes of our lives. Today we will look closer at how the Sabbath helps you and I be more present in the moment—present to ourselves and what is going on in our own souls. So many in our culture today are moving at a pace of life that is out of sync with God and His plan for their life. Because we struggle to say no, our calendars are jam-packed with work, family, and church commitments. Our only solution to this margin-less lifestyle is to hurry from one event to the next. In contrast, each week, the practice of the Sabbath provides us with the opportunity to slow down. To catch our breath. To return to the present moment right in front of us, allowing our weary soul to catch up with our body. Earlier in this series, we looked at Jesus's invitation to weary and burdened people (see Matthew 11:28-30). Now let's read these same verses from the Message translation written by Eugene Peterson. "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." The Sabbath offers us the chance to regularly step away from the busyness of life to walk with Jesus so that we might "learn the unforced rhythms of grace." A well-practiced Sabbath rhythm slows us down to a pace of life that opens our eyes to how dangerously tired we have become. Over time, the Sabbath brings healing to the body, the mind, and the soul. Our bodies are a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells within us so that we might live in a way that brings glory to God through our bodies (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). For many, a first step in practicing the Sabbath might simply be to allow your body to get the rest it has so desperately been craving. Know that it is okay to let yourself sleep in or take a long afternoon nap without feeling guilty for not being productive. As our bodies heal, space and time open up for us to examine our souls' current condition. What area of your life is God currently trying to transform into the image of Christ? What is the current condition of your relationships with family, friends, and neighbors? What commitments have you made that you might consider stepping away from for a season to create margin in your life? These are all questions we need to regularly wrestle with in the presence of God. Every seventh day, the Sabbath provides the necessary space to take a hard look at who we are becoming. Tomorrow we will look closer at how practicing the spiritual discipline of the Sabbath is not just an individual activity but an opportunity to be more present in our community.