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Sabbath Rest.


Right in the thick of this Covid-19 crisis, Lea and I watched one of the press conferences where updates were being given by various people from the government team about all of the developing storylines from this crazy time for our world. Dr. Ben Carson, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, spoke briefly towards the end of one of these press conferences. What he shared caught Lea and my attention as we watched during lunch with Grannie. This is what he said.

“President Trump is going to be recommending a National Day of Prayer. And we have gotten away from prayer and faith a lot in this country. There’s nothing wrong with godly principles no matter what your faith is. Loving your neighbor, caring about the people around you, developing your God-given talents to the utmost of your ability so that you become valuable to the people around you, having values and principles that govern your life.”

Hearing someone normally and gently speaking about something that seems more absent in our nation than perhaps it has been at one time stood out to me. This idea of things that seem more absent in our nation and world these days makes me think about the idea of Sabbath. Touchy subject actually. Lots of interpretations. Perhaps things are firing off inside you as you wonder what direction these words might take.

The direction is simply this. Back in the day where the underpinnings of the people of God were being given and taught, these words were given. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy….The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” He did that. He was helping to establish a godly rhythm in the lives of His people. Work hard six days and then, following His pattern in creation, set aside a day of rest, a “Sabbath to the Lord your God.” This is how I am pondering this idea. God is kindly offering a healthy, right ordering of our time that is gutsy and practical. Work hard and then rest. And when it says “the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God”, it carries this idea. We are offering to Him. He offers to us. We offer to Him in return. Sounds like a relationship. Sounds less like a limitation or restriction and more like an invitation to something that is life giving. So what am I offering Him? Maybe it’s that I’m offering, me. I slow in my normal productivity (which is a normal and right part of my 6 days) and I’m present to a different rhythm, one that He created. I’m sacrificing my usual flow in my other 6 days to receive something different. Sabbath rest.

One of my mentors talked about this quite a bit before he died. He observed that there didn’t seem to be a lot of “soul rest” in our country, in our world. He spoke of noticing a frenetic busyness in most families, filling every moment of every day with every thing. And when he described what he sensed the effect of this frenetic, continual busyness was, he declared that he saw our nation, world and families as “soul tired”.

Soul tired.

I wonder how those words affect you? What stirs in you as you see them?

These words are not a should. These words are an invitation to pause. Let me dispel a few thoughts quickly. I’m not telling you that it’s a specific day. I'm not telling you what should happen. I'm not telling you what needs to happen. I am inviting you to consider whether Sabbath rest is a part of the rhythm of your life. I wonder what might be if you sought to try to set aside some pocket of time in your week for Sabbath. A walk, nap, slowed reading, meal together (that you might have to fight for in your schedule), game night, date night with your children or spouse, godly investing of some sort. I’m also curious about what our current world situation with Covid-19 is perhaps birthing in your family, in your marriage, in you. This birthing might be hard and disappointing. It might be surprising. Things birthed now can continue later. They can. Pray and wonder and talk together now about later.

Dan Allender wrote this in a book about Sabbath. “The only parameter that is to guide our Sabbath is delight. Will this be merely a break or a joy? Will this lead my heart to wonder or routine? Will I be more grateful or just happy that I got something done?”

What would it look like? What would it be like to delight in cultivating sabbath rest? Maybe you already know. Maybe you’re curious. Maybe you’re beaten down. As long as we have breath there is still time to cultivate this with the Lord.

One last thought. I think Satan hates this. I think this is opposed, so be alert for sabotage. Be alert for push back in you and your family. Ok, so it was two more thoughts:) CULTIVATING SABBATH REST IN YOUR FAMILY CAN IMPACT YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN AND THEIR….you get it. This is a big deal. PEOPLE YOU WILL NEVER MEET CAN BE IMPACTED BY YOUR CULTIVATION OF SABBATH REST IN YOUR FAMILY WITH THE LORD AND EACH OTHER. The bold, capital letters can’t fully convey my hope about this for your family and mine for generations to come.

Invitation, not should.

Delight, not performing and pressure.

Soul rest.

Sabbath rest.

There's more.

    © 2016.BuyTheField. 

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