Starting to Stop
The gift of COVID-19 has brought our culture and society is a greater ability to slow down. I have a strong desire to become a Sabbath keeper. God gave us the day of Sabbath. This isn’t just a day, it is about learning how to take on an orientation of seeing and knowing.
In our culture, busyness is treated like a fetish and stillness is viewed as laziness. It has been hard to embrace the concept of being still in the midst of this culture. Sabbath is meant to be a day and an attitude to nurture stillness. It is both a time on the calendar and a disposition of heart. A way to impart the rest of God, physically, mentally, and spiritually. I invite you out of the rigidity and gloom that marks the day of slowing down and awaken you to true rest.
When I think of Sabbath I am overwhelmed with the thought of slowing down when there is so much to accomplish around me. I am inviting you on a journey of wonder and expectancy about it. When we are plain tired and overwhelmed the Sabbath can feel like one more thing to do. Sabbath is not meant to stress you out, it is meant to bring you to rest and slow down from the craziness of the world.
Embracing the Sabbath
1. Relax: For me it means no emails, no work-related activities that are about earning an income. I am embracing not doing anything related to my business or training. I am remembering that the Father stopped creating on the 7th day. He stepped back and surveyed all that he had done and He saw it was good.
2. Reflect: He surveyed all that he had done. For me this means stepping back from my weekly activities and reflecting. What worked for you? What didn’t? Process all the bits and pieces and lay it at the Father’s feet. This doesn’t mean coming up with strategies to fix it, just put it down and look at it and then prepare to take action after the day of rest.
3. Revive: We don’t stop anymore. Our senses are so bombarded with media and noise that many of us don’t know how to pause. Do something that revives you. It is a time of blessing where I can pause, be still and listen. I can reflect on the week and not have any obligations. This can mean enjoying your family, lounging around having conversations without an agenda. It also could mean taking a nap, a bath, or gathering together with friends for a meal.
4. Rest: Yes we all need the gift of rest. It is researched that people who purposefully rest live longer, healthier and more fulfilled lives. Clear your to-do list and rest. I assure you the sun will continue to rise and set.
5. Recover: Allow your mind to recover and prepare you mind, body and soul for the week to come. Put on your music, read the Bible or a book, listen to a trusted teacher and recover from the bombardment of stress, worry and crazy pace of life. God longs for us to fall into His arms and find rest. He longs to lead you to quiet waters and the green meadows so that you can be made whole each week through the gift of His rest.
I invite you to take Jesus’ invitation, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. What are ways you plan to take a stop and take a Sabbath?