Rest
Each Tuesday, we release a prayer guide with the hope that we collectively join our hearts through prayer in a “laser-focused” way. Today, as the Underground, we come together around the essential practice of rest.
MOVE #1: GOD RESTED
Read:
So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. Genesis 2:1-3 NLT
Reflect:
Rest (noun): an instance or period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity.
All people need rest. I would say the majority of people I know are desperate for rest and don’t even know it. We are programmed to push, strive, work, and be productive in such intense ways that if we stop, we don’t know what to do. It feels so foreign to us to stop doing things that it can bring fear. We don’t know how to rest, be silent, be still.
God rested. After he created the world, which I’m sure was quite the task, he rested from all his work. There are multiple instances in the New Testament where Jesus rested. He observed the sabbath as a special day of prayer, worship, and rest and He taught his disciples to do the same. As we are being transformed more and more into the likeness of our God, resting is one way we can reflect Him.
Pray:
Now it’s our turn to practice this ancient way modeled by our God from the literal beginning of all things. After you read this paragraph, put your phone down, close your computer, set down the paper. Whatever way you are engaging with this prayer guide, stop. Be still. Be silent. Listen. No striving. Just be. Imagine Jesus sitting next to you and just be with him. Sit with him in silence for as long as you need.
MOVE #2: WE SHOULD REST
Read:
‘I am the Lord your God,’ I told them. ‘Follow my decrees, pay attention to my regulations, and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the Lord your God.’ Ezekiel 20:19-20 NLT
Reflect:
Sabbath (noun): any special day of prayer, worship, or rest; a day or other period of rest or break from certain forms of activity.
“Keeping the sabbath holy” is a command from God. We are to follow this command. And God doesn’t ask his people to do things that won’t benefit them in some way. In fact, He says in Ezekiel that our Sabbath days are a sign to remind us that He is our God. As I looked up definitions of Sabbath, one said: “… observed by most Christians...”. I had to stop a minute and question this phrase. Do most Christians I know really observe Sabbath? Do they obey this command from God.
I haven’t always observed Sabbath. But, several years ago, my spouse and I started to notice patterns in our family that were leading to unhealth. We were going seven days a week. We did not have margin in our schedule for our immediate family let alone others in our friend circles. We got to Sunday evening and were exhausted at the thought of starting another week in less than 24 hours. And, we considered most of what we were doing to be “good things”. We knew something had to change. We started to research and discovered that Sabbath is not only physical. Yes, you should physically rest on the Sabbath. However, one also needs rest mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. All of these must be taken into consideration when planning Sabbath.
Pray:
Reflect on your current rest/Sabbath rhythms. Spend time in listening prayer asking God these questions:
Are there patterns in my life that could lead to unhealth?
How can my rest/Sabbath times look more like yours?
Speak to me about my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. What needs to change?
Movement 3: Earthly Sabbath and Eternal Sabbath
Read:
“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord ’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 58:13-14
Reflect:
Sabbath brings more than rest for God’s people.
First, it brings us joy – joy in the Lord! Sabbath may look different for each person/family unit. What do you love to do? What lights you up? Do that on Sabbath! There are activities to cease from and temptations to watch for. Beware of these things that may tempt you to break your Sabbath commitment.
Second, it is a foretaste of the eternal Sabbath that God is preparing for us right now in Heaven. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. He is our Sabbath. In the verses above, he says that when we observe the Sabbath he will “cause us to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of our father Jacob.” Our eternal life with him is this inheritance.
Pray:
Take these questions to God in prayer: Lord, how do you want me to spend my Sabbath time? What do I need to include and what do I need to exclude?
Take the last few minutes to thank God for Sabbath rest. Thank Him for modeling it for us and praise Him for knowing what’s best for his people.
Resource:
Check out the Designing my Sabbath tool to help you dig deeper into the Sabbath rhythms you already have in place or create new rhythms for rest.