It has officially been a year since I started keeping Sabbath! I am so excited that God revealed this blessing to my family and that we have been able to take part in it this past year!
If you have been with me from the beginning, you will remember that I didn’t know anything about Sabbath when I started. I had no idea what the Sabbath really was or how to go about keeping it. My husband and I had been prompted by God through His Word to keep Sabbath, so we just began and trusted that God would direct us.
Being directed by God, and not people, has been the key for my Sabbath journey. The Bible is my tool and the Holy Spirit leads me. I have researched many groups, churches, organizations, and individuals who practice Sabbath and have found some Biblically solid teaching to encourage me in my walk.
It has been the desire of my family to be around others who keep the Sabbath. We found few options where we live, but have joined in with a Messianic Jewish home group for Bible study on some Sabbath afternoons. This has been encouraging and helpful in our journey. My husband has also had the opportunity to work long-distance with a Hebrew Roots Ministry who has a great online service on Sabbath evenings.
The prayer of my family this past year has been for my husband’s income to be replaced elsewhere, so we could be released from our Southern Baptist church. My husband works full-time for them as the Media minister and has to work every service on Sunday. We fully expected God to lead us away from this church quickly. But to our surprise, He has kept us there and continues to open doors for us to share with others what God has been showing us in His Word. I don’t know how much longer we will be there, but it is great to know that we are ready to leave when God calls us. We have been a part of this congregation for over a decade and we love them dearly and care about their spiritual direction. We pray that God would reveal His truth to many there.
Way back in December of last year, I came to an understanding about the purpose of Sabbath. It was very freeing to let go of “expectations” and embrace what God intended for this special day. I looked back at a few phrases from my blog during that time that convey what I learned.
“When the HOW of keeping Sabbath overpowers the WHY of keeping Sabbath, everything seems to go out the door. On the other hand, when the focus is on the WHY everything else seems to fall into place on its own.”
“If I keep the Sabbath because I have to, there is nothing gained. If I do it because I want to, then my blessings overflow! My heart wanders and is not always faithful. But oh the joy when it finds its’ rest in the Lord!”
This blog, of course, has been a key element for keeping me on track and accountable for what I have learned about Sabbath. You readers have given me countless words of wisdom and encouragement and prompted me to go further in my studies. I am indebted to all of you and can’t thank you enough for being a part of my journey this past year!
Until next week,
Lisa G.
