How many times have you heard someone say, “I wish I had time to stop and rest and spend time with my family, but with our busy schedules we just never seem to find the time.”? I hear this often.
Another statement I hear is, “I just don’t seem to be able to connect on a deep level with God. I try to read my Bible and pray every morning for 15-30 minutes, but my day gets so busy after that and I lose sight of God’s Word.”
The Normal
We all have commitments and responsibilities that take time. Business is easy. It has become second nature. If you’re not busy, someone might wonder what is wrong with you. Even vacations are filled with an abundance of activities. When you get home you say, “I need a vacation from my vacation!”
It’s normal to have the music on, the television on, be checking our Facebook, email, and text messaging at all times. I wonder if we keep our minds distracted so we don’t have to stop and listen to God’s voice in the quiet?
The New Normal
I have said both of the statements above in the past. Misplaced priorities and overcommitments were big reasons. It was also a desire for control and a lack of letting God work in my life.
But then God prompted me to start keeping the Sabbath. It was such a foreign concept! And hard! I struggled the first few weeks to just STOP. I was nervous and fidgety. Thankfully, I pressed on and got used to the quiet. Then I found myself looking forward to the quiet.
The Privilege
As this Sabbath began, I thought about what a privilege it is to have permission from God to set aside my work for a day to rest and spend time with Him! He asks me to do this!
It is very true that I can connect with God everyday at any time. He is always waiting and ready. But God, in His perfection, knew that a day of rest would be a helpful blessing! It provides me with quality time to reconnect with Him and my family and lets my body recharge so it is ready to jump back into the work cycle again.
I know Sabbath is coming and I think, “Oh, I can’t wait for that nap!” or “I wonder what God has to show me today!” I look forward to my husband being at home all day with us and the playtime we have together with our girls.
For people who think that Sabbath is a burden or who have experienced it as a burden, I am certain they don’t have an understanding of God’s Sabbath at all. It is meant to be a blessing, not something to earn. It is meant to edify, not bring us down. I’m not saying that it’s always easy and convenient, but being in step with God always brings peace in my life.
I really do need the rest. I really do need to connect with God. So I can’t help but say, “What a privilege! What a blessing! Thank you, God!”
I would love to hear how you describe the privilege of Sabbath!
Until next week,
Lisa G.
