Remembering the Sabbath
By
Brita Crouse
“For
in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is
in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the
Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Exodus
20:11 (NIV)
I have known the
commandment about keeping the Sabbath holy since I was very young, but it
wasn’t until college that I began taking it seriously. I would purposefully
take a day off from homework, usually Saturday or Sunday, and spend time
developing my relationships with others and with God.
Now, most people would
be happy to take a day off from homework... but, for me, a grad student, it was
really difficult. If I wasn’t doing anything, I felt guilty because I knew I
had so many things to get done. However, God quickly took my perspective of the
Sabbath and turned it around, and I started to see it as a huge blessing.
In a productivity-based
culture, it is hard not to
feel guilty if you take an entire day off to rest. We are made to believe we
are lazy and a detriment to society if we are not always pushing ourselves and
working harder. That is such a lie!
I have found after
taking an entire day to rest and spend time with God, I am much more productive
and make better use of my time. I also feel more rested and closer to God after
intentionally taking time to spend with Him. God didn’t give us this
commandment for nothing. Even He took a day off to rest... after creating the
entire universe!
After graduating, my
Sabbath practices changed a little. Instead of giving up homework, I tried to
stay off of Facebook and email. I’d take a nap, to give my body physical rest.
I would spend quality time with my family. I would make a point to tell my
employers that Sundays are off-limits for working. I took bike rides or would go
for a run to enjoy God’s creation. And, most importantly, I would take a large
portion of the day to spend time with God, the One who allows me rest.
I’m definitely not
perfect with my Sabbath practices, but I can notice a huge difference in my
attitude and work ethic when I feel well-rested, not only physically, but
mentally and spiritually as well.
Rest in God’s presence
and He will restore your spirit!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Practice
the Sabbath for the next month. Make a list of differences you notice in your
attitude and level of productivity.
2. What are
things you can give up one day out of the week to help you keep the Sabbath
holy?
FURTHER READING:
Brita
is currently working toward her Master’s in Counseling at the University of
Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has called Oakwood her home church for the past
seventeen years.
