Why I Sabbath

 I like to do nothing.

I think it's fair to say that I am sometimes a lazy person. I have to mentally fight for freedom from laziness. It's hard and lately it feels like I'm losing round after round.

I think about 3 years ago came across a podcast about sabbath. I know sabbath. On the seventh day you rest. God rested. It's important.

What I learned shed light on sabbath in a way that was for my good. I studied scripture about it. I heeded the advice of the hosts, and I "did" sabbath for the first time.

There was about a year of my life where I observed sabbath from sun down to sun down, every weekend. The Roy Family observed sabbath because of their Messianic Jewish traditions. I would eat challah bread, light candles, pray as the sun went down. 

My first sabbath on my own didn't look like this. Although I did try to shut down my normal life on Friday by the time the sun went down.

It took practice to figure out what intentionl and holy rest would look like for me.

It was simple and easy to keep an entire 24 hour period busy free, committment free.

It was the quiet that was hard.

It was so quiet.

I chose to turn off all media and keep worship music at a minimum.

I found myself cleaning instead of being still.

Last year I decided every night of the week I would take some time to tidy up my home. On Friday, I would pick up whatever is left, prep meals and let my friends know I'd be out of touch the next day.

That rhythm lasted for a good while...until I got a boyfriend and started my own business.

It was hard for me to adjust. 

I remember a tip from the podcast: "Sabbath will look differently for everyone in every season. You can build up to it."

I sabbath because I want to remind myself that busyness is not an idol in my life.

I sabbath because I want to rest with God. It's like we're hanging out. Sometimes we do nothing together. Sometimes I talk his ear off. Sometimes I read and he's there. Sometimes I watch a movie and he's there.

I sabbath to honor God.

I don't get it right or how I want to every week.

But slowly and increasingly, my mind, body and spirit know sabbath is coming.

There is an excitement.

There is weight.

There is remembrance.

Resting will require sacrifice.

Remember, God gave us the sabbath. It's for us.

You're free to rest.

It's obedient to rest.