5. God loves “Sabbath” and desires that my work is ordered around rest.

(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.) 

WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE OF SABBATH? DO YOU FIND THAT IT HELPS YOU DISCONNECT FROM YOUR WORK? IS THERE AN INVITATION FOR GROWTH IN THIS AREA?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA THAT SABBATH IS NOT SO MUCH A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AS A PHYSICAL PRACTICE, THAT IS, IT’S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT CONNECTING WITH GOD BUT MORE ABOUT GIVING YOUR BODY AND YOUR EMOTIONS A DAY TO REST?

In the creation account recorded in Genesis we are told, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done”. (Genesis 2:2-3)

Work and rest go together; one without the other is unhealthy, not just for our bodies or our physical health but also for our souls and our spiritual health. We can surmise that God may not have been tired when he finished creating so why then did God rest? Perhaps it was that God simply wanted to stop and appreciate what he had created. Perhaps by resting, He brought order and distinction to what had been done.

We may need to rest our bodies regularly. Even more, we need rest to bring a sense of congruence to our lives. In times of resting we can integrate our work into our relationships, our restorative and contemplative spaces, our play, worship, and fellowship. Practicing Sabbath in the Christian tradition often involves attending worship services and church activities.

In the Old Testament, Sabbath was most often simply a day to waste time with family and friends. Several times a year, a spiritual feast or celebration was held in the temple, but for the ordinary Sabbaths, people were invited to refrain from accomplishing things and to simply waste time.

Connecting with God on the Sabbath is certainly a good thing, but the weekly practice of Sabbath is more about resting, being inactive, reflective, and relational. Without this kind of Sabbath, our work will become disordered in priority and importance. But, with this kind of Sabbath we will be more available to a relationship with God.