Scripture: Isaiah 58:13-14 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
then you will find your joy in the Lord,
and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Devotion: Sabbath is the practice of resting from work and ceasing from labor. It is the regular observance of rest. We model this from when God rested on the seventh day after spending six days creating. We also see sabbath rest encouraged by Jesus in the New Testament. This is not about rote obedience that neglects our own needs. Instead, sabbath rest is both for the glory of God and for the benefit of us as His people.
As we seek to rest well and be intentional with our time, I want to take some time to consider these questions and actually plan for rest. Grab a notebook or piece of paper, a pen, and your Bible. Work through the questions below and write down your answers, committing to a specific time of rest for you and your family.
- Choose a key verse for your rest and write down your “why”
- How will you do your rest?
- Where?
- When?
- With whom?
- What will you need to make it feasible?
- When will you to it to make it happen?
- What are you asking the Lord to do through your new rhythm of rest?
Reflect:
- Take some time to praise God for rest. Our rest reminds us of the limits that we have and our dependence on the Lord. It renews us and strengthens us for the good work that He has called us to. Pray that He would help you to establish a regular rhythm of rest.
