Most
mornings I wake up, rub my still sleepy eyes and look at the glow of my phone.
Sometimes if my brain switches on too soon, I decide to put in my passcode to
unlock my phone rather than just snooze my alarm. I’ll scroll through Facebook
and Instagram, although I am not really sure why because no one really posts
between 11pm and 7am. I wince and groan because I don’t really want to get out
of bed. So, I scroll a little longer to procrastinate the inevitable. I am good
at that, procrastinating the inevitable. The thought of a fresh steaming cup of
coffee eventually gets me out of bed. That and the fact that I have now wasted
too much time and have only half the time to get ready.
On these
days, social media and culture have stolen my attention by 7:30 am and I can’t
say it is always life giving or good for my soul. As I am off and running,
there is work, then errands, dinner and chores, building Legos and fixing forts
and by the end of the day I am spent. As I try to rest my head at night, I have
so many thoughts swirling through my head... I just can’t even. I start out on
my stomach with my head to left, then I switch it to the right. I turn to my
right side with my knees pulled in tight then toss to my left side pushing my
legs out straight. I might do this twice (it’s like a 20 minute process
people!) before I finally drift off to sleep.
I would bet
that many of you find this routine strangely familiar. (Maybe not the bed time
tossing and turning, but the daily routine in general?) We have so many things
competing for our attention, it is so easy to stay distracted, busy and at
unrest. We hear about this story and skim through that article. Put out that
fire and mop up this mess. When we finally settle in with our third cup of joe
(or maybe that’s just me!) our phone dings 4 times in a row with something else
that needs our attention.
Even though
I love the small quiet moments, I’ll be honest I don’t always do rest well.
Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for
the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 (NIV)
Observing
the Sabbath was commanded to us, yes, but the command was given as a blessing.
“For in six days the LORD made the heavens
and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.
Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:11(NKJV)
God has set
apart a day of rest to bless his children. I really love that phrase, set apart. It means this day is supposed
to look different, feel different... BE different. No striving, no fussing, no
distractions or things pulling us in all directions. Just you and Jesus, the
Lord of the Sabbath and rest.
I want to do
rest, well. I want my Sabbath to look different from my other days. Because I
believe that in His rest, we find peace. And God’s peace makes us walk differently.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose
minds are steadfast, because they trust you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
How can you
begin to incorporate the Sabbath into your life? If you already set apart this
day, how has it helped you throughout the rest of your week? We would love to
hear your thoughts in the comments…
Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni
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