Sabbath & the secret quiet place
Sabbath
I had no idea how much I would be tempted with work and distractions of every kind once I committed to daily quiet time and a weekly Sabbath. It’s been about 9 years, and I’m still not perfect.
If I were to boil down all of my experience into one statement, I would announce confidently that I am simply not the best version of myself without proper rest and Sabbath. I thought that go-go-go was required to accomplish everything in life, but it’s amazing how the upside rules God put in place for us, make us the best version of ourselves. In creating space to pause, to be, to rest, the recharge amps up our ability to hit the ground running again.
It’s amazing how many fires we think we have to go put out, but if we actually just left them alone for 24 hours, they would take care of themselves.
When I commit to quiet time and finding “the secret place” daily, I find such peace throughout my day. I physically melt into the calm and I surrender the pressure to “do” that constantly surrounds me every other hour. I physically feel a positive difference as I read and spend time with the Lord. It releases the stress out of my body. On the days I miss out and run too fast to pause for Him, I notice how my mind, body, and spirit are out of balance.
I used to have the sense that He missed me.
Now, I’m the one who misses him.
Once you get used to it, you will crave that special alone time with Him.
I am very aware how spiritual and meaningful and intentional self-care is crucial to our wholeness. Our spirits need to be fed daily with contemplation and quiet time. Seeking the Lord daily is required for optimal wellbeing.
Sabbath is a life-changing commitment that we all need to prioritize on our calendars. Not only because it’s a commandment, but because it restores our soul to be in the presence of the Lord. Life is not the same without it. I invite you to embrace a daily pause, and at minimum, a weekly Sabbath to pause and rest.
And don’t do it for a week… rewiring habits take at least 30 days. You’ve got to live in those new shoes and break them in. At first, it is uncomfortable. Don’t give up. It’s worth it. You have no idea what it means to have a “new normal” until you try.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Exodus 20:8-11
Sometimes, a weekly Sabbath feels nearly impossible. But I have learned, social sacrifices are worth a Sabbath. I am simply not my best self when I miss it. I had no idea how I was really running on a partial tank, until I started practicing Sabbath. But, there are temptations in rest as well. Rest is in the middle, not flipping to the opposite of workaholic.
When my exhaustion would take over, one day of Sabbath was not enough. But, I might find myself going from intentional rest one day to lazy distraction the next. It is crucial that we keep our mind set on Him and be intentional about our physical, emotional, and mental needs rather than simply sitting still, doing nothing, or zoning out.
Our rest in Him is a sign of
our trust in Him.
When the Lord commands us in Exodus 20 to rest, He reminds us He is the creator of the world. Sabbath is about remembering everything is in his hands. It’s about remembering that while we are still, he fights for us (Ex. 14:14).
Sabbath is about pausing and being fully present to God, ourselves, and others.
Without taking time to pause and reflect and consider the world around us, we are rushing through our precious time on Earth. And for what purpose? Nothing is worth missing this precious life God gave us!
Thank God for the little moments. He connects to us by intentionally pausing our lives and our hearts and revealing new things, even when we not looking. Even in the common, simplicity of life, He will point out the Divine. You can’t miss out on the experience if you’re open to the rest, open to the pause, open to trusting Him. 💛
When I’m driving by at 60mph, He will highlight a tree or a star or a person walking by, and I’ll feel unexplainable awe or love for the ordinary. I am blessed that He’s willing to pull me close to Him and open my eyes to the beautiful things he created, even when I let the pressures of life outweigh my commitment to spend time with Him. These miniphanies® are beautiful reminders that He is always with us.
My invitation/challenge for you, is that you ask him for those moments, for those miniphanies®. Ask him to bring you into a Sabbath lifestyle. Stay true to yourself and ensure seeking Him is your primary focus. Add self-care to your list of non-negotiable activities and enjoy soaking in his presence daily and weekly. It will change your life…