How are you feeling these days? Are you feeling stressed out and exhausted? When it comes to the topic of politics in the wonderful lands of Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, the feelings of exhaustion, depression, and stress are intensified.
Have you ever considered taking a real day off? How about turning off social media, for a day?
Do you know there is more to the Sabbath than Sunday morning church service? Yes, I know that the Sabbath actually starts at sundown on Friday and ends by sundown on Saturday. Yet the question still stands. Have you ever considered making the Day of Rest, a lifestyle; not a mere religious duty? How does one do this?
What do I mean by a “Day of Rest”? It’s more than just a day of religious observance. Yes, I am talking about the Sabbath or Shabbat. If it is just about going to church and worshipping God, then why are we told to cease from our labors? Here’s what God says in Exodus 20:8-11
8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the 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 [NASB]
Can we agree that there is a lot more to this instruction than religious worship? Yes, the topic is about making the “Day of Rest” into a lifestyle; however, I still need to give a starting point. It would also help to recall what Jesus has said about the Sabbath.
27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:27-28 [NASB]
This statement came after the Pharisees complained about the disciples gathering grains of wheat because they were hungry. You can read all about it in the second chapter of Mark. I can assure you that it wasn’t the only time.
In other words, a Day of Rest is not about rigid rules and regulations. It is just as the name implies. The Sabbath is a day to rest from one’s labor and detach from the insanity of the outside world. It is a time of peace and quiet from the outside world.
The above is just one part of the reason for God, the Father instituting the Sabbath. It’s also to serve as an opportunity to draw closer to God and enjoy the presence of God. It is also a great opportunity to spend time with friends that share a common bond with Jesus.
My Jewish friends could say the same thing; however, there will be some obvious differences. For them, the Day of Rest is not a few hours spent in a Temple on Saturday. Rather, it’s the entire day beginning at sundown on Friday and end the next evening.
Do you think they’re in the temple, all day? If practicing, they are likely to spend time with family, read a book, prayer, or go out for a walk. One thing is certain, they will not be busy with job-related labor.
Ben Shapiro is an Orthodox Jew that I’ll sometime listen to. According to Ben, he makes a point to stay away from social media and all things political! Did I mention that Ben is a political commentator on the Daily Wire?
A full day of rest is a great idea and it is worth incorporating into a lifestyle. It begins with a personal decision to make it into a daily routine and it is something you chose to do. Be forewarned, it’s a lot harder to form good habits and routines that lead to a good lifestyle than it does to form bad habits or routines.
I will admit that I have often struggled with following through on my own desire to have a complete Day of Rest. However, I am certain that it is worth doing. If you were raised with the idea of a Day of Rest, then you’re likely to have an easier time of it. However, it is not too late to start.
Don’t feel discouraged, if you blow it. Ask Jesus to help you with it. Don’t be afraid to talk with God, the Father about your desire to have a day of rest from your labors. Be certain to include rest from social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and so forth.
Try opening a book and reading it. Because of my eyesight, I use my Fire tablet to read e-books and listen to the audio versions. It will take a conscious decision to just read a book; as opposed to hopping on Facebook. It takes time to train your mind to do this.
What if you’re a movie watcher and you’re not into books? Did you know that you can download movies to watch for that day? Download the movie to your tablet or computer, the day before and turn off the Internet. Because you already downloaded the movie, it will be ready to be watched.
Here’s another idea to help fill up a day of rest. Go for a nice walk and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, if possible. For me, I’ve been developing a routine of quietly praying in the Spirit and walking around my community. It’s becoming a daily routine and it is an enjoyable one.
Don’t be afraid to make a goal of a complete day of rest, and shoot for it. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you in cultivating a routine that will work for you. How can I be certain?
Keeping the Sabbath is one of the 10 Commandments. It’s a safe bet that the Holy Spirit will want to help you, with it. Of course, you have to be willing to listen and do what God is saying. Don’t be afraid to talk with God, the Father about any issues that you have. God is a good Father and can help you with those problems.
Yes, it is going to be difficult and challenging; however, it is worth the undertaking! Remember, you are not alone! You can count on Jesus to help you!
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