Originally published Monday, 27 June 2022.
(Photo Credit: Canva Pro)
Do you ever feel like your soul needs refreshing? Do you ever feel depleted at the end of most days? Do you sometimes think or find yourself saying, “I need a sabbatical.” If so, I’m sure you’re not alone. There are many people like you who feel the same way. That’s why it’s so good to take a Sabbath rest.
Really, what this means is simply taking a day off and ceasing from your work as God did. Genesis 2:2 says, “So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all of his work.” Ahhh. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a release. It sounds like an intentional break.
Without a doubt, God wants us to work. There are tons of verses in the Bible about working, but there are also a lot of verses about rest. So we have to balance these two out. And it’s totally biblical for us to take a day off to spend time with God in His presence through prayer and solitude, reading His Word uninterrupted, and worshipping Him throughout the day.
During your Sabbath rest, you can also do exactly that – rest. Yep! Kick back. Take a load off. Sleep for a couple of hours. Read a book that you’ve been wanting to read (preferably something that will nourish your soul and spirit). This day is personal and between you and God. So how you spend it is also between you and Him. There is no set way to do it. ;-)
I would also say this is a good time to personally reflect on life by sitting still with an open journal and pen, while asking God for wisdom, direction, peace, comfort, or whatever else you need. Remember, this time is dedicated for you, Him, and rest.
Now, let me pause here for just a moment, just in case there are some questions about the Old or New Testament thoughts on do we practice the Sabbath in our day or not? The answer is yes. I also want to say that there are also two types of rest regarding ceasing from our work naturally and ceasing from our labors for eternal rest. But for the sake of this writing, we are talking about finding a day of rest to recharge and relax from your work while spending some devoted time alone with our Heavenly Father.
Personally, I have a day like this! Sometimes it’s Monday and sometimes it’s another day of the week when I know there’s nothing scheduled. It’s a day just as I explained above. I also put my phone on Do Not Disturb and I put it out of sight. I don’t want it in reaching distance. In addition, I let my husband and kids know that I will be out of pocket during that time.
Throughout the day, I am praying, reading and studying the Word of God, memorizing and meditating on Scripture, listening to worship music, journaling, and reading books that I’ve been wanting to read. It’s just such a refreshing time in the Lord in a variety of ways.
Oh, and I rest.
So, think of a day that you can take off to spend some quality time with God and rest. The Lord knew that we would need a day to pause from our work and without guilt. He always does what’s good for us. And THIS, my dear sister is sooooooo good for us. ;-)
Scriptures on Rest
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'”
~Matthew 11:28:30
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”
~Psalm 127:2
“Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion…”
~Mark 4:38
Remember that Jesus Christ is coming back soon. And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So, let’s be ready from the Inside Out!
~Courtnaye
Question: Do you have a Sabbath rest? If so, how do you practice your day of rest? Also, do you need prayer? If you need prayer, you can email me directly and I will pray for you at insideoutwithcourtnaye@gmail.com.
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Courtnaye Richard is the founder of Inside Out with Courtnaye, a ministry that helps women grow in their walk with Christ from the heart and equips them to fulfill their God-given purpose. She is also the author of the book, IDENTIFIED: Knowing Who You Are in Christ and Moving Forward in Your Purpose. Courtnaye is married with three beautiful children and is a contributing writer for ibelieve.com and YouVersion, speaker of a host of women’s conferences that include She Speaks, Hope*Writers Tuesday Teaching, FlourishWriters, and Entrusted Women's Conference (just to name a few), and her blog reaches thousands of women across the globe. She resides in the beautiful Texas Hill Country (outside of Austin, Texas).
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