Is your Sabbath day different from the rest of the week?

Do you struggle to rest? Do you feel guilty for slowing down? So many clients I talk with feel pressure to produce. Culture pressures us to remain busy. Somehow we have bought the lie that busyness equals increased value. We are not what we do. God knew we would struggle to find our identity in our productivity; perhaps this is one of the reasons he commanded us to practice Sabbath rest.

For years, my Sabbath looked like the other six days with the exception of going to church on the Sabbath. I didn’t understand the benefits of Sabbath rest and thought taking a day each week to do so was a waste of valuable time. God has since changed my opinion. He gave us Sabbath not to limit us, but to rejuvenate us. It is a day every week where we are commanded to rest — for our benefit.

I recently purchased a Brick to help me fast from social media and emails on the Sabbath. Doing so helps me to reset and focus on what is really important. I recently heard John Mark Comer share in a podcast he asks himself two questions in relation to the Sabbath: Is it worshipful? Is it restful? If the answer is no to both questions, then the task can be done in the other six days. Wow! This was so convicting.

I am still learning and growing, but even my small efforts to be more worshipful and restful on the Sabbath have yielded surprising results. God has given me more at peace so that I feel less stressed. Another benefit has been having more energy throughout the week and a more grateful attitude. I have no doubt God will continue to change me as I seek to obey him by keeping the Sabbath.

I would love to hear from you. What have you done to help you practice Sabbath rest? What small changes have you made?