LOV | Be Still - Part II - 9.26.23

Hi LOV,

*This podcast will be uploaded in 2 parts*

Do you often feel like the weeks roll together without giving you a moment to breathe? Do you find yourself going through the routines day in and day out without being able to take time out for family, friends, and the things you enjoy doing? If you are like me, the answer is "YES!!!" I often end my day on Fridays feeling like I am going to lose it if I have to deal with bills, work, emails, and school schedules one more day! In this world, our hustle and bustle causes us to sometimes lose track of....well, us! I find myself running from appointment to appointment or in and out of meetings until a full week has passed by without any time for my family, my friends, and for myself. Is this your story? If so, I have great news for you! We can have and we are instructed by God to take a mini-vacay at the end of every 7-day week! That's right - God mandated a period of rest for us!

 

At the beginning of time, God ordained time each week for us to set aside work, school, soccer practice, dance rehearsals, bill paying, errands, meetings, and on...and on...and on. God modeled the REST day that He Himself blessed at the end of the Creation Week at the beginning of Genesis in the Bible. Now, those of us who know about God know that God doesn't stand in human time, nor does He need a moment to rest, yet He was intentional in adding in this Day of Rest for our benefit and to give us a well-needed rest period in order to rejuvenate and to engage in corporate rest, family time, enjoyment, meditation, and worship. If God felt it was important enough to model a day of rest that He obviously did not need, shouldn't we take advantage of that rest time?

As many believe and cherish, the Sabbath (from sunset Friday - sunset Saturday evening - a 24-hour period) is time that should be set apart, sacred, and respected as God's ordained period of rest. While many believe that the Sabbath was specifically ordained for a certain group of people or certain religions, that belief is incorrect. Long before any religions began, the Sabbath was ordained. In the very first books of the Bible, the Sabbath was blessed and God said to REMEMBER to take that rest day. Why do we need to REMEMBER, because He knew humans would get so busy in 2023 that we'd forget. Sadly, the one mandate with the word REMEMBER is the one that most of the world forgets or disregards as something that was "done away with" or subject to day changes or time changes at the hand of man. Untrue. If "don't kill," "don't steal," and "honor father and mother," are respected and were not considered for one group of people, why isn't the Sabbath given the same respect and upheld as mandated? God's mandate is still in effect in 2023 and will be forever. He didn't say, "hey, this group of people or religious believers should keep the Sabbath," but He mandated it for all people.

So, what do you do during Sabbath rest? During this 24-hour period, my family and loved ones spend time together in communion and meditation. This includes sharing a meal together, watching nature's wonders together, helping out in our communities together, spending time meditating together, and just BE-ing instead of DO-ing. At the beginning of the work week, we are well rested, well rejuvenated, and well prepared to handle another week of busyness. Some go to church, others do not. It's not about religion. It's about relationship with God, our families, our community, and ourselves. I attended a conference this week where the Sabbath was presented by Methodist Healthcare System. The Sabbath rest message has transformed lives and medical wellness for many. It can do the same for us.

As we end another week, consider taking this God-ordained day of rest to heart. Take time to cherish the hours that He ordained as sacred to get away from social media, emails, work ordeals, errands, bill paying, and all of the other "must dos" that fill our work weeks. Take the period to rejuvenate before Sunday rolls around and is quickly chased by Monday. Spend time with family, friends, in your community helping others, and just "BE-ing." You will be blessed physically, mentally, and spiritually because of it. REST and BE STILL on Sabbath.

As always, remember to live for purpose, in purpose, on purpose, and with purpose.

 

www.trimaniconsulting.com