DAY 10: Sabbath and Rest

Take Time To Rest And Energize

Exodus 16

The Lord has given you the Sabbath.


"24/7" is a common expression in our fast-paced society. Supermarkets and even some fitness centers are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You can work out at midnight or buy bananas at 2:00 a.m. Cell phones, pagers, the Internet, and instant messaging reflect our culture's values of 24/7 availability of information and entertainment. With a satellite dish or high-speed Internet connection, you can watch a movie "on demand," without making a trip to the video store, standing in line at a theater, or waiting for a scheduled broadcast.

God incorporated the rhythm of weekly sabbath rest into the Israelites' wilderness journey. On the sixth day, they were instructed to prepare for the sabbath by gathering twice as much manna, so they would not have to gather any on the sabbath. The sabbath is a gift of time. It is time apart from the week's demands of work and worry.

Sabbath is a gift for us who become so busy that we don't have time to care for our most important relationships or ourselves. The sabbath, no matter what day or time it falls on, invites us to stop, rest, and remember that God is the source of life and all things.


How do I build in time for rest and renewal in my life? What gives me new energy for living and caring for others?


Prayer:
Loving God, help me to stop, look, listen, and receive the sabbath rest and renewal you offer. Amen


Action step:
Prepare for and keep the sabbath this week. Invite others in your household to join you in "keeping sabbath." Arrange your schedule so that you will not need to study, work, or go shopping that day. Instead, spend time resting, worshiping, interacting with your family, and reflecting on all that God has given you.

contributed by Pastor Julie Kanarr