Be Still To Recharge

Does life feel too busy? That it takes all your time and energy each week to keep things functioning? This can leave us feeling tired and drained. Did you know that there’s a better way?

As it turns out, we were never made to toil seven days a week. Instead, we are called to Be Still To Recharge. Many people follow the general practice of working for five days and taking two off. Yet, so often these days off are a whirlwind of errands, projects and other obligations. There is only time for just a sliver of rest. This is not God’s design. From the very start of creation, God had a formula for work and rest.

Think about it. God created the entire universe in six days, including the human race, in His own image. Then He decided a day of rest was in order, which He declared holy. He did this even though he is Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all-knowing) and Omnipresent (He is everywhere at once.) Don’t you think that a God who’s infinitely beyond our abilities, knows what He’s doing?

Rest is Part of the Rhythm

If we look around, especially in nature, we find that there is a rhythm. Weather has seasons, oceans have high tides and low, people have stages of life. Everything was made to have a rhythm in order to make it sustainable. God knew this, so he modeled how we can keep our rhythm in order to recharge. He did this by creating the Sabbath, a day of rest. Not only did he model this day of rest, it’s the third commandment! It comes right after having no other Gods and not misuing the Lord’s name. God must have thought rest was very important if it made the top three. It’s also important to remember they’re called the Ten Commandments, not the ten suggestions.

In the book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Its Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature, Peter Scazzero gives us his definition of rest, which is also called Sabbath.

Stop – Rest – Delight – Contemplate

A brief recap of Peter’s definition and my interpretation follows:

How to Be Still To Recharge

Stop – cease work, both paid and unpaid. It doesn’t have to be on Sunday, just pick the day of the week that works best for you. I know this can feel like a tall order. Who will prepare meals, mow the grass, run the errands? The simple answer is, make a plan. Live simply on your Sabbath day and take care of your obligations on another day. God is in charge and will keep the world running without our efforts. We can trust Him.

Rest – do what brings restoration to your body and soul. Slow down, take a nap if you want. Don’t succumb to the temptation to follow your regular routine. I push all house work and errands to a different day. Meals are easy to heat and serve options or eaten out. You might even consider taking a break from technology or reducing it substantially.

Delight – God was delighted with his creation and He invites us to stop, rest and take delight in it as well. What delights each of us is unique. For me it’s the luxury of savoring the Sunday paper or a good book, watching baseball with the hubby, taking a leisurely walk around Lake Harriet. If your day of rest includes a reduced dependency on technology, try really seeing and taking delight in the people around you.

Contemplate – – Psalm 46:10 sums this up perfectly – “Be Still and Know I am God.” Take the time to reflect on who God is and your relationship with Him. You are His masterpiece, His heir to the kingdom, He loves you unconditionally. To steep further in God’s love, visit the Father’s Love Letter from one of my previous Thyme4Faith posts.

Life Changing Effect

Embracing a true Sabbath has become a gift which I look forward to every week. Even though I am retired, my roles as caregiver, wife and blogger can leaving me feeling depleted at times. Now I am more at peace, more recharged for all life throws at me throughout the week. If I can experience this amount of positive life change, what can it do for you? I encourage you to honor God and trust in Him while you follow his command to rest.

God, please help us honor your command and personal example to stop and rest so we can keep the Sabbath holy. Let us trust in your power to keep things running without us. May we reestablish the natural rhythm of our lives by delighting in the gifts you have abundantly provided. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so we can contemplate your deep love for us. We need rest and praise you for providing a perfect plan to restore us each and every week. Amen.