Sabbath: Start by Stopping

What is Sabbath?

Very simply put, Sabbath is the practice of setting aside one day each week to rest and be with God.

The key here is that sabbath rest needs to be regular and repetitive. Sabbath invites us to a healthy rhythm of life. God knows what humans are about, he knows that we will push on, doing more and more, forgetting that we can burnout if we aren’t concerned with slowing down. God knows we are like and so he commanded that we rest (Exodus 20: 8-11).

But we don’t always listen to God. Do we?

We think that we don’t have time to take a single day off, let alone one each week. We think that we can somehow get ahead by working on tomorrow, today. And to be honest, if we are trying to live by the world’s logic, by the world’s economy of how we spend our time that might be true. But the world's economy is one of scarcity where people claw at their calendars and live in desperate fear that there is never enough time.

And it is that fear (that we are falling behind) that prompts us to action when we are supposed to be resting. We open our messages to make sure that the world isn’t falling apart and we lie to ourselves that “one quick check” won’t ruin our rhythm. I even hear people boast about how little time they sleep. As if only getting 5 hours a night somehow makes them a more valuable person. Our days are filled with artificial light and late night opportunities for us to “work hard and play hard” but we leave zero room for rest - which brings us back to Sabbath.

I want you to hear me clearly, if we sleep less, work more, and over fill our calendars, we will face serious consequences.

The most serious consequence of an overscheduled lifestyle is that it crowds out God.

When we crowd out God we lose track of what’s actually important in life. We get on the treadmill and don’t go anywhere. We chase and chase without realizing that in order to catch what we desire, all we need to do is stop.

If you don’t rest you might be lucky and simply experience the utter exhaustion known as burnout. Maybe through that experience you’ll realize that you need to adjust your schedule

to accommodate more rest. That may not happen. Instead of a singular incident that forces you to adjust, you may end up walking through life vaguely aware that it is supposed to be better “than this.” The good news is that there is a better way, and God has clearly it for outlined for us, because (I’ll say it again) God knows us.

It’s counter-cultural, but I want you to think about Sabbath, I want you to practice Sabbath as a way to work from your rest, instead of resting from your work.

Will that work pile up while you rest? Maybe. But your abil­i­ty to do your work may also amass, and your abil­i­ty to dis­cern what is most needed will almost certainly do the same. When we start by being filled in God’s presence we can get needed clarity to see what is most important, and give our best to it. Sabbath rest is never in vain.

I feel like maybe I’ve overstated the real world implications of Sabbath. I’ll invite you here to look again at the purpose of Sabbath listed in its definition- to rest and be with God. Whatever your Sabbath looks like, make sure that you are with God in it.

Does Jesus talk about Sabbath?

Some people think that Sabbath (which was introduced as part of the Law in the Old Testament) isn’t necessary anymore because of Jesus. Often people cite how Jesus worked on the Sabbath (See Mark 2 and Matthew 12), but (also in those chapters) Jesus taught that he was Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8) and that the Sabbath was made for man’s benefit (Mark 2:27).

Basically, Jesus says that you shouldn’t be so legalistic about what Sabbath looks like. YES, you should make every effort to do it, but if you need food- go get some. If someone needs medical attention, get that done too (duh).

Practical Suggestions for your Sabbath:

I feel really, really passionate about Sabbath. That’s because I know how much better life is when I commit to God’s intended rhythm, rather than drumming out my own. But it isn’t easy to defy the culture we are enmeshed in. So here are some ways for you to start trying to make a commitment to a weekly sabbath:

Schedule Sabbath First- (**this is a suggestion for whichever spiritual practice you want to commit to): Honour God by giving him the “firstfruits” of your time. However you schedule your week, book your time in with Him first, and schedule other things around that time. Keep your Sabbath day holy. Let your time with God be your greatest priority, show it by setting it apart.

When we set Sabbath first, it is a statement of confidence in God and in his provision for us

Set boundaries- Tell people when you are Sabbathing. Even though it may be awkward (at first) to say NO to people and commitments if they don’t serve the goal of your Sabbath, it’s an important step. This may mean saying no to things that you really, really want to do. But remember, if it doesn’t contribute to your ability to rest and be with with God, you should at least consider turning down the offer.

Setting boundaries doesn’t mean that you need to be legalistic about Sabbath-keeping as the Pharisees were in Jesus’ day. It just means that you want to consider your relationship with God and your need for rest before making a decision about your day.

Slow Down- This may be a challenging one, but try to be unhurried throughout your Sabbath (and maybe on other days if you’re looking to be really countercultural). Drive in the slow lane, let someone go ahead of you in a line up, putter around the house.

Consider not using technology on your Sabbath day (especially those technologies that force you towards connecting, comparison, or numbing out).

See slowing down as a way to practice living at a more relaxed and prayerful pace.

Intentional Excursions- If you don’t have a whole day, consider taking the opportunity to walk somewhere with the intention to encounter God in a new/unexpected way. This could mean going on a hike, walking to church, or entering a labyrinth. The point is to walk with eyes and hearts open to where God is leading you (metaphorically and literally in this case).

This could also be used as an extended Sabbath rest, if you were to...say… walk the Camino de Santiago, or something.

Make it special- Sabbath is a beautiful practice, so mark it like you would any celebration. Light a candle, have a special meal, listen to music that brings you into the presence of God.

I like to start my Sabbath in the evening, with a great meal before winding down well- which for me means letting my phone battery literally get to zero (and not charging it for my whole Sabbath day), having a hot shower and sliding into a freshly made bed. All those details combined indicate a shift from normal life into this special day for me and God.

Sleep- Many of us don’t get enough sleep (I started wearing a device that tracks my sleep, and to say that the data that’s come out of this experiment is enlightening, is an understatement). Regardless of data, we all know that days where we have gotten a good amount of quality sleep are better than days when we got too little (or too much) sleep.

So, for you, practicing Sabbath may mean lingering in bed, or taking a nap to recharge. This may help you trust that God is in charge of the world (and that it’ll survive without you!)

This is certainly not an exhaustive list of how to do Sabbath. For example you may have noticed that I made no mention of scripture study in this post, even though it’s a common thing to do on Sabbath. The most important thing is that your Sabbath reflects and enhances your relationship with God. Does that mean that you should read scripture? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe sometimes.

Get restored and rejuvenated in the presence of God, start by stopping.

Keep practicing,

Are there any “must do’s” or “must haves” for your time with God? Let me know in the comments, by email (meghanlamatthews@gmail.com) or on Instagram (@itsmeghanmatthews)