The Power of the Sabbath - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - March 3, 2025
“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places.” Leviticus 23:3
I noticed as I was chatting with friends that my eye kept twitching. It was twitching so much that it was noticeable and, not to mention,n very annoying. I paused for a moment, trying to figure out what could possibly be sparking the constant eye twitch. Rather than jumping to the worst, I looked at the most logical.
Weeks before, my schedule was packed and overwhelming. There were appointments, places to take the kids, projects at work, and the list goes on. When I took a look at the last few weeks, I realized there was one big thing that was missing… rest.
Rest is critical for humans, we are limited beings.
We know this to be true because health experts say that adults need at least eight hours of sleep a night. As limited beings, we must stop and rest. Not getting enough rest has a whole host of adverse health effects, like heart disease and stroke.
God gave us rest because He made us and knows we need it.
God sets the example of the Sabbath rest from the beginning within the creation narrative. In Genesis 2:2-3, God rested on the seventh day, setting a divine precedent for rest. God rested, not due to exhaustion, but as a sign of completion.
We are made to imitate God’s rhythm of work and rest.
We rest as a sign of completion of our work and our dependence upon God. Our rest is a pause from constant striving. As humans, our desire is to continue to work and push beyond our limits. However, we are limited beings.
In Exodus 20:8-11, God gives Moses the fourth commandment, which emphasizes the remembrance of the Sabbath. This day was meant to be a holy day, one set aside for rest and worship. It was not to be a burden but to be a blessing to man (Mark 2:27).
Jesus even continues in the Gospels to uphold the ideal of Sabbath rest. He demonstrated that Sabbath rest was focused on renewal and worship, not just mere inactivity.
Establishing a Sabbath rest offers physical renewal. The human body is designed for cycles of work and rest. When we work all the time, we will be burned out, stressed, and riddled with health issues.
A Sabbath rest allows for a reset and refresh before continuing with work.
Sabbath also allows for mental rejuvenation and spiritual refocus. By the end of the work week, mental fatigue can cloud us. Sabbath promotes clarity, peace, and time for worship and prayer. People who rest properly often see an increase in productivity, allowing us to realign our priorities.
The greatest question that we often wrestle with when it comes to Sabbath rest is, “What does it look like in practice?”
1. Set boundaries for work and rest.
Establish one day a week for consistent rest. Whether it is Saturday, Sunday, or another day. Put it on the calendar each week and stick to it. Avoid work that is not necessary and allow time for rest. Say no to non-essential activities that disrupt your rest. This may take advanced planning and preparation. For example, Sunday is my day of rest. Outside of church, I do nothing that is not essential, and I am intentional about resting. This requires me to get chores and other things done in advance.
2. Prioritize worship and fellowship.
Sabbath isn’t merely about personal relaxation; it is about honoring God, spending time in worship, Bible study, and Christian fellowship. If your day of choice is Sunday, make worship services a priority. If your Sabbath finds itself on a different day in the week, make time in the Word and prayer a priority. Worship and gathering with other believers should fill us up.
3. Practice Sabbath rest in daily life.
Maybe a full day is a tough option. Incorporate a Sabbath practice within your daily life. Create moments of rest and worship throughout the week. Take breaks from screens, social media, and busyness. Practice gratitude, take a walk, and be present with the Lord. It doesn’t always take a full day to fill your cup and create a Sabbath practice. Sabbath rest is making the things of God a priority.
We can make a million excuses for why we cannot make time for rest. We can look at our days and think it is impossible to stop work, tasks, and to-do lists. This rest that we take should be a God-focused rest.
If we find ourselves too busy, it might be time to take stock of our priorities. If our busy days, jobs, and lists trump our time resting in Christ, it's time for a reset.
In our world today, we value rush and busyness rather than slow and faithful. We create endless lists of things to do and never give ourselves room to breathe. God’s way is different. God says, “I have given you room for rest,” and He is inviting us into His good and wonderful rest.
Let's Pray:
Father, thank you for the gift of rest. You are a kind and loving God to see our need and meet our need of rest from our work. Thank you that we can rest in you. Help us to be serious about creating a Sabbath rest in our week. Amen
Photo Credit: ©Getty/deviousrlm
Michelle Rabon is helping women be disciples who make disciples. Michelle has her MDiv in Ministry to Women from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently serving as Women’s Ministry Director in her local church. She is also the author of Holy Mess. When she is not writing or teaching, she enjoys reading, being close to the ocean, and drinking a lot of coffee. You can connect with Michelle at www.michellerabon.com
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