“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
Exodus 20:8
I am a failure at keeping the Sabbath.
I let my ever present to do list, my addiction to being online and my own ego driven desires rule that day. I focus my attention of the world instead of on God. Doesn’t honor the Lord much, does it?
With rest, I noticed God-moments I might have missed before. My prayers grew clearer. Studying the Scripture became more meaningful. When life was rushed, I felt like I was reading a cookbook backward – nothing connected or made sense. Now I felt more attuned to God’s voice in the Bible.
Sometimes you have to slow to a stop and reset before you can experience divine presence. My hunger to know God increased as I learned to develop a healthy rhythm in life and rediscovered the wonder of rest.
~Margaret Feinberg, Wonderstruck, Chapter 4-A Sanctuary in Time
So I sit with Sabbath. What do I do with you, dear day of rest?
“We learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same.
One becomes in some area an athletic of God.”
Martha Graham
I am interesting in hearing how you keep the Sabbath. Let’s share some ideas.
Hi Jody, I have that book and will have to get it back out to reread. Adventure of joy – what a great line. I am turning off the technology here in about 15 minutes to begin my Sabbath. seems a little easier this week…
Thank you for your well wishes. Yes it is one step at a time. I am winding down and ready to turn off the technology in just a few minutes and do find this week much easier than last week. Thanks for stopping by and commenting Sylvia!
“Practice makes patterns.” That is perfect. I’ve been reading ‘God in the Yard’ by LL Barkat and taking the 12 weeks of stopping and stilling seriously. It has been such an adventure of joy…..
“Practice makes patterns.” That is perfect. I’ve been reading ‘God in the Yard’ by LL Barkat and taking the 12 weeks of stopping and stilling seriously. It has been such an adventure of joy…..
Hi Jody, I have that book and will have to get it back out to reread. Adventure of joy – what a great line. I am turning off the technology here in about 15 minutes to begin my Sabbath. seems a little easier this week…
BE rather than DO. Yes! And let go rather than strive. No matter how few baby steps we take, I know we’re all going to be blessed in this. After all, isn’t that what it’s meant to be: a blessing, a benefit, A GIFT? Because didn’t He say, “Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man.”
God bless your practice! And thank you for sharing, so beautiful and honest.
BE rather than DO. Yes! And let go rather than strive. No matter how few baby steps we take, I know we’re all going to be blessed in this. After all, isn’t that what it’s meant to be: a blessing, a benefit, A GIFT? Because didn’t He say, “Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man.”
God bless your practice! And thank you for sharing, so beautiful and honest.
Thank you for your well wishes. Yes it is one step at a time. I am winding down and ready to turn off the technology in just a few minutes and do find this week much easier than last week. Thanks for stopping by and commenting Sylvia!
You know me well enough Laura to know I struggle with doing instead of being. I think perhaps that is why I go on retreats. To find that center, that balance between the two. Thanks for stopping by!
I see you have left two comments here sweet Dolly. I am so far behind this week. YIKES!
anyway sorry you are having a hard week too and want you to know I pray for you every day and God loves you!
I am learning, Courtney and have a long way to go. Glad you are signing up with Shelly’s project. I know it has encouraged me and I feel better knowing others struggle with keeping the Sabbath but are trying too. I like the put it in a drawer idea. I will try that. Thanks!
BE, not do. I love that. And I love the concept of practicing, with the emphasis off perfecting!
BE, not do. I love that. And I love the concept of practicing, with the emphasis off perfecting!
You know me well enough Laura to know I struggle with doing instead of being. I think perhaps that is why I go on retreats. To find that center, that balance between the two. Thanks for stopping by!
I so appreciate your candor here. And, I’m glad you mentioned Shelly’s project – I’m signing up! As for your online addiction, that sounds familiar. My darn phone is way too handy. There was a suggestion at a recent retreat to “put it in a drawer” for certain hours of the day. It will help release your mind from its grip, and (especially on the Sabbath) open you up to God. Rooting for you and working on this myself!
I so appreciate your candor here. And, I’m glad you mentioned Shelly’s project – I’m signing up! As for your online addiction, that sounds familiar. My darn phone is way too handy. There was a suggestion at a recent retreat to “put it in a drawer” for certain hours of the day. It will help release your mind from its grip, and (especially on the Sabbath) open you up to God. Rooting for you and working on this myself!
I am learning, Courtney and have a long way to go. Glad you are signing up with Shelly’s project. I know it has encouraged me and I feel better knowing others struggle with keeping the Sabbath but are trying too. I like the put it in a drawer idea. I will try that. Thanks!
Loved how you said practice creates patterns, and doesn’t it take at least 21 days for a new habit to set…I appreciate you sharing your process, Jean…I try to not be on the Internet till Sunday evening…And I generally try to not do laundry on Sunday, but if the situation is dire, i will (wink)…I try not to be legalistic about it…Hugs to you 🙂
Loved how you said practice creates patterns, and doesn’t it take at least 21 days for a new habit to set…I appreciate you sharing your process, Jean…I try to not be on the Internet till Sunday evening…And I generally try to not do laundry on Sunday, but if the situation is dire, i will (wink)…I try not to be legalistic about it…Hugs to you 🙂
I see you have left two comments here sweet Dolly. I am so far behind this week. YIKES!
anyway sorry you are having a hard week too and want you to know I pray for you every day and God loves you!
THanks for stopping by and commenting. Glad we have connected
Glad I am not the only one, Clella. I am slowly reentering Sabbath…
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with honouring the Sabbath and am delighted you pop by Seasonal Celebration Wednesday! Rebecca @Natural Mothers Network x
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with honouring the Sabbath and am delighted you pop by Seasonal Celebration Wednesday! Rebecca @Natural Mothers Network x
THanks for stopping by and commenting. Glad we have connected
Oh Jean you do encourage me to do better at this. I don’t intentionally practice; however, I do try to stay away from internet until late evening on Sunday and most Sundays I spend some time in the afternoon studying, but my practice is very intermittent. Good thoughts here. Clella
Oh Jean you do encourage me to do better at this. I don’t intentionally practice; however, I do try to stay away from internet until late evening on Sunday and most Sundays I spend some time in the afternoon studying, but my practice is very intermittent. Good thoughts here. Clella
Glad I am not the only one, Clella. I am slowly reentering Sabbath…