Rest

 We live in a 24/7 world. We carry our phones with us, which are basically mini-computers filled with the promise of connection in one way or another. We can post, read, blog, tweet, e-mail, text, call, answer, like, scroll, all in one device.

The thing is, that besides the ability to actually do all of these things is the constant pressing knowledge that we HAVE this ability. The temptation to do much of the things mentioned above can become part of our day’s rhythm. We find ourselves checking e-mail, making a quick entry on Twitter or a fast post on Facebook. Then we scroll and scroll and scroll….and scroll some more.  “Where did the time go?” we wonder. 

In addition to this time stealing anomaly, we are constantly connected. We can become inundated by our phone ringing, pinging, buzzing or whatever sound we have designated to get our attention.

When we’re not hearing ringing, pinging or buzzing, there is always the possibility of it in the back of our consciousness. This isn’t something we even realize, but we have become “on-call” people.

Anyone that has ever worked “on-call” understands this feeling. It’s a partially non-committal presence to the rest of the world in any given moment. It’s the act of being in your life without completely “being” in it. It is the art of partial engagement. It’s the ever present knowing that something may pull you away.

Yet this wasn’t how God intended for us to live. We were never meant to be 24/7 people. We were created to be people who rest. Who disengage. Who unplug. We were created to be Sabbath people.

We were given a commandment to “Remember the Sabbath”.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” –Exodus 20:8-11

“And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”-Mark 2:27

“So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”-Genesis 2:3

“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a 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 could go on but I’ll stop.

The point is that we were not created, not only to be 24/7 people; but also not created to engage in all the things that we engage in, or process all the things we need to process within any given day.

In moments we can read about the bad news, not just in our community, but from around the globe. This might include disturbing images or concerning headlines.

Then we wonder why things like depression, anxiety, fatigue and stress plague our world. In the midst of processing more than we can even wrap our minds around and responding to more than we are even capable of, our bodies; physically, emotionally, spiritually react to this over burden.

We are told to rest. We are told to disengage. We are commanded to make Holy the Sabbath; to cut time out of our busy lives to just be. By whom you ask? God.

We need time to heal. To rejuvenate. To fill up. To re-energize.

We were not created to be 24/7 people, or to engage the world like the latest and greatest computer processor.

Because here’s the thing...God also wants our worship, our attention, our time. When we spend healing time in the quiet of our thoughts, He can speak to us. When we disengage with the worlds bings and beeps and rings….we can have ears to hear His still small voice.

“Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;  and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.-1 Kings 19:11-12

The wind, earthquake and fires of our lives are not where we will hear the Lord. We may be masters of multitasking, but He won’t allow us to multitask our busyness with His worship. 

Do you take a day each week to just be? Do you take time to disconnect from all the interruptions of life? Do you make holy the Sabbath?

Each day has its own Sabbath time as well. Find a day in your week and time in your day, each day, to unplug from the world and plug into God. To rest your mind, sooth your soul and calm your mind. you were not created to be a 24/7 person. You were created to be His. 

Keep Holy the Sabbath.

 

-Pastor Patti