Every Sunday, i have a basic routine. i rise. i have my personal bible study and prayer. i exercise. i eat breakfast. i attend Sunday School. i worship at worship service. i go straight home and rest. i eat some dinner. i rest some more. rest for me is taking a nap, or drawing, or reading, or watch a TV show, or journal. most of all its enjoying the peace and tranquility of the day... stopping to hear the rain drops against my window or the birds chirping in the trees.
A few years ago, i did not know the importance of sabbath rest. i treated Sunday like another day of the week. i had to look at the 10 commandments and a book that i cannot recall at this time and ask myself several questions: am i involved in activities at home, work, or church, that God wants me to do or that i want to do? (after i asked this question, i wrote down everything that i was involved in and asked God, 'what do i need to stop doing in my life? how is my behavior affecting my sanity, health and well being?'). when will i allow God to be Lord of the Sabbath? (i stopped running errands after church. i stopped hanging out. i even cut down on computer usage. i recently started cooking on Saturday's like my grandma did when i was little so i could really relax on Sunday's).
Exodus 20:8-11 states: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
God led by example. Work 6 days, rest one day. it was hard for me to learn how to rest on Sunday's after church a few years ago but i love it. i actually try to rest on Friday's also three hours before prayer service. when you rest, you get to ponder where you are, where God wants you to be, if you are allowing God to order your steps. when you rest, you realize, my body needs eight hours of sleep every night, not just on Sunday's. when you rest, you realize peace is attainable in every aspect of my life. when you rest, the Peace of God surrounds you mentally, physically, personally, and spiritually.
God, i repent for not keeping Your Sabbath day holy. God i repent for working 7 days a week. God i repent for encouraging the people around me to work also. God deliver me from my addiction to work. God forgive me for going to work and not going to worship with other believers. God help me to restructure my Sabbath and my lifestyle to one wherein i can live in peace each day. God order my steps in Your Word. God let Your peace that surpasses all understanding keep and guard my heart. In Jesus' name, we pray amen.
