Sabbath: Where It All Began

 

I remember the time I sat at the old scoreboard in Athens with Maiben and asked her for a piece of advice for junior year, and she responded “honor the sabbath.” This was the first time I had heard any of my peers talk about such a day. I didn’t know anything about it and definitely had no idea what it would look like to honor it. I had seen an instagram post one time about Passion City Church taking a “week off for Sabbath,” but I just thought, “sounds interesting!” Then, fast forward a couple of days after Maiben gave me that advice, and at freedom worship, Becky encouraged everyone about the importance of the Sabbath: a day of rest. She talked about how we always look forward to holiday breaks and summer because we are able to rest, but the sabbath is available for us every week! And will remove that constant feeling of just waiting for the next break. 

Two friends mentioning the sabbath randomly two separate times in one week? Two friends that have been such big contributors to my walk with the Lord and that I trusted. They had to be on to something, so I started honoring Sunday as my Sabbath. And it has absolutely become my favorite day of the week. Am I perfect at it? No? Have I done work on it before? Yes. Have I been consistent on every single Sunday? No. But Sunday is my day where “I only do things that I fully enjoy.” And luckily, for me, the thing that I enjoy the most is spending time with Jesus and the people around me. 

This began my journey of realizing that the Sabbath was not an Old Testament practice, but something I could live out right now. 

The book that has most shaped my practice of the Sabbath is The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. I have now read this book three times and it continues to realign and reorient my life to one of slowing down and finding rest in the Lord. In addition to reading the book, I also enjoyed John Mark's How To Unhurry Workbook and Fight Hustle, End Hurry Podcast.

“What could I do for twenty-four hours that would fill my soul with a deep, throbbing joy? That would make me spontaneously combust with wonder, awe and gratitude?”

“If I Sabbath every seven days, it adds up to TEN YEARS OVER A LIFETIME.” Ok John Mark Comer didn’t capitalize that but WOAH! That is a crazy concept to think about. That 10 years of my life will be full of days where I was still and delighted in God and his creation. He later goes on to say that “people who keep Sabbath live all seven days differently.” So this simple practice of taking the seventh day off can literally better your life and your week.

“Keeping the Sabbath is the only ‘spiritual discipline’ that makes it into the Ten Commandments. Not church or Bible reading, not even prayer." (and the only commandment with a why behind it)

So what has the Sabbath come to look like for me?

Cups of coffee

Taking a walk

Putting away electronics

Reading a book

Journaling

Lighting a candle

Watching the sunset

Spending time with people I love

DELIGHTING IN THE LORD.

Creators: Macy Hudson, Emily Pinkerton, Tanner Alexander, Ty Ensley