Sabbath. On the world race, we’ve been encouraged to have a team sabbath day once a week. To take a day to be with the Lord and sit in His presence. As I’ve taken days to sabbath, I’ve tried various activities on the search for what would bring me rest and renewal.
I’ve read books, watched movies, spent time in my Bible, listened to worship music, explored new areas, organized and completed to do lists, played games, and engaged in conversations with friends.
Something I’ve been exploring is what it is like to have sabbath moments. It is really nice to have a sabbath day that can appear to be a day off, but often I’ve found that I try to fill the day with productive things to feel accomplished or play catch up on things I had wished to get done earlier in the week. I’ve been noticing that when I incorporate sabbath moments into my week in additional to a possible sabbath day, I feel more in tune with the Lord and at rest in Him.
I spend time in His presence with His people. I am reminded of who He is, who He says I am, and those around me. I lean back into the arms of my Father who loves like no other. I spent time devoted to seeking communion with Him and seek to communicate with Him throughout my day. I desire to be aware of His presence around me and see the world with His eyes and perspective.
This week I sat at our hostel in Bira Beach, Indonesia and watched the waves crash upon the rocks. I reflected on the sessions we’d been having. I asked the Lord questions and sought to sit with Him. I hung out with Him in different ways in sabbath moments. Sometimes it looked like sitting at the counter overlooking the water, listening to music, or reading my Bible. Sometimes it looked like processing my experiences and being reminded of His truth. Sometimes it was just staring out at the Lord’s marvelous creation. Sometimes it looked like going down to the water and dancing freely in worship and praise as the water splashed onto my feet and up to my rolled up jeans.
As I looked out at the water and let new experiences sink in, my eyes were drawn to the rocks. The waves throughout the day would come up and down the beach. Sometimes they’d be right up by the house. Sometimes they’d powerfully come over the rocks and other times just touch them. Sometimes the water was far away.
The Lord reminded me of His promises. Life around us can be full of ups and down. Some waves come up and over us. Other times the water remains calm. In life, the Lord is our rock. Because He is anchored and provided a way for us to be in relationship with Him through Jesus, we can be firmly grounded and be steady rocks. Even when we feel like the waves are too high to handle, the Lord is with us, steady and faithful. He is here and present. He is constant and true. He is unshakeable. We can lean back in His loving arms and sit back and breathe anytime we want to. He is here. We can rest in these promises.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:2 NIV
Worship Songs:
Lean Back by Capital City Music
The More I Seek You by Kari Jobe
