40|50 Project: 40 Days To Heal A Nation’s Racial DivideSample

Day 7: Rest During Protest

"I feel like I'm burning out," I confess many years ago, working 60-80 hours per week. Church plant, ministry, business, family, school. It's never-ending. 

"I've already given you a solution," the Lord replies sweetly.

"You did?"

"Yes. My Sabbath." 

At the time of this prayer, the Sabbath is foreign to me. But since I'm two steps away from fizzling completely out, I begin to study the Scriptures about resting and depending on God. Eventually, I intentionally start to prioritize His Sabbath and trust that I can work less than 20 hours per day and set aside one day to rest and still get everything done having the provision that we need. How about you? Do you observe the Sabbath once a week?

Scripture says that God gives us Sabbath rest to unplug from working for income one day per week, to cease from pursuing our own interests and following our own desires, and to delight in Him. This doesn't exactly equate to taking Sundays off as our personal spa and golf days, though there’s nothing wrong with self-care.

Our Jewish brothers and sisters have modeled God's idea of the Sabbath for centuries by unplugging from work on Friday evening through Saturday evening, having family/communal meals together and worshiping together. On Fridays and Saturdays in Beverly Hills, we can still see entire, multi-generational families walking together to the synagogue.

As we read Isaiah 58:13-14, what does the Sabbath look like for us as the Body of Christ, especially during this heightened time of protests and fighting racism? How do we prioritize rest, community and worship while trying to right so many wrongs? What are God’s instructions to us regarding the Sabbath? What does He promise when we keep His Sabbath?

CHALLENGE:

During this 40 days, as part of our protest against racism and violence, I challenge us to make one of our action steps to prioritize Sabbath rest. Pray and then plan one day per week to not work for income, to unplug with family and prioritize worship and community. For the introverts, this will also likely include figuring out some quiet space to recharge within that 24 hours. Let's not leave this to chance. Plan and then tell your loved ones to whom you will be accountable.  

PRAYER:

Father, You created the Sabbath to sustain me, that I would never burn out. I hear Your command to keep the day holy and to make it about You and not me. Will You help me figure this out? I want to obey. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.