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What Is The Sabbath?

God created the Sabbath so His people could step back from their work and rest. For the Israelites, the day of rest started at sundown on Friday and lasted until sundown on Saturday. While our Sabbath might not follow that exact timeline, we are still created and called to rest.

Let’s look at two of God’s reasons for us to find rest found in Exodus 16:22-23.

First, He knows we need it. Work makes us physically, mentally, and emotionally tired—so we need rest and renewal. We need our bodies to generate serotonin, a feel-good hormone our brains produce only when we rest or exercise. Serotonin improves everything from our focus to our behavior.

Second, rest gives God room to do powerful work. When we constantly work, we are doing things in our own power, and we leave little opportunity to trust God to do the work. Work may mean more money, more possessions, and more accolades, but we can often end up driven by the wrong thing to get the wrong thing.

Proverbs 23:4-5 tells us, Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

God wants us to stop for a day to rest in order to see his sustaining power in action. The Israelites witnessed a miracle every Sabbath when the extra food they collected didn’t spoil. Imagine if we were to rest and see the miracles God would do if we’d simply stop insisting on constant busyness!

Simply put, a Sabbath is both a day and a posture of the heart. It’s an attitude that looks for moments of rest to see God at work every day.

Where can you find margin to rest and give God space to work this week?

As you engage with God’s Word:

● Do I trust the Lord to bless me more with my five or six-days-a-week labor than I can working seven?

● What is God saying to me?

● How can I apply what God is teaching me?

● How can I be specific in prayer today?

After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer.