Margins.

Do you find yourself in a constant state of hurry?  Rushing to do something, to get somewhere or to say something.  I find myself hurrying from one event or one place to the next or pressing on to complete the next task on my ever growing to do list. 

Never really taking a moment to just breath.

Are you constantly in a rush or hurried state of being?  Where any opportunity for quiet is instantly filled with social media, a list of today’s new events, the newest binge worthy show or podcast. 

I am guilty.

I feel that my soul is in a constant battle for rest.  I intentionally add “margin” or “blank space” to my calendar. Yet, I find that even in these spaces my soul is longing for something deeper than margin, I yearn for REST.  

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gently and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

The Lord is so gracious.  I find that His Spirit will continually prompt me towards change.

I NEED INTENTIONAL REST.

I need Sabbath rest, not margin or blank space, but Sabbath.

Sabbath Rest is not just removing noise or distractions.  It is filling up our quiet space with the goodness of God’s peace.

It is like turning off the TV, shutting off your phone and taking a nature walk near a stream of water.  There is noise and movement but rest can be found there.

• Rest is not just free from noise, it is free from disturbance.
• Rest is not just free from chaos, it is an untroubled soul.
• Rest is not just free from actions, it is a state of rest.

And Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:27

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote in “The Sabbath: Its Meaning for the Modern Man”

“The words: ‘On the seventh day God finished His work’ (Genesis 2:2) seems to be a puzzle… We would surely expect the Bible to tell us that on the sixth day God finished His work. Obviously, the ancient rabbi concluded, there was an act of creation on the seventh day.  Just as the heaven and earth were created in six days, menuha was created on the Sabbath.  After the six days of creation – what did the universe still lack?  Menuha. Came the Sabbath, came menuha, and the universe was complete.”

Sabbath (/ˈsæbəθ/) (Hebrew: שַׁבָּת‎) is a day set aside for rest and worship.

The Sabbath is a privilege, a benefit. It is not a day of “things not to do” but instead it is a day the Lord establishes to be intentionally filled with God’s peace. 

I pray that the Lord will provide us the blessings and the understanding of the privilege found in Sabbath rest.  May He allow us to be fully present and fully alive to all of His goodness and peace that is happening around.  May we find comfort and peace when we intentionaly experience Sabbath rest.

Many Blessings,

Misty