It is a bright beautiful morning, but there is no time to enjoy it. It is 6 a.m. and I am pouring my cup of coffee after rushing through the shower, throwing on my clothes, and now I am dashing out the door, jumping in my car and I am off to work. In today’s world, we are so busy with the hustle and bustle of life. Why are we so busy; we have our source of income that is usually 8 or more 4 to 5 days a week, we have our homes and our families, helping a friend and serving at church If you have children, you are constantly running for events that our children are participating in sports, dance, school or church. Does any of this sound familiar? When is the last time you stopped to rest? When you take a break are you really resting?

We are told throughout the BIBLE to “be still”, to celebrate the “Sabbath with rest” , and to rest in our LORD. To so many the Sabbath means Sunday going to church and then what. Sabbath is defined in Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, and Deuteronomy 5:12-1

         Observe  the Sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord Our God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God, in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your   male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt  and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and  by and outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.                Deuteronomy 5:12-15 

I am pretty sure that I can quickly name at least a dozen people I know who are amazing children of GOD, who live a very Christian life, but DO NOT take time to rest in the LORD. GOD wants us to rest so that we can be restored and replenished.

But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, the is neither adversary or misfortune  1Kings 5:4

And He said, “My presence shall go with you and I will give you rest.”   Exodus 33:14

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you Rest. Matthew 11:28

A sports team before any game takes time to rest. A soldier rests before a battle. A performer rests before a performance. So why would we not need rest to restore and replenish our spirit before spiritual warfare. The enemy is lurking just waiting for our weakness. Weakness comes from lack of rest. God tells us in his word time and time again…to rest…to be still…to honor the Sabbath. God didn’t say the Sabbath must be Sunday. He said, the seventh day, so if your work week starts on Sunday and goes to Friday….your Saturday is your Sabbath.

I am not at ease, nor am I quiet. And I am not at rest, but turmoil comes.   Job 3:26

I personally take time to rest in the Lord many times during the week, and my Sabbath it is on Sunday. The Sabbath to me, it taking time to recognize GOD’s blessing, to be focused on GOD, and to keep it Holy. . Keeping it holy doesn’t mean I don’t do anything but read the BIBLE, it means to keep God in everything I do. If I am preparing a meal, I am thinking about how blessed I am that GOD provides the food, gave me the knowledge of how to cook, and how thankful I am for the family that shares the meals I prepare. I don’t look at cooking as work on the Sabbath…it is a joy the LORD has given me to share with others. I know many of you will disagree with this, but think about something do you take time to experience the joy in your life on the Sabbath. God wants us to keep the Sabbath Holy. What is more holy than thanking GOD for your joy? My sister, Diane, often works in her garden on Sunday. She looks at the blessing of a health garden and the health weeds. She will occasionally see a lady bug or a worm in the garden, taking time to find joy in a couple of GOD’s creatures…It is all about the JOY. My niece Hope takes road trips on her Sabbath, taking in the beauty all around her, experiencing and seeking new things, why because she fines JOY in that. ON THE SABBATH…TAKE TIME TO EXPERIENCE JOY.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter or eating and drinking but of righteousness  and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.    Romans 14:17 ESV

 God wants only the best for his children. Rest helps us be at our best. So that old expression..STOP AND TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES…is exactly what God wants you to do. He also wants you to remember to thank him for the blessing of those roses. God is so good. He knows exactly what we need and he knows we need rest. Rest and Restore your spirit with GOD.

For in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made  it Holy              .  Exodus 20:11

Heavenly Father, In the fast pace of our world, please help us to honor your commandment and take time to rest in you. May we find the joy, see our blessings, and grow closer in our relationship with you as we celebrate the Sabbath each week. GOD, as your children we want to please you. We need to remember that it is not our works that please you but our faithfulness, our thankfulness, and our love for you. GOD let me rest in you. Let me keep the Sabbath holy and let me find joy and light in the darkness of the world. Thanking you for all your blessings.             .AMEN