I don’t know about you, but my life can be straight-up crazy at times. Between work, school, piles of laundry, dirty dishes and weekly small group meetings, there never seems to be enough time to get it all done. In an effort to accomplish everything, I inevitably find myself racing against the clock but never quite winning.

I live in southern California where the days are fast-paced and the focus tends to be on bigger, better and more of it. In my area, the weekdays are ridiculous and the weekends are worse. Most Saturdays start early. There are soccer games and birthday parties to attend, cars to wash, shopping to be done and homework to catch up on. The list goes on and on. By the time we get to the bottom of the list, it’s late Sunday night and we don’t even have time to breathe before starting all over again on Monday morning. It can be overwhelming.

In all of this craziness, I find that I can lose track of what is really important: rest.

The Purpose Of The Sabbath

God feels that rest is so important that He commands it. Exodus 20:8-11 instructs us to follow His example by working for six days and resting on the seventh. By resting, we honor God and keep this special day sacred.

We are to relax the whole day. Scientific evidence is proving more and more that the human body is designed in seven-day cycles. The first six days are for working hard, the seventh is for recovery. God creates the perfect environment for us to relax. However, we often choose to ignore His advice and instead get caught up in a web of busyness.

Not only is it good for us to rest, it’s also good for those around us. By setting the example, others can see the benefits that come from taking a Sabbath. There are all kinds of advantages to be gained from obeying our Creator and taking time to rejuvenate once a week.

Healthier And Happier

When our bodies are able to rest, we are replenished and renewed. This causes an increase in the ability to focus and better perform the many tasks we need to accomplish throughout the week. It also allows for reduced stress, improved memory and even increases heart health.

Taking a Sabbath also leads to better emotional health. Our coping skills increase as does our frame of mind. And I am sure it comes to no surprise to anyone that, just like a toddler, we all do better in the attitude department with a little rest! When we are properly rested, we tend to have healthier relationships with those around us, whether at home, school or the workplace.

When we are working hard and not allowing time for replenishment, our minds are not able to focus clearly on God. Too often, God is pushed aside so that the to-do list is made a priority. We run around checking off tasks that, truth be told, wouldn’t bring the world to an end if they didn’t get done. And for what?

Setting Your Priorities

My husband and I decided years ago that we were not being obedient to God in this area. We were burned out and realized that in order to say yes to the things God wanted us to do, we needed to say no to things that fell short of His master plan. So, we mandated a Sabbath in our home. The rules were simple: stay in your pajamas all day and hang out with the family. Oh, it wasn’t easy at first, but by the end of the first month, we wondered why we never did this before.

Stopping and allowing time to rest our bodies and minds makes a huge difference. I challenge you to try it just for a month and see what happens. I have a feeling you’ll love it.

You may also be interested in Are You Missing Out? 4 Ways To Make Time For The Little Joys Of Life

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