What's a Sabbath, Really? {A college girl's perspective & gatherings thus far}
Yesterday was the first day back to Evangel University- I had been on a weekend retreat with my new discipleship board!
Our [awesomeeee] team is taking a Sabbath. We started yesterday at noon and will end today, when this post will go up.
Sabbath.
What an interesting commandment.
I remember a couple of years ago, I really started to dive deep into the question: "What is a Sabbath, and why is keeping a Sabbath such a big deal to God?" I was reading in the Bible and convicted because it's one of the Ten Commandments, but I hadn't really seen anyone in my life practice this before. Since this time of inner refinement was occurring as an RA, I was very quickly learning that there could be some benefit in rest, like a Holy Sabbath.
So, yesterday, I went for a nature walk. I brewed some tea and headed out to my favorite Springfield park. I felt SUPER rushed to hurry up and go buy the necessities to move into the dorm, and get everything situated as soon as possible. But, I was also tired from retreat.
In my previous searchings about rest and Sabbaths, I found that there are different types of rest that we need. I used to think the Sabbath was a time to do nothing. Absolutely. Nothing. However, when I tried that, I felt like I was going to lose my mind! So sometimes I would write, and as I developed a more restful Sabbath for me, I found things like going for a walk in nature, sipping some tea, reflecting, and sometimes reading or napping are good too. I also found that I have what I like to call "safe people." These are people who I allow into my Sabbath times. They uplift and encourage, but mostly, they are people I can just be with. It feels like rest when I am with them.
It's interesting. As humans, we are spiritual, physical and emotional beings. So, I was finding I had to keep my spiritual, physical, and emotional parts of me well by giving them rest too!
Here's what some of that looks like for me:
Spiritual: listening to a podcast or YouTube sermon to feed my soul if it's feeling parched, reading my Bible, and sometimes, my spirit feels exhausted and I just need to sit with God and practice gratitude or stillness. I might even just slow down and listen to some praise music outside and look out at the sky.
Physical: running, exercise, dancing- or sometimes I need a break and will either take it easier by going on a walk or just taking a physical break (BIG NAP or HGTV marathon)!
Emotional/Intellectual: Sometimes, I just need to give my feeling muscles a break. Watching a comedy show, going to Target or Ross to just look at pretty things, or sitting quietly with a friend (like one of my safe people) as I journal are really helpful. Writing blog posts like this to share my heart and pour out what is going on in my heart- even with the hope of helping others- helps my own soul too.
I hope this helps; for a lot of my peers, the Sabbath seems mysterious and hard. I felt that way at first too.
Ultimately, I think the Sabbath is a time to check in and refresh. It's a time to be extra intentional to listen in to what God has to speak to your soul, whether through people, music, or His Word.
Most times, my rest looks different. Each day and week and month of our lives holds different hurdles; some weeks take more of an emotional toll than others- God knew this, and created the mandate of the Sabbath to remind us to connect with Him to find all that we need. He sustains us, fills us, and deeply encourages when we give ourselves space to say 'yes' to what He's got.
I am excited to share that I have been loving my Sabbaths! I still get distracted, and allow myself to get stressed or to do something that I should take a good-to-honest break from. But, there's grace. It's not about getting the practice perfect, but about finding rest with God. It's about knowing Him more, and letting Him into more of your life. It's about growing in His Power and Strength. It's about spending time with the One who calls you Beloved.
He loves you; I love you!
Happy Sabbathing,
Mel xoxo
Our [awesomeeee] team is taking a Sabbath. We started yesterday at noon and will end today, when this post will go up.
Sabbath.
What an interesting commandment.
I remember a couple of years ago, I really started to dive deep into the question: "What is a Sabbath, and why is keeping a Sabbath such a big deal to God?" I was reading in the Bible and convicted because it's one of the Ten Commandments, but I hadn't really seen anyone in my life practice this before. Since this time of inner refinement was occurring as an RA, I was very quickly learning that there could be some benefit in rest, like a Holy Sabbath.
So, yesterday, I went for a nature walk. I brewed some tea and headed out to my favorite Springfield park. I felt SUPER rushed to hurry up and go buy the necessities to move into the dorm, and get everything situated as soon as possible. But, I was also tired from retreat.
In my previous searchings about rest and Sabbaths, I found that there are different types of rest that we need. I used to think the Sabbath was a time to do nothing. Absolutely. Nothing. However, when I tried that, I felt like I was going to lose my mind! So sometimes I would write, and as I developed a more restful Sabbath for me, I found things like going for a walk in nature, sipping some tea, reflecting, and sometimes reading or napping are good too. I also found that I have what I like to call "safe people." These are people who I allow into my Sabbath times. They uplift and encourage, but mostly, they are people I can just be with. It feels like rest when I am with them.
It's interesting. As humans, we are spiritual, physical and emotional beings. So, I was finding I had to keep my spiritual, physical, and emotional parts of me well by giving them rest too!
Here's what some of that looks like for me:
Spiritual: listening to a podcast or YouTube sermon to feed my soul if it's feeling parched, reading my Bible, and sometimes, my spirit feels exhausted and I just need to sit with God and practice gratitude or stillness. I might even just slow down and listen to some praise music outside and look out at the sky.
Physical: running, exercise, dancing- or sometimes I need a break and will either take it easier by going on a walk or just taking a physical break (BIG NAP or HGTV marathon)!
Emotional/Intellectual: Sometimes, I just need to give my feeling muscles a break. Watching a comedy show, going to Target or Ross to just look at pretty things, or sitting quietly with a friend (like one of my safe people) as I journal are really helpful. Writing blog posts like this to share my heart and pour out what is going on in my heart- even with the hope of helping others- helps my own soul too.
I hope this helps; for a lot of my peers, the Sabbath seems mysterious and hard. I felt that way at first too.
Ultimately, I think the Sabbath is a time to check in and refresh. It's a time to be extra intentional to listen in to what God has to speak to your soul, whether through people, music, or His Word.
Most times, my rest looks different. Each day and week and month of our lives holds different hurdles; some weeks take more of an emotional toll than others- God knew this, and created the mandate of the Sabbath to remind us to connect with Him to find all that we need. He sustains us, fills us, and deeply encourages when we give ourselves space to say 'yes' to what He's got.
I am excited to share that I have been loving my Sabbaths! I still get distracted, and allow myself to get stressed or to do something that I should take a good-to-honest break from. But, there's grace. It's not about getting the practice perfect, but about finding rest with God. It's about knowing Him more, and letting Him into more of your life. It's about growing in His Power and Strength. It's about spending time with the One who calls you Beloved.
He loves you; I love you!
Happy Sabbathing,
Mel xoxo
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