Sabbath
Week 02: Ceasing
The Sabbath is a 24 period of ceasing. The word Sabbath means “to cease”. So on the Sabbath, we cease. We cease working, achieving, worrying, striving for more, etc. And by ceasing we make space to rest in God and trust in his goodness.
Last week we focused on preparing for the Sabbath. Like any good celebration we look forward to, it takes preparation. Tish Harrison Warren writes, “There is no celebration without preparation.” The same is true of the Sabbath. We must prepare for the Sabbath if we are to truly enjoy rest and delight.
This week we want to focus on ceasing. God even ceased working on the seventh day of creation. Genesis 2:2 says, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” Why did God do this? Certainly, he wasn’t tired and needed rest. Rather, he took time to cease from work so he could enjoy and delight in the work of his hands. This is the work of ceasing.
The heart of Sabbath isn’t just a day off to catch our breath and relax. It’s a day where we enjoy the work of creation we are a part of. We take a step back and look at our lives and world with wonder!
Often our lives are too busy and frantic to enjoy the things that matter most – the things we create, the people we love, the moments we’ll never get back, and life itself. The Sabbath is a time in the week when we cease everything else so we can delight in life, creation, and God himself.
01 – Begin. Begin the Sabbath by lighting a candle and saying this Hebrew prayer of blessing: “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who has sanctified us by your commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Sabbath lights.” And then with all the chutzpah you can muster get everyone to say “We welcome the God of the Sabbath!”
02 – Stop. For the following 24 hours cease work, productivity, and anxious striving. Take that time to enjoy life. Don’t let a moment pass you by! Celebrate the people you love, have a good meal, open a special bottle of wine, read a book, make love to your partner, bless your loved ones, breathe life in, and live deeply.
03 – End. End your Sabbath day with a moment of gratitude. Thank God for the gifts you have, the life you live, the body you inhabit, and the people you share the earth with. Thank God for his presence in your life and the blessing he has given.
Recommended Resource: Subversive Sabbath by A J Swoboda