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This guest post is part of a series on Sabbath Rest for Small Church Ministry LLC, where we help women create joy & success in small church ministry. Any opinions expressed within this blog post are those of the author and not necessarily held by Small Church Ministry.
Sabbath For Today’s Christian Women
As Christian women, let’s not let the busyness of life crowd out that sweet relationship and sense of God’s presence. Here’s a fresh look at Sabbath rest.
“Dolce Far Niente”
In Italy, one of my favorite countries, there is a saying that translates into English as, “The sweetness of doing nothing.” That sense of being in the moment appeals to my version of Sabbath, especially as I have had more than one enforced Sabbath time in the last few years.
Sabbath time is a sweet concept to me. As a believer, I know that I am made to live in a mindful presence of God with a daily awareness of His Holy Spirit working in my life. But too often, we let the busyness of life crowd out that sweet relationship and sense of His presence.
Has anyone ever heard their heartbeat on a microphone? Whoosh, whoosh. My heart sounded like a worn-out old-fashioned washing machine.
After a time of travel to Italy where I didn’t feel like I could catch my breath, the doctors said I needed a new part; my old aortic valve was not working as it should. It wasn’t my first surgery, and not even my first open heart surgery.
Once again, I was told that I needed this surgery in the next 6 months or I would be dead in a year. Yikes! And in the meantime, I was to be on an “enforced rest” so that my heart wouldn’t explode. Double yikes!
Enforced pre-surgery rests, enforced recovery time, and enforced Covid-19 self-isolation became a time of Sabbath from life’s pressures. Whether or not you need open heart surgery, you may have to learn what it means to rest in the sweetness of the presence of God.
Practice “dolce far niente” but turn it into “la dolcezza di stare con Dio” or “the sweetness of being with God.”
What Sabbath Does Not Mean
- A season of laziness or binging on Netflix
- A day away from God or skipping church
- A time to be careless, sloppy, or gluttonous
- A month of saying “No” to everything
God might ask you to give up a few things you are doing, especially if He has not called you to do those things. (“There is no one else to do it, so I have to” is not a good reason to do ministry. Perhaps a time away from those ministries will help you evaluate whether you need those programs. Discover where God is working so that you can join Him there, where He has gifted or called you.)
What Sabbath Does Mean
- A time to totally lean back emotionally into the arms of God who loves us and wants to give us “life to the full.”
- A time to be transparent to God, confess hidden sins, and experience forgiveness.
- A spiritual hammock –– a slowing down from the distractions that often take us away from an awareness of God working in us and through us.
- A reconnection with God who loves us by reading His Word out loud, to bring into our very beings the beauty and power of the scriptures.
- A delight in His presence without distractions, especially electronic ones.
- A mindful attitude of seeking God’s presence above everything else.
- A catching of our breath spiritually by spending time in prayer as we go –– a continual conversation with God.
- A renewal of relationships that have been neglected, or even discarded, as God directs you.
Finding The Sweetness Of Sabbath
God Told Us He Would Give Us Rest
He is always waiting for our full attention. He is patient, but will not wait forever (literally).
Just Get Away
Jesus gave us a great example of getting away from the crowds. Just get away –– even a 5-minute Sabbath can help if all is quiet around you. Take deep breaths and quiet your mind.
Seeing Beauty In His Creation
… or in the smile of your child, or in the arms of your husband, or in a finished apple pie will fill your soul.
Finding Joy
… real joy deep down in your heart. Joy in every minute of every day. Not temporary happiness or retail therapy, but a deep-seated joy in being God’s much-loved child.
Giving Thanks
… arms raised high, face upturned to the sky, and say a heartfelt “Thank you, God” for His sweetness, His strength that sustains you, and His Sabbath.
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Wonderful! Makes me want to treasure the gift of Sabbath even more! Thank you!!