Why Observing the Sabbath Is so Important
Last Sunday, I felt God remind me that I hadn’t observed the sabbath (any day that week). Working for and serving him is important, yes, but so is rest ... it’s his design.
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:10) And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:2-3) Today I was on an airplane and rested by reading some of Bill Johnson and Randy Clark’s The Essential Guide to Healing: Equipping All Christians to Pray for the Sick. In the chapter “The Power of the Testimony,” Bill was explaining a situation where a verse seemed to leap off the page and so he sensed God was trying to show him something. Haven’t we all experienced something like that, when we might not get what a scripture, sentence, lyric means exactly but feel like God is asking us to hover over it for some reason? Firstly, I think it’s so special to sense that God is moving and wants to share his heart. And secondly, I felt God doing this for me shortly after. Earlier the bridge of O God of Our Salvation came to mind. I haven’t listened to this song in at least a year but had a strong desire to just meditate over the bridge part that goes,
Ascribe O church the greatness and the GLORY due his name. One God, one being, one essence ... O triune God proclaims ... Amen!
So I closed my eyes and listened to this song for awhile and then continued while I began to read ... then Bill’s words above came up ... and then this sentence: To withhold the lifestyle of miracles from the church is to rob God of the GLORY that He is due. So much joy followed as I felt God was reminding me that in my rest, in my waiting, in my hope ... he is who he says he is and he is worthy of glory. Things don’t always make sense to our human minds but how wonderful that we can be wholeheartedly assured that God is glorious.
It’s a privilege that we GET to worship him and draw close to him. Sometimes life is so busy and it’s hard to take our eyes off of our to do’s. But let’s really rest on the sabbath, yes? And be open and expectant that God will meet us. I think I might not have been so open and expectant if I was trying to squeeze in reading amidst other tasks ... by slowing down, I was able to follow what I sensed to be the Holy Spirit’s leading and receive great joy and revelation. Let’s be desperate for him. Only four more hours until I’m off this plane and back home ... get ready, God ... I’m coming after you with some loud, off-key-ish singing soon. 😉 And prayers because Lord I want to understand your will for healing and how to pray accordingly so much. #theyayproject
