Advent 2020: Fasting as
Pause

Activity: Sabbath

Take a deep breath. And another. Pause. What’s going on around you? Is today chaotic? Confusing? Wonderful? Normal? Something else? Journal your thoughts about today:

Let today be a pause. The work, anxiety, and stress will likely still be there tomorrow. If it is a situation you can resolve easily, do it. If not, set it aside. What can you do today, instead, to rest?

Sabbath is a regular, weekly break from the normal grind so that you can focus on your relationship with God, rest, worship, and recharge. Many Christians think Sabbath is Sunday. Our Jewish friends celebrate Sabbath Friday night through to Saturday night. But here, we are examining Sabbath on Fridays. Perhaps, in your weekly planning, you will sabbath Saturday or Sunday - and that’s fine. But take a moment and start thinking about Sabbath right now.

How can you do these things today, or this weekend?

• Worship Corporately in Church?

• Worship Individually by yourself?

• Play?

• Pray?

• Exercise?

• Read the Bible?

• Read for fun?

• Create?

• Celebrate?

• Limit Screen Time

• Practice Hospitality?

These are not supposed to be a list of to-dos that need accomplished, but a list of invitations into something sacred and holy. The Holy Spirit is with us in our work and everyday lives, but the Holy Spirit can speak louder and clearer when we have fewer influences bombarding our sacred time with the Lord. Carve out some Sabbath time today, even if you will more fully participate in Sabbath on a different day.