We have reached the end of our first week of this 31-days series on Resetting the Rhythms of Life. I am so grateful we are on this journey together! How wonderful that we end this week of renewing our prayer life on the Sabbath, a built-in day to pray, rest, and reset.

If you are anything like me, keeping Sunday holy or set apart can be difficult, because our world is constantly open for business—and busyness. Sunday is often treated like any other workday, which contributes to the weariness, imbalance, and overwhelm we feel.

It takes courage to live Sunday differently.

But when we do, our wellbeing improves. We feel connected to God. And we become more grounded in His truth, goodness, and love. When we take a break from the busyness and are encouraged to rest, we receive refreshment and restoration. We are ready to return to our own work, schedules, and to-do lists, because we have more clarity to see what needs to be done … and what doesn’t.

Practicing an extended pause in our week, by honoring the Sabbath, we begin to hear God’s still small voice more clearly, as He shares with us what the dawn of a new day—or a new week—will bring.

Scripture Reading

Take a few moments to quiet your heart. Breathe in and out.

Read today’s Scripture verse.

And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.” —Genesis 2:2-3

After reading the verse once, read it one or two more times.

What stands out to you? A word, feeling, thought …

Journal Prompt

Today is Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Let’s welcome it as the set-aside day that it is. But how?

How often do you take time to rest on Sunday when life is relatively normal, let alone when life feels overwhelming and chaotic? How often do you use Sunday as a catch-up day instead of a restful one?

How does it feel to even consider resting today? Does it sound heavenly, or does it cause anxiety?

Wherever you are with this, invite the Lord in. Give Him your concerns, if you have them. Give Him your openness, out of faith.

Trust God—who rested Himself after His creative work was done—to give you the grace, peace, and promise of a truly restful day.

Closing Prayer

Dear God, thank You for a built-in invitation to rest. In Your wisdom, You gave us this day, because we need it. And as a good Father, You always give us what we need! Help us to receive the gift of the Sabbath with outstretched arms. Bless us with the rest we need today, so that tomorrow, we can continue the work of resetting the rhythms of life. Amen.

This is part of a 31-day series on resetting the rhythms of life. To read more about this series and see each day’s posts, click here. Photo: Unsplash