"8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it
thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy
manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
Exodus 20:8-11 KJV
I have grown up in a Christian home my whole life. Sundays have always been the day that we go to church. But one thing they haven't been is a day of rest. I feel like this is one Biblical principal that I've heard a lot about but have never applied it.
God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Do your work in six days and on the seventh day rest- Exodus 23:12. And here are a few verses on rest:
Psalms 55:6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest
Isaiah 14:3-4 When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: ”How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!
Genesis 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
I know that Saturday is also considered the 7th day. And a few books I've read strongly encourage the Saturday Sabbath. But, to me I think Sunday is our day for rest. We go to church on Sunday. Lots of businesses are closed on Sunday. And it's a nice and relaxing start to a new week. (Luckily I don't work full time anymore so I don't have to worry about a Monday-Friday job)
What does a day of rest look like for me? Relaxing! Sleep in (as late as I can to get to church on time). Don't do house work. This one is so hard! I find myself wanting to do dishes, laundry, pick up, vacuum... but it is so nice to just put it off. Sometimes I will straighten and clean the house up on Saturday just so it's all clean for Sunday. Isn't it easier to relax in a tidy home? I also try not to grocery shop. It's work going to the grocery store. And minimal cooking. I enjoy cooking but it takes time and creates dirty dishes. If I was in school I would try to do my homework earlier so I didn't have to do it on Sunday.
Sundays are the perfect day to get outside. My son and I enjoyed a walk today. It's so refreshing to be outside in God's creation. And it's the perfect day to cuddle up with your family and watch a movie or spend time doing whatever your family enjoys doing together.
Would you consider trying to make Sunday a day of rest?
