Good morning…
Okay, so you know I tried a new thing yesterday. I did not write a blog post, on purpose. It was Sunday, the very first day I intentionally practiced the art of Sabbath-keeping, setting apart the seventh day of the week as a day of rest, honoring the sacred rhythm set forth by God at the beginning of creation. Six days of work. One day of rest. God’s design for abundant living.
Even though it was Sabbath, God still stirred me awake in the middle of the night as has been the Spirit’s habit for years. This time I responded differently. Instead of praying for a while before getting out of bed to work a few hours on a post for our written word community, I lingered in prayer. I rested in bed. I lingered longer, lost in thought with the LORD.
When the moment was right, I was coaxed out of bed, cozied up on the couch and opened my journal. After dating the blank page, I wrote “REST IN HIM.”
“I see the block of wood etched with these words, a symbol of a new habit I am developing with God,” my handwriting explained. “I am learning the art of Sabbath-keeping. My heart leapt as I laid in bed, prayed in bed, delayed in bed my rising.”
Cuddled beneath a blanket, I felt wrapped in Christ. Cathartically, I emptied my deepest prayers onto the blank page. Writing down the private details of my current concerns seemed to offer a full bodied release. A certain clearing occurred and one unusual word rose up from within: RE-CREATED.
Remaining in a state of rest, I wrote down the word and researched its meaning. To create again. To give new life. To restore to a healthy condition. Then I explored some synonyms. Renew. Revive. Refresh. Restore. Reform. Resuscitate. Recharge. Reinvent. Rebuild. Renovate. Restructure. Rekindle. Reinvigorate. Reawaken. Reborn.
I thought to myself, “These life-giving words capture the true essence of Sabbath-keeping.”
The Spirit had one more gift to give during our middle of the night rest fest. I was drawn to a new translation of one of my favorite Bible verses. We have become God’s poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it! (Ephesians 2:10,TPT).
Developing the art of Sabbath-keeping, we learn to rest with God one day each week. Consciously joined to Jesus, we are empowered to fulfill the unique destiny designed for us before we were born. Our one day of rest with God, week by week, refocuses us, recommits us, reenergize us for the six days of good works already planned in advance for us to do.
The art of Sabbath-keeping is all about resting in the truth of our deepest destiny: Joined to Jesus, we are God’s poetry.
Might Ephesians 2:10 become our new “life verse”? We have become God’s poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus!
…Sue…
