By Idelette McVicker
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“For in six days GOD made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore GOD blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.� Exodus 20:11 (Msg)
 When asked, “How’s life?� I used to like saying, “Busy.� I thought being busy equaled being productive, responsible and successful. I falsely believed that when I was busy, I was doing something significant. I no longer do.
I now understand the importance of taking time to rest.
I learned the significance of taking a Sabbath while living in Taipei. This bustling city with over 3 million people, taught me to either take time out or burn out. I began to schedule one day per week as a day of rest, and not necessarily always on a Sunday.
On my personal Sabbath days I would stay home, read, make myself a cup of tea, take a bath, listen to my favourite music, read some more and spend time with God. Rather than a commandment, I began to experience the Sabbath as a pleasure and a necessity.
Even Oprah takes a Sabbath. “I give myself Sundays,� she says in O, The Oprah magazine (April 2004). “If I didn’t do that, I would implode, literally, in a crazy psychic breakdown. And whenever I’ve slipped up and missed a Sunday, I’ve noticed a definite change in my disposition for the rest of the week.�
Living in North America, with a family to care for, my Sabbath days look different again. Sometimes it just means staying home and switching off the TV.
What I have learned is that taking a Sabbath is one of God’s ancient ways that breathes strength, perspective and power into my busy life. I have permission to rest. And I have so much more to give when my well is replenished.
Dear God, Thank you that you had me in mind when you told us to keep the Sabbath. Thank you for this precious gift of time to rest and enjoy your presence and eternal perspective. Help me to keep it sacred. Amen.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/07/04/im_sabbath/
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Idelette McVicker is founder and editor of
www.globalgirlnetwork.com.Â
She’s lived in South Africa and Taiwan, but home is now in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two young daughters. Her mission is to “clothe this generation in Amazing.�
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I really enjoy this site and I leave links to this site whenever it seems that someone is searching and in need of God in their lives or they have a definite question I know your site has in the topics.
There is this ongoing debate of which day is the Sabbath, Saturday which is the day God called as the day of rest as He did or
Sunday which some say comes from when Jesus was risen from the cross and was influence by man and not God which is the day actually that I understand is the day they chose to attend church services to worship and praise or to learn in most cases.
Therefore they say that Saturday is the day we should observe as holy but I see you are saying whatever day happens to be our preferred and
the other question is what is meant by holy? What should be done or not done on this day?
It seems such a simple commandment can be made so much of. I tend to take readings at face.