Sabbath- How to remember it with prayer exercise
SABBATH PRAYER EXERCISE– Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy… One of the things God intended for this commandment was celebrating and resting in His finished work. When God created and filled the earth in 6 days (Gen 1:31, Exodus 20:11, 2 Peter 3:5), He rested from his works.
God called his people to remember His awesome power and divine provision by also resting on the 7th day of the week. Before Christ, it was a 24 hour mandate from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. No labor of any kind was allowed in order to cease and rest and celebrate God‘s divine provision and care and holiness.
In a radical expansion of sabbath rest, God sent his Son to complete the final creative work, paying for human rebellion with His own blood and life breath. After Christ‘s sacrifice, the 24 hour definition of sabbath was expanded to eternity! No longer one day of remembering rest, but possessing eternal rest, continual celebration of God’s holy provision for our imperfect souls through Jesus! For those who believe, we are to celebrate our Sabbath rest ALL the time, knowing there is no end (Hebrews 4:3, 10).
For those who remember the Sabbath, we keep it holy by remembering Jesus. We celebrate His finished work on the cross. His final breath was, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Saved by grace, not by works so no one may boast. Today remember the Sabbath by remembering Christ’s invitation, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest…” (Matthew 11:28).
PRAYER EXERCISE-
Take a minute to go back and forth with clenching your fists and then completely releasing them so they fall open in a relaxed way.
- Do you feel yourself hold your breath when you clench?
- Do you see how you relax and breathe when you release the tension?
- As you clench your hands notice how restricted you feel. Did you feel that this week? Do you regularly experience that feeling of tension in your days?
- What is making you tense? Bring those things to Jesus.
- Talk to him. Tell him about areas you want to stop striving and instead trust in His divine intervention. Breathe deeply, relax your hands, open them and let them rest softly in an open reception to Jesus. Ask to receive a fresh expression of his divine provision for you to cease from striving. Ask him to help you rest in His presence, and celebrate His complete provision for the deepest needs within and without. Wait and receive blessings! #intothewaters