Monday, June 12, 2023
When you think of summer, what song comes to mind?
This weekend, Pastor Ben kicked off our new series Sounds of Summer. Over the next few weeks our church will take a look at some popular summer songs and tease out the messages they contain to see what they say about life. Then we will turn to the Bible to get clarity on what God says. We kicked the series off with the song Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. The song title, like summer, has become synonymous with unwinding.
The Oxford dictionary defines unwind as “relax after a period of work or tension.” According to Pastor Ben, unwinding is something we do, not something that just happens. It’s necessary to be intentional about unwinding.
Do you know how to unwind? I’ve often been told that I don’t have any “sit in my bum,” so unwinding is particularly difficult for me. I need to trust in God and the practice of unwinding/resting that he modeled in the Bible.
Genesis 2:1-3
1 So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. 2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
Why should we take the Sabbath as a day of rest? Plain and simple … because God commanded it—it’s commandment number four to be exact. God rested for a day and so should we. He didn’t mean for this to be an arbitrary rule but rather gave it to us as a blessing and benefit. Keep in mind that God has ceaseless energy and does not need to rest, but he knows we do. Our energy is limited, and we need to replenish it. The Sabbath formula is a healthy rhythm and an important part of our spiritual journey: work six days and rest one. We will experience God’s blessing when we rest God’s way.
Exodus 20:8-11
8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work. 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.… 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
Keeping the Sabbath holy has redemptive power. As we learned with this week’s bottom line: It is blessed to rest.
Questions:
Do you think taking one day off a week is a good idea? How do you intentionally unwind? Do you feel that unwinding is easy for you, or do you struggle with it?
Next Steps:
Be intentional about keeping Sunday holy (or if you work Sunday, choose another day). Set aside all your electronic devices and refrain from working. Spend time reading your Bible, talking with Jesus, enjoying nature, with your family, or taking a nap. Above all, concentrate on the spiritual side of life. Journal how this made you feel. Now, when life comes at you with insurmountable challenges, read your journal entry for physical and spiritual renewal.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for the blessing of the Sabbath. Grant me strength so that I can put away the distractions of the day to focus my spirit on you. Open my heart, mind, and spirit to serving others. Make me a blessing to someone today. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ecclesiastes 9:17
“Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king.”