''There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.
Leviticus 23:3.
Six days you must work, and on the seventh day you must rest. God Himself rested on the seventh day and saw all that He had made. Remember, He created you in His image and likeness, so you too must follow His example.
God’s decree to His people was that they should work their farms and harvest for six years straight. But on the seventh year, they were to leave the land fallow, without planting or harvesting (Exodus 23:10-11). This command was meant to allow the land to rest and regain its full strength for the next six years of labor.
This command should not be taken lightly. Beyond the physical rest the land needs, there is a spiritual significance to letting it rest. God promised to bless the land abundantly on the seventh year, and those who disobeyed His command by overworking the land found themselves cursed, reaping nothing from their disobedience.
The Sabbath is a day of rest, a day to let your body rest and be blessed. It is not a day for work; to do so is to deprive your body of the physical and spiritual blessings it needs to function in accordance with God’s will and design.
This is what the LORD says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 17:21
The Sabbath can be any day you choose it to be. For many, that day is Sunday, but the key is not when you observe the Sabbath, but how you honor it. There are important principles to follow: you must rest and refrain from work. This day is meant for your body to rest, allowing you to receive both physical and spiritual blessings from God.
Don’t get hung up on which day it should be; instead, ensure that it is a day of complete rest. For those who serve in the church, Sunday may not be their Sabbath, as they are required to work. But the Sabbath should still be a day dedicated to your own well-being. It’s a time to build yourself spiritually, mentally, or physically. The goal is to focus on improving your state of mind and nurturing your overall health.
That’s the essence of the Sabbath—a day of rejuvenation for your spirit and body. God blesses those who keep the Sabbath. It’s like a tithe to your body, a small portion of rest and restoration that allows God to bless and redeem the remaining ninety percent of your life.
Use the Sabbath to speak blessings into your life. Use it to recover all that you have lost in the Lord. If you used to work all week thinking that your efforts alone were making you money, now is the time to change your mindset. A hundred percent of your effort will be far less than ninety percent with God’s blessing.
Observe your rest day and keep it holy, as the commandment instructs. Pray to God this Sabbath and allow Him to work miracles in your life. Tithe well and let Him redeem the ninety percent for you. Honor the Sabbath and use it to receive not only physical blessings but, more importantly, spiritual blessings.
Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
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Prayer for the Sabbath day
Almighty Father,
I thank You for my life and for all that You do for me. Thank You for the work of my hands and for the divine health and strength You provide so that I may carry out my work. Your Word asks us to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, and it tells us to rest on this day.
On this rest day, I come before You in prayer to thank You for Your mercies and the abundance in my life. I thank You, dear God, for my family and the friends You have blessed me with.
I pray on this day seeking strength and renewal. Please refresh my body and my soul. Grant me the strength I need to return to my work. I pray for wisdom. Guide my every step and teach me to do all things with excellence. Bless all that I do, for without Your blessings, all my efforts will be in vain.
Let this Sabbath day bring me renewal, restoration, and blessings.
Amen.
