Why We Should Rest & Sunday Grace Notes

Taking the time to stop and reflect is something we are called to do every week. But why should we rest and what should that look like?

A while back, every week I joined a group of ladies for something we called Welcome Home Sunday.

And what a beautiful thought it was!

Welcoming your home into the day of rest.

As weekend warriors, we tend to squeeze every opportunity of the weekend to tackle those projects.

The clean up after a long paint day.

Putting tools away after that big project.

Or finishing up that closet organization that you didn’t get done on Saturday.

I have always wondered about the Sabbath mode on newer appliances that have been released.

It’s a special mode which helps those observing the Sabbath to turn their focus on rest – including their stoves.

So if we have the option to ‘command’ our appliances to take a moment to rest, why don’t we do that for ourselves?

Why We Should Rest

What if we entered into observing the day of rest to extend to our home? If we stop the projects, chores and to-dos, how should we fill our time?

Ultimately, we stop being busy bodies and rest.

But what does that look like and why should we rest?

We rest because God rested.

God first modeled what resting looks like after he made the heavens and the earth.

“On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.”

Gen 2:2-3

Why did He rest?

He is God with neverending power and might. Why would he need to ‘take a break?’

In order to remind us to stop and take time for Him.

Remember, he commanded the people when giving Moses the Ten Commandments.

In Exodus 20 on what that looks like for us, God commanded us to set six days of our week for our ordinary work, but then to dedicate the seventh day to the Lord Our God.

But as Christians, we no longer fall under the law of Moses, because Jesus is the fulfillment of that law.

In Jesus, the Sabbaths are fulfilled.

Even Paul releases that yoke of law from our shoulders.

“ So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.  For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality”

Col 2:16-17

So if there is no longer a law, why should we still rest?

If we change our way of thinking from it being a commandment we are called to do and focus on it being an invitation to what He promises us in eternity.

Resting is a practice of our faith and trust in God.

In today’s day and age, it’s unnatural for us to take a day.

To stop doing and truly rest means that we need to trust God.

Trust that He will take care of all of the things for us.

We have to trust that if we take that day off, our world will not stop turning and everything will be ok.

It takes faith and He promises to provide.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”

Psalms 127:2

It’s a step of surrender to Christ.

Surrendering our worries, our burdens, our workload to Him.

In Matthew, Christ said:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11:28

All of us – who are worn down, over worked, underpaid, under appreciated – carrying the weight of our world in our hearts and minds.

Swap that heavy load with the Lord and have faith in His will.

Relax knowing that any extra amount of work, worry, or the need to work to gain His favor will do nothing to the end result.

Rest in knowing His ultimate, sovereign will be done.

And then trust in His will.

Rest to be drawn closer to Him.

We hustle for one thing or another, continually filling our minds with something other than Christ.

If it’s not the work of our hands, even on days off, we reach for our phone and dive into the never-ending scroll.

To be drawn closer to Him that means to not to fill our time with movies or hobbies or hang time.

While that time is important, it still is a distraction from what the biblical observance of the Sabbath.

If we step into this invitation, that means taking a moment to honor Him and to praise Him for his mercies and blessings.

So what does that look like?

It’s more than the Sunday fellowship and church service.

It’s an intentional time set aside for Him.

It could be taking the time and meditating on His word. Or spending time in prayer, seeking His wisdom and will.

Most importantly, it’s reorienting our thinking to focus on God.

What a beautiful concept to not only rest our hearts and minds, but to sit in thankfulness for our homes.

So how will you spend your Sabbath?

(Some affiliate links are provided below. Full disclosure here.)

The Latest with Us

January is always a struggle for our family.

Returning to our normal routine after time off from school.

But we are slowly getting the rhythm back and I actually welcome it. Many times, being off my schedule makes me feel disjointed.

So while I’ll miss having my boys around me more, I am eager to step back into the routine of life.

New Happenings

Did you see the latest big news?!?

We launched a podcast!! We are super excited (and a little bit scared) for this new adventure.

And we hope you are along for the journey.

Also – have you noticed the new look for our website?

I spent some time over the past few weeks giving a fresh new look to NotingGrace.com.

Hopefully, it will be easier for you to navigate and find things.

My Favorites from the Week

Since we have started the decluttering and simplifying challenge, I’ve been searching for solutions to help keep our home more organized.

Here are some of my favorites:

You can also check out some of my favorites on my Amazon Store Front.

• You Are Not Alone – Yr 1 Wk 8
• Abundance Not Scarcity – Yr 1 Wk 7
• That Time I Was Redeemed – Sunday Grace Notes – Yr 1 Wk 6
• The Fixer Upper Christian – Sunday Grace Notes – Yr 1 Wk 5
• Trusting God in the Deserts of our Life – Sunday Grace Notes – Yr 1 Wk 4
• God Does Give You More Than You Can Handle – Sunday Grace Note – Yr 1 Wk 3
• Tackling Worries and Sunday Grace Notes – Year 1 Week 2
• Overcoming the Overwhelm: Sunday Grace Notes – Year 1 Week 1