“Of all spiritual disciplines, a Sabbath rest is one of the most neglected.”

Allen Macartney
Special to Spur Ottawa

Jesus called only one of the 10 Commandments a gift to mankind. Sadly, that gift (a Sabbath rest) is all but lost today, along with the blessings it brings. Quiet Pools and Love Ottawa are hosting an event to help reclaim the gift of God’s Sabbath.

The evening features David Barker, a professor at Heritage Seminary, who bubbles with enthusiasm when he talks about a weekly Sabbath rest. He says he learned the hard way after experiencing deep exhaustion from a too-busy life, juggling ministry and family responsibilities.

“The benefits are many and amazing,” he says. “My relationship to God has deepened. Now it’s so much more passionate, intimate, and vibrant. My family noticed an immediate difference. It brought relief to them as they saw me relax. Then my physical and emotional health improved. Now I enjoy fun Sabbath rest activities, like canoeing, casual reading, and relaxation, rather than trying to fill every second with ‘productive’ work.”

Terry Long, the lead of Quiet Pools, agrees.

“Of all spiritual disciplines, a Sabbath rest is one of the most neglected,” she says. “People get so caught up doing things for God in this frantic 21st Century that they forget the greater importance to ‘be’ with God; resting with Him, delighting in Him.”

“As imitators of Him we must find rest times, too.”

That’s where we gain lasting endurance and strength, she says.

“A Sabbath rest isn’t wasted time. It actually fuels our future service. We’re made in the image of God. He rested after making the world, so as imitators of Him we must find rest times, too. Jesus regularly rested and prayed, then had lots of energy for ministry.”

It’s important not to get legalistic about taking a Sabbath rest, says Barker.

“When I was a kid, growing up in our strict Baptist home, we either had to sleep or read a book on Sundays.”

But a true Sabbath rest is so much more, he says. Not only does it bring relief from the tyranny of work and deadlines, but it also gives us time to pray and play.

“Sabbath rest means different things to different people,” Long states. “Each person has to decide for themselves its meaning. For some, it might involve riding a mountain bike, going for a hike, or reading the Bible. For another, it might mean going for a nap or spending unhurried fun time with family members.”

It takes planning and discipline.

But what about a busy mom with kids at home, how can she have a Sabbath rest?

Barker says, “In most cases she can’t take a full day off. She has to find her ‘ceasing and releasing’ time often in shorter periods of intentional rest and play. This might involve indulging a passion like gourmet cooking or gardening.”

Barker stresses that it takes planning and discipline. We need to carve out that time from our busy lives to rest in, and with, God.

“Once you get into the habit of scheduling a weekly Sabbath rest,” he says, “you won’t want to miss this blessing.”

Sabbath Rest—God’s Gift to Us takes place March 24, 2017, at the Vineyard Ottawa building.