God valued the Sabbath and so should we. But are our modern lives really compatible with the observation of a regular rest day? As unpractical as this might sound to you if you're one of those people who thinks about Sunday as the day that you skip your lie-in to attend church, wrestle with completing all of your outstanding housework, catch up with friends and family members and prepare yourself for a week of work, intentional Sabbath observance isn't only possible but it's necessary.
Although we aren't bound to fulfil the law in order to have a relationship with God because of Jesus' sacrifice, this doesn't mean that the importance of the Sabbath is rendered obsolete.
If your Sundays bear no resemblance to a rest day, let these practical tips help you to reclaim it.
Feast
The busyness of your weekly life can leave little room for catching up with friends and family. Different work schedules and extra curricular activities mean that some families don't even eat together during the week. Instead of going out for a meal, host a lunch or dinner for friends, family and anyone you know who will be alone. Because cooking for a lot of people can be stressful, or it might not fit into the spirit of resting if you do it every other day of the week, get each guest to bring a dish.
Fast
Technology is such a dominant part of almost everyone's work and social life. From checking your work emails at home in the evening to documenting your daily life on any number of social media platforms, it can prove difficult to switch off – literally and figuratively. If you can't go the whole day without plugging in, then commit to a few hours of tech-free time. This will be easier if you get your whole house to join in, and you can use the time to do something together.
Focus
Social media posts are a modern litmus test for gauging how people feel about Sundays. On Sundays, you can find multiple Facebook statuses expressing sadness at the thought of the looming working week and Instagram is inundated with memes from users with captions such as: "When you realise it's Monday tomorrow". The Sabbath gives us an opportunity to sit back, admire and express gratitude for what we have. Instead of allowing dread to wash over your Sunday, rejoice in the gift of rest and the things God will do in the coming week.
It's not feasible for everyone to eliminate every aspect of work on Sundays but feasting and fasting can help you to focus on what's important, and that includes your relationship with God.
Find
Church shouldn't be the only defining factor of your Sabbath. Find some space in your day to worship, pray or meditate alone; find a way to put God at the centre of your activities throughout the day, even if they aren't strictly spiritual.
