Reading the Bible can also show us other ways to spend time with God.įor example, reading the Psalms can teach us examples of praise, prayer, and worship to God. Make it not only a study time, but a time of communing with the One you’re wanting to learn more about. Remember to pray before, during and after your study as well. Try keeping a notebook or journal with your Bible, so you can write down any questions or thoughts that come to mind while you study. The Sabbath offers undistracted time to read and reflect on the passages you read. Studying Scripture has long been a Sabbath tradition, both in groups and in solitude. We even find that Jesus “went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read” (Luke 4:16, ESV). What better way to connect with God than to read the Word of God? Just as you would make time for a friend to strengthen that relationship, your relationship with God is strengthened when you take time to get to know Him better. However, it’s small things that pile up and consume our attention that can also keep us from actively pursuing a relationship with God.
No, it’s not wrong to check your emails or update your appointment calendars. When every interaction is rushed, social connections never deepen. Obviously, if this pattern continued, your relationship would suffer. Then, when it’s time for bed, you make a comment about your schedule the next day before falling asleep.
Maybe you eek out a quick “hey” before catching up on work emails with the TV on in the background.
You walk right past them, hurrying to collapse on the couch. Imagine coming home from work and your spouse is cooking supper. Quality time is big in any relationship, so of course it will be important in your spiritual growth with God.Īnd it’s important to remember that quality time isn’t necessarily about having time, it’s about making time. We can use the Sabbath to connect with God by using the time to learn more about Him, and by doing activities that keep our minds on Him and His creation. How can we make the most of this Sabbath opportunity? So, let’s find out how we can connect with our Creator on the Sabbath day.
We’re making time to connect with our Creator. We’re not doing business or expecting others to serve us. We also need to rest our minds and refresh our souls.įor 24 hours, starting Friday at sunset, we aren’t focusing on our to-do lists. Not only do our bodies need physical rest. God ceased His work of creating as an example to us. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation” (Genesis 2:2-3). “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. That’s why, on the seventh day of creation, God blessed the Sabbath day and “made it holy.” Time to spend with Him and enjoy everything He created for us. This was God’s original intention for the Sabbath. The Sabbath actually goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. The Sabbath is a day of rest, where we pause our regular weekly obligations to honor God’s role as Creator of the world.