Key Bible Verse: "That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy" (Exodus 20:11). Bonus Reading: Exodus 20:8-11

It took time to break old habits. In the corporate world, I looked for fulfillment in my achievements. Output equaled opinion of self. I'd forgotten that God ascribed importance to me as a person, not as a producer. I had to remember who I was: someone created in God's image.

I gradually rediscovered the primacy of being over doing. I first cleared my schedule on my Sabbath. After a few weeks, I allowed myself the luxury of a nap. I also prayed more. Observing a Sabbath began changing the rhythm and pace of my life.

You may be in the same position I was: wanting a rest but wondering if you can really afford it. Is taking a Sabbath possible in our need-it-yesterday society? Initially skeptical, I've discovered that the Sabbath offers an oasis of openness to the Holy One, a unique opportunity settle our spirits before God, to hear His voice. The Sabbath should include four elements:

My Response: I could restore the importance of "being" by …

Thought to Apply: God, by giving the Sabbath, has given 52 springs in every year. -Samuel Taylor Coleridge (English author, 19th century)