Sabbath: A Guide to New Covenant Rest

Sabbath or shabbat means to cease, stop or rest

This course is not only about rest, but also about productivity in proper alignment. When work feels like striving, could it be that we are trying to do it ourselves? Those who learn to rest in Christ also learn how to work in Christ. Rest and work begin to blend together until we can’t tell the difference. This is the garden life we were made for.

I vividly remember the Lord’s invitation spoken to me in November 2020. This was in the midst of the quarantine when many were experiencing rest like never before. I however was busy as ever teaching the ARK classes overflowing with hungry souls.

We had just moved to Colorado and woke up to the first snow of the winter. The boys and I went outside to shovel the walkways. As I put the shovel into the fresh snow He said “This is your sabbatical.” I literally had to put the shovel down and walk in order to process the words He spoke to me. With tears in my eyes I surrendered to this idea of stopping. I was reluctant and expectant at the same time.

So many questions. So many concerns. What about the ministry? How will I provide for the family? What do you want me to do? Aren’t I more valuable in motion? I was so self consumed by what I could do for the Kingdom. I would tell you that I worked from a place of rest but my inability to stop working was a clear sign that I was fooling myself.

Over the next three months I delegated responsibilities, sat by the fire, shot lots of hoops, took long prayer walks and aimlessly strummed my guitar. It was both beautiful and torturous. Beautiful because I was progressively learning to be still. And torturous because the anxious tick to get busy was felt like I was all of a sudden diagnosed with Tourettes.

The good news is that Jesus met me in the anxiety. He answered my questions and reassured me of His presence. It wasn’t long before my heart settled into this season of discovery. It was a rediscovery of trusting God for every need I had. I can’t say I'm not still learning but this was a memorial season of sabbath that I will never forget.

Prepare to reset, realign, and lean into Jesus as He teaches His way of rest and supernatural productivity.