In the fast-paced world of business, family and normal life, as leaders, we are constantly juggling numerous responsibilities, striving to meet deadlines, and navigating the complexities of decision-making. Many are the demands of the normal rhythms of our responsibilities. It’s all too easy for us to neglect our spiritual well-being and the importance of cultivating fellowship with the Godhead.
I know this all too well, and it led to me to being influenced and swept into the work-a-holic culture and peer pressure to produce more, and it almost led to the ultimate destruction of my family, not to mention my organization. I had to be reminded by a trusted friend that I needed to slow down to catch up with God. But it took a crisis to get me to wake up to the reality of the truth. I was not allowing the Lord to fill me with the abundant life that He desires us to walk in. Hidden in the Scriptures are subtle but profound keys to a healthy work, family and spiritual health balance, John 15 and Psalm 23 reminds us, there is immense value in setting aside dedicated time to commune (“Abide”) with our Creator. Let’s explore the transformative power of taking a Sabbath day each week, not only for personal spiritual growth but also for enhancing leadership effectiveness and strengthening family relationships.
The Divine Invitation to Intimacy
Psalm 139 beautifully articulates the depth of God’s knowledge and presence in our lives. It speaks of His intimate knowledge of our thoughts, actions, and desires – a profound reminder of His constant companionship and unfailing love.
In verse 7-8, the psalmist prays, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.“. This prayer echoes the longing for deeper intimacy and alignment with God’s purposes – a longing that can only be fulfilled through intentional time spent in His presence. The Psalmist continues,
“For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.”
There is not a place we can go to shelter ourselves from Abba’s good intentions for us and His words of affirmation. Like Zachariah 9:12 says, “Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope.”
Slowing down long enough to hear the words of affirmation, and hope for our future is the well-spring of life, empowering us to love. And love is the point of all life.
The Sabbath as a Pathway to Renewal
In the midst of busy schedules and competing priorities, the concept of taking a Sabbath day may seem counterintuitive to us and the demands that pull us. However, the practice of Sabbath observance offers a profound opportunity for spiritual renewal and rejuvenation. Just as God rested on the seventh day of creation, so too are we invited to rest from our labors and delight in the goodness of His presence.
I am not talking about going to church on the weekends, and then sitting in our favorite chair and watching the game. I’m talking about taking time away from the normal – and posturing our hearts in interior rest.
Taking a Sabbath day each week allows us to pause, reflect, and realign our priorities with God’s purposes. It provides an opportunity to step away from the relentless demands of work and to cultivate intimacy with the Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Resting may look like engaging in an activity that you enjoy immensely. It might be a stretch for you, but God really does enjoy you while you are enjoying the things you enjoy. I can prove it! If you have children, than you have watched them playing and enjoying themselves doing something they love. Your heart fills with love and affection as they effortlessly play or engage in an activity they love. God gave you this emotion as a gift, so that you would receive the revelation that He, God, the loving Father, loves to love you while you are enjoying something you love doing. So go do something you enjoy!
I do want to offer this caveat. When I first started taking a day with the Lord to refresh and receive renewal from the presence of the Lord. I could not get away from the responsibilities of life every week. It took me over a year to get my schedule and priorities to align. Now each Friday I am able to take a day with the Lord. So, begin where you are. Take a day a month. Over the next year, or more, and rearrange your schedule and responsibilities to allow for a day per week to just “be” with God.
I have found that when I am engaging in activities that make my heart come alive with pleasure and joy, I hear from God more clearly. I love the outdoors. I enjoy hiking and walking in the backcountry of the Colorado Mountains. Not far from my house is the Colorado Wilderness. So, my day with God usually looks like a hike in the mountains. But sometimes, a day golfing is on the menu. I also have found myself finding some Forest Service or BLM dirt road and just driving. Or, going for a long bike ride in the countryside.
Abba Father uniquely made us in a certain way because He loves deeply. We can enjoy God, while He is enjoying us. We can do that most easily while we are enjoying the things we love. In the same way that it brings us joy and fulfillment when we experience our children doing something they enjoy. Abba will meet us in the things we enjoy and love the most. Go for a motorcycle ride on the back roads, go for a hike in the mountains, go for a bicycle ride, go golfing (if that’s fun for you), just go do something that is outside of your norm, that has nothing to do with work. That might be a creative hobby like wood crafting or art. Posture your heart before the Lord and pay attention. He will speak to you as you are enjoying something that you enjoy.
Pro Tip: Sometimes there are season where we can’t go do the things we enjoy most. But we can still posture our heart in rest and hearing God while we are doing the things we have to do. Case and point: There was a season where I had some car repairs and RV repairs I had to do. So for over 2 months I could not take my “day with God” time. While I was doing the things I really don’t like to do, I prayed in the spirit, and listened to loud worship music and sang. I’m sure my neighbors thought I was insane. But that season passed and I was able to get back in my rhythm of time and space where I can take my “day with God.” My point here is sometimes there are seasons where we must do what we don’t like to do, so that we can do what we enjoy most later. It’s one of the keys of spiritual development. Embrace it.
The Impact on Leadership and Family
Sabbath rest can have profound implications for leadership effectiveness and family relationships. When we slow down and prioritize our spiritual well-being, we are better equipped to lead with wisdom, integrity, and compassion. Time spent in fellowship with the Godhead fosters clarity of vision, creativity, and discernment – qualities that are invaluable in our kingdom assignments in the Marketplace.
Taking a Sabbath rest day allows us, as Leaders to invest in our families and nurture meaningful connections with loved ones. When we are full and filled, we have more to give! By setting aside dedicated time for rest and relational engagement with God, we can strengthen the bonds of family unity and create lasting memories with those we hold dear. As Psalm 127:2 reminds us, “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” True fulfillment and success are found not in ceaseless labor but in embracing the gift of rest and restoration that God provides. Rest is a weapon- wield it with joy!
I would suggest an intentional dialog with God during this time. Ask Him questions about yourself, your family and business or organization and team. Ask Him, “what are the prayers You are praying” about each. Don’t worry about writing anything down, your spirit is brilliant, the Holy Spirit will remind you what you need to remember later. Just enjoy and talk to God, as you would talk to a friend. Just talk. Use your sanctified imagination and imagine having an conversation with your best friend who is closer than a brother. Share your heart with God. Tell Him your emotions, thoughts, dreams, anxieties, fears and concerns- just talk to God.
Embracing the Sabbath Journey
I encourage you to accept the divine invitation to embrace the Sabbath rest journey. By committing to take a day each week to cultivate fellowship with the Godhead, you will learn as I have that you will experience spiritual renewal, enhanced leadership effectiveness, and strengthened family relationships. As we align our hearts with God’s purposes and delight in His presence, you will discover a deeper sense of fulfillment, purpose, and joy in both your personal and professional lives.
As Psalm 46:10 exhorts us, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” As we accept and embrace this invitation to stillness and engage the transformative power of Sabbath rest, we find rest for our souls, wisdom for our endeavors, and abundant blessings for us and our families get more of us, because we are more fully alive in Him.
I encourage you to make the time to take to day to enjoy Abba Father and create space to hear what Holy Spirit has to say about you, your family, your business and team. He desires to speak to you more than your desire to hear is voice. I will leave you with this passage of scripture from Romans 4 out of The Passion Translation:
What happy progress comes to them when they hear the Lord speak over them…,
If you would like more information about CoReign and how we might be able to serve you and your Kingdom Marketplace Company, please visit: https://coreign.org/
Or, you can email me directly at: [email protected]
