The Concept of Sabbath

Hi family, and welcome to my first-timers.

Today, we'll be talking about Sabbath. If you are not familiar with the word, sabbath is from a Hebrew word שָׁבַת or šāḇaṯ, meaning to cease or rest. Other words used to describe sabbath are celebration and away. But before we dive into what it is, allow me to create the context.

📷: gameplan

Early this year, I was tired of not reaching my goals, so I decided to be intentional about 2022. I implemented all the knowledge I'd learned about SMART goals, atomic habits, motivation, and grit to devise a plan. I knew where I was going, why, and I had a support network. Perfect plan, right? However, by the end of the school year in May, I felt a pull to consecration. The summer was meant for reflection and recalibration before the next season started. However, I didn't know what the next season was and how recalibration was supposed to happen, so I eventually slipped back into my routine and every day looked like a regular day - school, chores, personal stuff, social media, sleep, rinse, repeat.

I wasn't as busy as before, yet I was exhausted. I slept a lot and watched TV, yet I wasn't resting. It even seemed counterproductive sef. Have you ever felt like that? By August, instead of feeling renewed, I was burnt out, and it was time for my full-credit load semester to begin. The nudges from May began to make sense when September came. All my favorite ministers were talking about transformation, birth pangs, buying the fields, execution, and I was like, Oh hell, no! (in the most African American voice ever).

What execution? Me that I was already tired from just waking up.

If you've ever felt like you missed a nudge or instruction from God, I feel you because this was me. However, there is grace. Somewhere between panicking about missing it and feeling exhausted, I came across one of the first Christian YouTubers I followed on Instagram, @Justin Khoe. ( Note: If this topic interests you or you like kettlebells, you should follow him.)

He started making videos about the sabbath day and rest. That was when I was finally able to put a name to the thing I needed so desperately. Sabbath.

Today's world cherishes products, results, and outcomes so much that we often sacrifice sabbath or replace it with sleep however the difference is very clear. Now that I think about it, the concept of sabbath has been littered in my life. I just didn't connect the dots. I'm sure if you check your life, it is too. Earlier in the year, I praised my fav restaurant on campus because they didn't open on Sunday, yet they were one of the fastest growing chains in the US. While their counterparts often stayed open 7 days a week, they opened 6, yet other businesses struggled to catch up. I won't make claims but seeing the founders are Christian, I say they practicalized Sabbath in their business. How rare is that!

Robin Sharma also spoke on the importance of proper retreat and rest in his book, The 5 AM Club. "This is what distinguishes the world-class from the average. They recover from giving their best so they can do it again. Even a machine will have to recharge." Even the Israelites were ordered to rest on the 7th day. And most recently, my coaching at Immerse focused on overcoming an overwhelming life. The signs were clear. If you want to live a life of productivity, of giving your best work, whether, for yourself or God, you must understand the concept of sabbath.

Sabbath is not just sleeping. It's not watching TV. It's not even what you do in your leisure time. Sabbath is the time you intentionally set out for renewal and reflection. It should be frequent, maybe weekly or monthly, not just at the end of the year.

So what should sabbath look like?

I'm still figuring this out, but I think it should include relaxation, reflection, recalibration, and strategy formation. You must find out what recharges you. Yes, sleep. But what else? For some, it may be music, some walking, some artistic expression, some lying still, some daydreaming. Everyone has a combination of things that positively recharge them. Then reflection. What was done well, what wasn't, why?

Recalibration is essential because, in your reflection, you could steer off course. Imagine you are a writer, but for one of your stories, you decide to add pictures. However, because some readers liked said pictures, you start focusing on drawing and becoming an artist instead of the stories you are called to write.

Every critique, feedback, collaboration request, or idea for improvement can be categorized into 3 boxes: One. Aligns well, so should be implemented. Two. Doesn't align at all, so should be ignored or politely declined. Three. Could serve as a bonus, so should be taken into consideration but not at the expense of a well-aligned task.

After this, strategizing for the next week or month comes easy because we already do that for our primary goals. Just slot in the positives, remove the negatives and take note of the bonuses.

So yes, that's all for now.

I hope you enjoyed this and, most importantly, take some time to be intentional about creating and following through on your sabbath schedule.

✌🏾 & 💝.

Kami.

Support the blog by:

Sharing your thoughts in the comments below.

Sharing this post on your social media.

Want to read some more or stay in touch?

Explore more of the blog here

Or

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter below.