Take the Day Off: Receiving God’s Gift of Rest, by Robert Morris (Review & Giveaway)
Do you need a day off? Studies show that people don’t take time off from work and even worse, their vacation time goes unused. We can find it difficult to rationalize time away from our work for many reasons. Yet, there are many reasons we need to take the day off.
And it isn’t just in our secular work. The church is falling into its trap too. Busyness is draining us dry.
Work is a good thing. God designed it. But He also knew our need for rest so He planned for Sabbath. When you hear the word Sabbath, you may be thinking…
That’s in the Old Testament.
Isn’t that legalism?
Sounds boring!
Isn’t that on Saturday?
What do you think of when you hear the word Sabbath? Share Your thoughts with me. Is #SabbathRest for today? Click To Tweet
Robert Morris Has a New Book That Can Help
The truth is rest is necessary. The benefits far outweigh missing time out of our packed schedule. But changing our thinking about rest is also needed in our culture where to get ahead we need to keep pushing to topple the competition.
Whether we are in corporate business or running a home with family responsibilities, our energy only goes so far. Our brain shuts down when stress takes over and the results aren’t pretty.
So, if you are looking for a good overview of God’s intent for Sabbath rest, I recommend Robert Morris’ book, Take the Day Off: Receiving God’s Gift of Rest. Here are my thoughts as I read:
Take the Day Off by Robert Morris
Robert Morris gives the best overview of Sabbath—from our need, society’s drain on us, and the Biblical explanation including those nagging questions that come up as we jostle between Old Testament law and New Testament grace.
He says,
“Today our culture of self-improvement and self-advancement through individual effort has resulted in tens of millions living burned-out, stressed-out lives. We’re never off and never unplugged. We’re never quiet. We’re never not bombarded by tasks, information, obligations, stimulations, and aggravations. And it is taking an enormous toll on our well-being…it’s not just adults…even children are falling victim to our culture’s obsession with busyness.” – Morris, Take the Day Off, Page xvii-xviii
So how do we address our need for Sabbath in the middle of our crazy lives? Is it more than a day off? And what benefits await?
Are Your Tanks Empty?
Robert Morris’ discussion about the four tanks in chapter three was especially helpful and gave me a lot to think about. It is more than Sabbath simply being my need to take a day off. My four tanks need to be refilled. His explanation helped to identify the areas of my life that are depleted and drained—how best to refuel my:
Spiritual Tank
Physical Tank
Emotional Tank
Mental Tank
Sabbath is about rejuvenation and refreshment—being refilled. It is needed so we can clear our heads and see more clearly. It revives creativity. And it quickens us to the voice of God. Rather than seeing it as a legalistic ritual, we receive it as a loving gift. Pastor Morris says:
“God never intended us to become rigid and legalistic about our day of rest. He gave the Sabbath to us as a loving Father to bless His children. It is a joy to rest. And there is great power and strength to be gained from pausing once a week to fellowship with God—to find refreshment and renewal as we contemplate his goodness and might.” – Take the Day Off, Page 77
The Miracle of More
Sabbath is also about relinquishing and realizing that God will accomplish more in less time. It is trusting Him for our provision. There are so many examples of this including those businesses that make the decision to be closed one day of the week like Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A. Their story is unexplained growth and production in less time. God blesses our obedience and trust.
Take the Day Off has Biblical, spiritual, and practical advice about the how and why of Sabbath-keeping. Highly recommended in our culture of busyness-seekers.
Take the Day Off has Biblical, spiritual, and practical advice about the how and why of #Sabbath-keeping. Highly recommended in our culture of #busyness-seekers. Click To Tweet
I am enjoying this book. It certainly echoes my heart for my ministry, Pausing to See God Clearly. I appreciate the clarity the author brings to the subject—a subject the weary Church needs.
But I believe it needs to begin at the personal level. It takes courage to step away from the busyness created for us. I hope Robert Morris’ words will be the catalyst.
Tell me how busyness affects you and I’ll add your name for a chance to win a copy of Take The Day Off
How has busyness affected your life? Spiritual life? Join the conversation by leaving your comment below. I will be giving away a copy (U.S. Residents only please) of Robert Morris’ book, Take the Day Off: Receiving God’s Gift of Rest. Winner will be announced on Friday, November 29, 2019.
In the meantime, let’s take a day off 🙂
Jeanne
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Resources for you just in time for Christmas & Hanukkah:
It’s so good.
I knew a kid in college who took Mondays off.
Dave, I think that makes a point that it isn’t about a particular day of the week this side of the cross. Though taking Saturday or Sunday tends to fit with most work schedules. It is more about setting aside the time to rest and be with God without distractions. Thanks for your comment
Busyness, even Christian or spiritual busyness, can get in the way of our relationships. Relationships with our spouse, and more importantly with God, can suffer when we don’t take time to spend on the important things/people in our lives and not our most pressing tasks.
As always, J.D. I love your wisdom. Thanks for sharing your heart.
Somehow we’ve equated busyness with importance and rest with laziness- both are lies. Thanks for pointing us to the need for rest and the resources to explore its value.
Marilyn, I agree wholeheartedly. The enemy’s lies! We need to get beyond our idea of Sabbath being a legalistic observance so we can receive it as God’s gift.
Hi Jeanne,
This is a timely word in light of the upcoming Holiday season. The culture fosters an attitude of hurry by promoting Christmas in October as well as daily counting down how many days we have left to shop until Christmas(no pressures! 😬) God felt rest was such an important issue, He made it a commandment, not a suggestion.
Thanks for your thoughts, Sheree. I think that is a trouble we face now–the blurring of time including the holidays. It used to be that summer was a time to kick back and do relaxing activities or schedule a vacation. But we are unable to slow the treadmill down. It is an epidemic for sure.
Jeanne, you address an issue that has become an epidemic. I know we all have obligations, responsibilities to fulfill. I ponder what HIS rest really can be. Of course we can take a day off….or use our vacation time, also unplug, so we are not always on call, but I think it is more than that ! It can be a “rest” within us, a quietness in our spirit..even in the middle of our schedules. I’m trying to learn this, to know HIS presence even in my schedule, a communing that brings HIS peace over us.
This book was such a good reminder of Biblical Sabbath, mom. And I agree with you that there is a Sabbath of the heart that pleases God. No matter what chaos we face, His peace can reign.
Busyness seems to be a word that invokes pride where I live. If you aren’t busy, then clearly something is wrong with you. We even say things like “better busy than bored.” I fall into this trap way too often. God is trying to woo me to prioritize rest. Though I struggle with this a lot, God is slowly showing me ways to energize my low batteries. In the meantime, I will extend myself grace.
Joanna, I agree; I think our culture definitely has a love affair with busyness. We are like a moth to a flame. Grace is a good thing to remember as God leads us closer to His heart for rest. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Joanna, congratulations, you have won a copy of, Take the Day Off. Please email me or message me on Facebook with your mailing address.