Last weekend, I left town for an out-of-state business trip. In the week prior to my trip, I was very busy with all types of business and ministry related 'stuff.' By the time I was leaving for my trip, I was feeling stressed and frazzled. (Ever been there?) While I was en route to my destination, I finally began to decompress from my stressful week. I began thinking about how our American culture places so much emphasis on doing and “producing.” I am a believer in hard work. I work an average of 60-80 hours per week... and I love every minute of it. I love to produce and put in a hard day's work. I believe that all of us have been given a specific amount of time on this earth by the Lord and that we must be good stewards of that time. But by the way I was feeling, I knew that I was running on fumes. This crazy culture can suck us dry before we know it. As important as 'producing' is, many of us often forget to take care of the 'producer' - that is, ourselves.

God, the ultimate 'producer,' worked diligently on His wonderous creation for six full days. But then He did something unique. He ceased all of His hard work and rested on the seventh day. Since the beginning, it has been God's will that men everywhere do the same thing. In fact, He does more than simply suggest that we take a day each week of rest and reflection - He commands it. (Ex. 20:8-11) Why does God do this? Because He knows that if you and I do not stop to rest and reflect, life will soon appear meaningless. Do you ever feel that way?

Do you ever feel that you are just going through the motions of your daily routine without any real purpose?

Do you often feel like you are aimlessly running in life's rat race?

This is the prime indicator that God is calling you to rest and reflect. God wants you to take Sabbath. It is His will that you stop at least once a week and intentionally reflect upon the many blessings that He has placed into your life.

I wonder what our lives as Christ followers would look like if we all diligently and jealously protected our own Sabbath days each week.

No cell phones.
No television.
No computer.
No internet.
Not even one minute of strategic thinking.

Just rest and reflection... among loved ones.

How many families would be healed if everyone committed to one full day each week of nothing but each other.

How many marriages could be saved by setting aside one day each week to spend together.

I now speak directly to those hard working individuals who rarely reward themselves with a simple break. You know who you are:

The stay-at-home mom who’s every waking moment is spent caring for her children and her household but who never gets a minute to herself.

The overworked executive whose life is wrapped up in other people's problems day-in and day-out with no time for his own family.

The ambitious salesperson whose life is measured by his weekly paycheck.

I admonish you: Give yourself a break. When was the last time you just hung out with your family all day without the distractions of a television or a telephone? Or when was the last time you spent an hour with the Lord simply thanking him for His goodness? It is the will of God for you to rest and reflect. So come on, and give yourself a break.