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“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best
use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15, 16, ESV)
Is More Truly More?
Our lives are packed to the brim with so many things we want to pursue. In a
society that is madly driven by consumerism and marketing, we are easily
lured into believing that the more we have, the happier we are. Because of the
tempting advertisements all around us, we wrongly desire to have it all.
Sometimes we extend this thinking even to our work for God. We want to serve
God, but at the same time, we don’t want to miss out on anything else that
crosses our path. And so we desperately try to harmonize our desire to serve
God with the endless pursuit of more and more things. This leads to a
whirlwind of activities. In a restless hurry, we fool ourselves into believing
that we can follow God without letting go of everything else that vies for our
attention. When we apply this false thinking to our walk with God, we are deceived.
Being Willing to Let Go
We cannot have it all—we cannot embrace both the world and its luring
pleasures and the blessings of God. To think so is a fatal mistake. This
mentality of consumerism infects our thinking and inflicts disastrous effects
on our spiritual lives. We cannot have God on top of everything else, like icing on
the cake, without purposefully making room for Him in the crowdedness of
our hectic lives. We first must be willing to live with less to experience the
blessings of things that matter more. We must let go of the things that distract
us from God’s presence and deplete our physical, mental, and spiritual energies.
When we try to juggle jam-packed schedules at ever-increasing speeds as our
to-do lists grow longer and longer, we quickly find ourselves exhausted
physically and deeply depleted spiritually.
Live With Less
Is the clutter in your life holding you back from fully living for God? Crowded
lives leave little room for the Creator of the universe. We must understand
that less is more. We cannot experience more spiritual blessings, more prayer
time, more of anything in our spiritual life if we only try to add it to an already
full plate. Such overcrowding only leads to more emptiness. Instead, we must
make an intentional decision to live purposefully with less so that we can enjoy
more of what matters to God. Less is more!
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time
All prayer groups have different ways of praying together. We encourage you to
spend the next 30-45 minutes in united prayer, in whatever way the Holy Spirit
leads. We encourage short conversational prayers (1-3 sentences). This allows for more
people to pray multiple times. Below are some examples of praying through Scripture
based on the theme. You may pray through other passages also and include other
subjects in your prayer time. See the Leader’s Guide and World Church Prayer
Requests for prayer ideas.
Praying God’s Word — Eph. 5:15, 16
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best
use of the time, because the days are evil.”
“Look Carefully Then How You Walk, Not as Unwise but as Wise”
God, in our brokenness, we seek Your grace and provisions. We have filled our lives
with too many activities and distractions. We need a reformation, a
cleansing, a re-prioritization of the things that truly matter. Teach us what it means to
live with less so we can focus on what matters most. We desire to be wise with
wisdom from above. Guide us, we pray. Amen.
“Making the Best Use of the Time”
Precious Jesus, You always have perfect timing, and You know what needs to be said
and done at each time in history. Thank You for Your perfect ministry to this world.
Please teach us how we can make the best use of our time for You, especially in the
context of the last days. Reveal to us where we waste our time and give us victory over
the things we know are taking up too much space in our lives. Amen.
“Because the Days Are Evil”
God, we understand that the world is coming to an end very soon. The signs are all
around us. Yet, at times we get so distracted by our busyness, or deceptions, that we
forget that we are on the edge of eternity. Lead us into a total commitment to
You and the ministry You have for us individually. Recalibrate our lives to be in tune
with Your will. Amen.
Priorities of Faith
DAY 2 — THE DANGER OF BEING BUSY FOR
GOD
“The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he
said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many
were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the
boat to a desolate place by themselves.” (Mark 6:30–32, ESV)
Busyness in the Work for God
Busyness is king in our world. Modern society and high-pressure consumerism have
drilled one belief into us: the busier we are, the more respected we become. Busyness
has become an indicator of our diligence and eagerness to do good and get ahead. But
while we are busy making a living, we have forgotten to live and enjoy life, which is
tragic. Perhaps even more tragic is the subtle danger that many committed followers of
Christ have adopted: a mindset of busyness in their work for God. We often do it for the
best possible reasons. We know that time is short. We want to accomplish the most for
Him. Therefore, we strive to be busy. We want to be good stewards of our time and
talents. It feels good to be busy for God, and sometimes we are tempted to think that
God will reward our busyness for Him, only to discover that in our busyness for God, we
have lost our living connection with our Redeemer. We are doing good things out of
habit, not in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the busier we get, the more we deem
ourselves in line with God’s purpose. Busy becomes the new norm. We are so busy
glorifying how busy we are that we miss the moments in life that really matter.
Busyness crushes our spiritual vitality. Hurry is the enemy of any love relationship,
especially our relationship with the living God of Scripture. Love demands the attention
of unhurried time.
The Duty to Rest
No wonder that the God of Scripture repeatedly calls us to stand still, to pause, to watch
what He will do for His people (2 Chron. 20:17; Psalm 37:7). God encourages His children
to un-hurry. He knows how quickly we lose sight of Him when our minds are wrapped
in a whirlwind of human activities. One of the most beautiful insights into the danger of
constant busyness for God is found when our Lord Jesus took the liberty in His own
ministry to rest. Ellen White beautifully captures this important aspect of His ministry
with His disciples: “They had been putting their whole souls into labor for the people,
and this was exhausting their physical and mental strength. It was their duty to rest”
(The Desire of Ages, p. 360).
Busyness crushes our spiritual vigor and effectiveness. Hurry is the great enemy of our
love for God. Rather than adding more items to our calendar, let’s intentionally reduce
and make room for meaningful, soul-invigorating quiet time with our Creator and
Savior.
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time (30–45 Minutes)
All prayer groups have different ways of praying together. We encourage you to spend
the next 30-45 minutes in united prayer, in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads. We
encourage short conversational prayers (1-3 sentences). This allows for more people to
pray multiple times. Below are some examples of praying through Scripture based on
the theme. You may pray through other passages also and include other subjects in your
prayer time. See the Leader’s Guide and World Church Prayer Requests for prayer ideas.
Praying God’s Word — Mark 6:30–32
“The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he
said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many
were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the
boat to a desolate place by themselves.”
“Come Away”
Father, we have been so busy doing Your work that we have forgotten it is your work.
Thank You for reminding us of our need to come away, to take a break, to take a breath.
Thank You that we are not machines but human beings. Forgive us when we have made
our busyness an idol or when we have built our worth on how much we accomplish for
You. Please turn our busyness into faithfulness. Amen.
“To a Desolate Place”
God, we have surrounded ourselves with too much noise, too many things, too many distractions. Whether we spend our time working for the church or engaged in other
endeavors, we recognize our need to step away and spend time reflecting and resting
away from the busyness of life. Please give us the grace needed to carve out time alone
with You daily to breathe and focus on what truly matters. Amen.
“Rest a While”
Loving Jesus, when You walked this Earth, You understood humanity’s need for rest.
Thank You for exemplifying the balanced life we ought to live. Show us what proper
rest looks like and how we can rest regularly to recharge and refocus. Amen.
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Day 4 — THE FREEDOM OF A FOCUSED
LIFE OF SIMPLICITY
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“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure
their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have
received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matt. 6:16–18, ESV)
Fasting Makes Space
One way of creating space to live a life focused on God is fasting.
Fasting means decluttering our minds and lives by deliberately making room
for the movement of the Holy Spirit in us and by focusing on God and His Word.
The Bible often mentions fasting in connection with prayer. Jesus fasted before
He started His public ministry (Matt. 4:2; Luke 4:2). The apostles fasted and
prayed to be guided by God (Acts 13:2, 3), and in the Old Testament, fasting was
frequently practiced among believing men and women (1 Kings 21:9, 12; 2
Chron. 20:3; Ezra 8:21; Esther 4:3, 16; Isa. 58:6; Jer. 36:9; Dan. 9:3; Joel 2:12;
John 3:5; etc.).
In contrast to wellness fasting, biblical fasting is not about observing a
specific diet designed for weight loss and well-being. Instead, it is the conscious
decision to abstain from food and distracting activities for a period of time to
pray and commune with God. By temporarily giving up the familiar, we gain new
spiritual freedom. During fasting and prayer, the focus of daily life changes:
away from satisfying our own needs, away from our own works, and toward
obedient listening to God. Biblical fasting expresses our desire to increase our
dependence on God and pay attention to spiritual things that matter. This
encompasses more than not eating; in fact, it challenges every area of our lives.
In fasting, we acknowledge that we want to make space for God by
reducing any distractions that crowd our attention and desire. We indicate that
we want to seek and treasure God’s presence in our lives more than anything else.
Abstain and Include
How can we live this life of simplicity, where we learn to concentrate on things
that truly matter? Just as we need to watch what we eat, we must be mindful of
what we put before our eyes and what enters our ears. What we hear affects our
thoughts just as much as what we see. What types of music, books, podcasts, or
websites cause toxic thoughts or occupy your precious time with vanity? In
addition to abstaining from certain things, you may need to deliberately
include new habits to help you build up and create healthy, healing thoughts.
A life of simplicity, a mind unfrazzled, does not come from what the world
tells us to pursue. A content heart comes from trusting God. When we learn to
focus on Him, rather than on what others are doing, and when we practice
letting go of things that distract us, we discover a simpler life of rest and peace
with our Creator and Redeemer.
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time
Praying God’s Word — Matt. 6:16–18
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure
their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have
received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
“When You Fast”
Our loving Heavenly Father, thank You for providing us with whatever we actually
need. In our excess and abundance, we often forget that too much of something is
never good. Lord, fasting does not come naturally, and so we plead for Your strength to
choose to abstain from indulgence and abstain from anything harmful, whether
food, music, movies, shopping, etc. Also, show us how we can be more intentional in
replacing what is not beneficial with what is. Help us to choose a holistic, healthy
lifestyle. Amen.
“Like the Hypocrites”
Oh God, we desire a heart transformation. Forgive us for our hypocrisy, for
whenever we say, teach, or preach one way, but live another way. We want to do the
things we do for You from a heart that is surrendered to You, a heart that is motivated
by love, a heart that is renewed by Your mercy and grace and the ongoing presence of
the Holy Spirit. May our fasting, and all our spiritual and daily activities, be a true
expression of Your holy presence in our hearts. Amen.
Priorities of Faith
Day 5 — FOCUSING ON THINGS THAT
MATTER IN OUR PRAYERS
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“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your
kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’” (Matt. 6:9, 10, ESV)
A New Focus in Prayer
Focusing on God and things that matter is important in our prayer life as well.
Often our prayers are weak and ineffective because they center only around
ourselves. We pray to God about what we wish to have. We focus on our needs
and the challenges we face rather than on God.
Prayer that is pleasing to God has a refreshingly different focus. The focal
point is no longer our “want-to-have list” but God Himself. This perspective is
the key to a new prayer experience. Prayer that is pleasing to God first
recognizes God as my faithful friend whose companionship I seek because He is
important to me, not because I want something from Him. Who He is, is
much more important than the things He gives me. Knowing Him is the reason
I want to talk to Him in the first place. Without Him, my life is de-centered and
lacks the proper perspective. More important than anything I can ask for
should be my desire to be with Him. His presence and who He is become the
center of true prayer.
God-centered Prayer Transforms
Prayer that is pleasing to God begins with a desire to be with Him. It does not start
with my wishes and requests. When my prayer requests are not anchored in
this loving relationship with Him, they circle more around myself than God and
His will. Once I understand that my relationship with God is the center of
prayer, my requests gain a totally new focus. I begin to think and pray
from God’s perspective. I start to view my requests, my wishes, my yearnings,
and my whole life through His eyes. This perspective ennobles prayer.
Remove the relationship aspect from prayer, and prayer becomes one-sided,
selfish, and wrong. God-centered prayer frees my thoughts from revolving
around myself. It allows me to become honest with God. In the light of His
love and holiness, I begin to see myself differently. The true purpose of prayer
is not the fulfillment of my wishes but deepening my relationship with the
life-changing God. It is so easy to ask God for something before I have
enjoyed His companionship.
When I consciously think about God’s character, His qualities, and what He is
able to do, and when I express my adoration in my own words, my prayers are
filled with spiritual life, admiration, and awe. No longer are my prayers
centered on my problems but on God, who is the Master of all my needs. Such
prayer lifts me up into His presence. It does not change God; it changes me. Why
not start praying like that? It will change your life.
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time
Praying God’s Word — Matt. 6:9, 10
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your
kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’”
“Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name”
Our kind Heavenly Father, You are God. You are almighty, all-knowing,
wonderful, and magnificent. You are beautiful and marvelous. You are Truth,
Righteousness, and Love. We desire to know You so much more. We want to daily
appreciate Your character, Your abilities, Your personality, and Your will. Free us from
our selfish focus, and make our prayers centered around You. Amen.
“Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done”
Lord, Your kingdom is the only governmental entity we want to pledge our full
allegiance to. You reign in love, truth, justice, and righteousness. Our ideas, plans, and
methods are imperfect, but Your will is always perfect. Spread out Your kingdom in
our hearts and lives today. Make known to us who You are. Amen.
Priorities of Faith
DAY 6 — GRIT, PASSION, AND
PERSEVERANCE
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not
give up.” (Gal. 6:9, ESV)
Spiritual Grit
Grit is something we don’t often associate with spiritual matters. But it is just as
important in our daily pursuit of holiness as it is in other areas of life, from sports to
learning to successful business transactions. Without grit, success is unlikely. Grit is the
passion and perseverance of pursuing a goal we deeply care about. In order to reach our
goal, we organize our lives in such a way that nothing distracts us. We need such grit in
our spiritual walk with God, and we need it in a special way in our prayer life. Too often,
we do not see the results of our prayer requests because we are not persistent in our
prayers. Perhaps we get distracted or discouraged, or we give up in our hearts and do
not believe that God can hear and act in ways far beyond our comprehension. In
Luke 18, Jesus tells His disciples the story of a widow who persistently brought her case
to an unjust judge. Although this judge had no regard for God or the woman, he
eventually granted the widow’s request because of her persistence (Luke 18:1-7). God,
however, is not indifferent to our prayer requests as the unjust judge was. God is eager
to help far more than we can even understand (Jer. 33:3).
What we need today, in our marriages, in our classrooms and dormitories, in our
churches and homes, are people who pray. Not just those who talk about prayer, those
who say they believe in prayer, or even those who can give nice explanations about
prayer. We need people who actually take the time and pray!
Persistence
God does not work on the premise of faster and cheaper. Often in the great controversy
between God and Satan we need persistent prayer. We must be passionate and
persistent in our prayers because God’s timetables often don’t line up with our human understanding. God rarely takes the path of least resistance when working out His
divine solutions. He is not interested in the easy way out but in the best way through!
In our prayers, let us not settle for less or remain satisfied with shortsighted goals. God
is pleased when we persevere in our prayers.
In the study room of my father, who was a successful evangelist and pastor, he had a
quote from Ellen G. White that left a deep impression on me: “The greatest victories to
the church of Christ or to the individual Christian are not those that are gained by talent
or education, by wealth or the favor of men. They are those victories that are gained in
the audience chamber with God, when earnest, agonizing faith lays hold upon the
mighty arm of power” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 203, emphasis supplied).
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time
Praying God’s Word — Gal. 6:9
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in
due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
“Let Us Not Grow Weary of Doing Good”
Jesus, You are the most persevering Being in the universe. You did not give up in Your
ministry of interceding and intervention. No matter what Satan and sinners throw at
You, You are still You, and in love, You give Yourself to us. We are in awe, oh God. Teach
us such spiritual, selfless persistence, especially in our prayer life. Make us prayer
warriors who do not give up. Amen.
“In Due Season We Will Reap”
Our loving God, we praise You for allowing us to participate in Your mission on this
planet. Thank You for the joy of service and the joy of engaging in the work of bringing
people to You. Sometimes we feel discouraged and ready to give up, but we pray that
You will give us the perseverance and spiritual grit needed to do the work You have
called us to do. Thank You that You will bless and that we will see the fruit of this
blessed ministry. Amen.
Priorities of Faith
Day 7 — THE VALUE OF BEING KIND
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“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another.” (John 13:35, ESV)
The Defining Quality
At the end of your life, if you could be remembered for just one character
quality, what would that be? If just one trait depicted what you stood for and
what you valued most, what would you choose? Many answers are possible, but
one key aspect of God’s character should be reflected in all of our lives. In
Titus 3:4, the Bible tells us that the kindness of God, our Savior, appeared to us
when His love saved us.
Kindness! The kindness of God. Kindness is a universal language that can be
understood by old and young, rich and poor, male and female, deaf or blind.
Kindness knows no language barrier. It has a universal appeal, like music. A
friendly smile, a helping hand in times of need, support when we feel
discouraged, and a word of encouragement—all go a long way to make the
hardships of our lives easier and more bearable. Kindness does not cost you very
much, but it can make a huge difference in the lives of those who experience it,
as well as in the lives of those who share it. Kindness is a win-win situation.
A Lovable Christian
Jesus knew that the kindness of His followers would serve as a powerful testimony
of their faith. Shortly before His betrayal and death, after washing His disciples’
feet, Jesus told them, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have
love for one another” (John 13:35). Ellen White echoes this insight: “The
strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian”
(The Ministry of Healing, p. 470). When we deal with others in kindness, our love
can reach hearts in unique ways beyond the borders of religion, ethnicity,
and social status. I believe God created us with the desire to receive and share
kindness, and doing so reflects the character of the God we adore. In Jonah 4:2 we
read that God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and
abundant in lovingkindness. The theme of God’s lovingkindness permeates
the entire Bible, Old and New Testament.
Our acts of kindness bring comfort and joy not only to human beings but also to
the heart of God. Kindness does not focus on the negative situations around us or
on other people. Instead, it mirrors God’s character and the way He deals with
us. Let us focus on what matters in life and be known as people who are kind to all.
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time
Praying God’s Word — John 13:35
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
nother.”
“By This All People Will Know That You Are My Disciples”
God, how often is our mission outreach unbalanced? We make theology, prophecy,
fundamental beliefs, lifestyle, etc. the main focus. And while these things are
good, true, important, and have a vital role and place, You clearly preached
and, most importantly, lived out the reality that love is the strongest revelation of
truth. Help us to live love and kindness together with truth, as You have for eternity.
Amen.
“If You Have Love for One Another”
Dear Jesus, forgive us for our lack of selfless love. We truly have not fathomed
Calvary-love. Forgive us for how we think about each other, what we say about each
other, and how we treat each other. Please, Lord, fill us with Your divine love.
Make us ambassadors of love and kindness. May people see Jesus in us and in how we
treat each other. Bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, we pray. Amen.
Priorities of Faith
Day 8 — PRACTICING AN ATTITUDE
OF GRATITUDE
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“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show
gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence
and awe.” (Heb. 12:28, NASB95)
An Affirmative Mindset
There is a mindset that matters significantly to God. In the Bible, we are
repeatedly encouraged to practice this particular behavior because it is pleasing to
God and a blessing to us. This attitude is gratitude. The book of Hebrews says,
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show
gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence
and awe” (Heb. 12:28, NASB). Gratitude pleases God and positively impacts our
own lives because it helps us focus on what is positive. Like a muscle, it
strengthens when you exercise it purposefully by acknowledging your blessings.
God invites His children to be people of gratitude. In 1 Thess. 5:18 (NASB), the
apostle Paul writes, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you
in Christ Jesus.” Giving thanks means remembering that someone has done
something good for us and expressing that gratitude in thoughtful words.
Developing an attitude of gratitude opens our eyes to beautiful details in
nature and in other people. Gratitude allows us to be thankful for simple blessings
without demanding perfection. This is important because, on this side of eternity,
life will never run entirely smoothly. But life doesn’t have to be perfect to be
enjoyed! Beauty meets and greets us in many ways. The fragrant smell of a
flower, the grandeur of the starry sky on a clear night, the affectionate twinkle in a
friend’s eyes—each reminds us of the beauty God has prepared for those who love
Him.
A Shift of Our Attention
By practicing gratitude, we shift our attention from the imaginary things we
don’t have to the real blessings we do enjoy. Gratitude grows out of an awareness
of God’s generosity and involves a curiosity to explore the specific ways He reveals
His love to us. Such gratitude widens the horizon of life and increases our
capacity to experience pleasure and satisfaction.
Recent studies show that gratitude not only improves the well-being of the giver
and the recipient but may also be good for those who witness it. Watching
an act of gratitude between two people can cause observers to feel more
warmth and affinity toward them both, according to a recent New York Times
article.[1] Why not practice what God has called us to do: developing an
attitude of gratitude that will change our encounters with the people around
us for the better and make the world a bit more pleasant. Thank God for
the gift of gratitude.
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time
Praying God’s Word — Heb. 12:28
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show
gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and
awe.”
“Let Us Show Gratitude”
Our loving God, we struggle when it comes to returning to You an appropriate
amount of gratitude for all You have done for us. Eternity is not long enough to give
You the thanks due. Yet, we pray You will be pleased with our thanksgiving. We also
ask You to help us lay aside cynicism, judgmentalism, and pride, so we can
recognize the blessings for which we can be grateful. Help us take time to express
gratitude to You and others more than we express our complaints and requests.
Develop in us a genuine attitude of gratitude. Amen.
“Since We Receive a Kingdom Which Cannot Be Shaken”
Lord, You are a generous God. Not only offering us salvation at an eternal cost to You
but also giving us Your kingdom. We don’t realize the extent of the privileges You
provide for us. Please show us daily what an honor it is to be Your child. Thank You
for this immense love and blessing. Amen.
Priorities of Faith
Day 9 — THE BLESSING OF THE SABBATH
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“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my
holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or
talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the
heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the
mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isa. 58:13, 14, ESV)
Sign of Our Identity
One blessing that truly matters for human life is Sabbath rest. The Sabbath day
reminds us of our origin and that God is our Creator (Exod. 20:8-11). It also
testifies to God’s graciousness as the loving Savior who delivered His people
from the bondage of slavery (Deut. 5:12-15). As such, Sabbath celebration is a
powerful sign of our identity as human beings. This identity is not derived from
economic success or our level of productivity. Nor is our identity determined by
whether we are employers or employees. The Sabbath is God’s invitation to
rest in Him and enjoy what He has graciously provided.
The Sabbath, rightly understood, is an exercise in un-hurry. It teaches us to
rest from rushing, performing, and achieving. It is a weekly declaration by my
heart and mind that God is more important than my to-do list and my
output. It acknowledges a shift in my priorities and makes visible my loyalties.
Sabbath allows me to slow down and rest in God’s presence. It lets me enjoy His
promise that He is enough. Although not engaging in mundane business
activities on Sabbath is an important expression of our loyalty to God, resting in
God’s love and care is far more than abstaining from work. Sabbath rest is
fulfilled in our deliberate and meaningful communion with our Creator. When
we learn to rest in the reality of God’s unfailing love, and when His goodness
becomes our focus, we experience joy, shalom, and a desire to worship God with
our entire being.
Thus, the joyful and faithful keeping of the Sabbath becomes a significant sign
of who we are and whom we belong to. To practice Sabbath spirituality with
moments of peace, joy, and calm requires much more than abstaining from
work on the seventh day. It involves deliberate planning that prepares us during
the week for the highlight of Sabbath shalom. As such, the Sabbath creates a
meaningful counterculture that becomes visible in a distinctly different
lifestyle. The Sabbath protects us from becoming driven by consumerism.
Rather than striving to gain more and more in an endless race for power and
dominion, we are invited to pause and honor God and His goodness and grace.
This is a stark contrast to our pride and selfishness. By practicing the Sabbath, we
become apprentices of Jesus Christ, who kept the Sabbath as was His custom
(Luke 4:16).
To keep the Sabbath holy, to set it apart, and to dedicate it to God for His special
purpose helps us to focus on what really matters in our spiritual walk with Jesus.
Sabbath is not just a day to sleep in and do nothing; instead, it is a day to worship
the only true God and thus becomes a meaningful sign that we have reoriented
our lives toward the living God of Scripture.
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time
Praying God’s Word — Isa. 58:13, 14
“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my
holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking
idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights
of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth
of the Lord has spoken.”
“Call the Sabbath a Delight”
Father, what an incredible gift You have given us in the Sabbath. Thank You that we
are not destined for a life of 24/7 busyness but that we were created to experience
communion, shalom, and peace with You in a special way every seventh day. God, too
often, we have made Sabbath the busiest day of the week and have lost sight of its
purpose. Forgive us, please. Teach us how to keep the Sabbath holy and make it a
delight for all in our sphere of influence. Amen.
“Not . . . Talking Idly”
Jesus, we give You honor and glory, for You are holy and worthy. Thank You that the Sabbath
is a day in which we are freed to focus on You, Your Word, Your Creation, and being a blessing
to others. Yet, too often, we have spent these holy hours filled with idle conversations and
activities that do not honor You. Please forgive us. Teach us how to make the Sabbath
uplifting, beautiful, and holy. Amen.
Priorities of Faith
Day 10 — BE RICH IN WHAT MATTERS
— BE MORE ANALOG
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“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:24, 25, ESV)
Analog Spirituality
Biblical spirituality is analog, not digital. It is based on personal and tangible
practices between real people and the living God. Tangible things are by their
very nature analog, not virtual. While the God of the Bible is invisible to the human
eye, He has called us to practice very specific analog things that express our
relationship with Him. Take our works, for example. The practical things we do
for God or for other human beings are always analog in character. Or think
about our Sabbath observance. To keep the Sabbath holy involves several
specific analog practices like rest or worship. Resting from our mundane
activities and making choices that reflect the holiness of the Sabbath day is never
a virtual experience; it is always analog. This holds true for worship
experiences in fellowship with real human beings in church on Sabbath mornings.
While it is possible to join a digital worship service via the Internet, the ultimate
worship experience finds fulfillment in analog commitments and participation
with real people in physical places. Practical and real acts of kindness, grace,
forgiveness, compassion, awe, and adoration are meaningful only when we
experience them analog. No virtual reality can replace or surpass an analog
human touch, kiss, helping hand, the comfort of a heartfelt embrace, the joy of
physically felt laughter, or the firmness of a welcoming handshake. You cannot
celebrate the practice of foot-washing, or eating and drinking the emblems of
communion virtually. What Jesus has instituted through His own example
is to be remembered physically in a way we can touch and taste.
Tangible Faith
Even the practice of prayer and fasting, encouraged throughout Scripture, is an
analog act in time and space. Our faith in God always has an analog dimension in
which it becomes visible. While we human beings can do all kinds of things
virtually, our relationship with God and the expression of our spiritual walk with
Jesus can never be reduced to virtual reality.
Consider all the blessings that real-life, analog acts can bring. “A word fitly
spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Prov. 25:11, ESV). A helping
hand in support of a tangible need; a gentle touch that signals “You are not
alone!”; the value of a handwritten postcard or letter that you hold in your
hands; the extension of undeserved forgiveness and grace that results in a
transformed personal relationship; the sharing of food with those who are
hungry; the experience of hospitality by those who are traveling or do not have a
place to stay. These and many other blessings want to be experienced analog.
Enjoy the accomplishments of the digital world—but remember to be more analog
in your faith.
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time
Praying God’s Word — Heb. 10:24, 25
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
“Stir Up One Another to Love and Good Works”
God, Thank You for revealing to us what true love is. Thank You for becoming
human and showing us through Jesus a love supreme. Thank You, that You stepped
into our world and lived an analog life with us and for us. In this digital day and age,
remind us of the absolute necessity to be engaged in the analog world with acts of
love and kindness. God, we are too often addicted to our devices and the online world.
Free us, so we can live for You by serving others. Amen.
“Not Neglecting to Meet Together”
Father, the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the isolation which the digital world had
already been leading us into for years. The illusion of true connection through virtual
means will never replace the importance and blessing of real face-to-face
interactions. Now that the pandemic is over help us to prioritize direct human
connections, showing kindness, love, care, and support through tangible acts, words,
and touch. Amen.