Journey to Shabbat

By Joan Masterson

The more I study about the Sabbath the more I realize what a gift God has given us. I have also come to  a deeper understanding of the importance of why  God called the day Holy, which means it is day set apart for a special purpose.  Since the Sabbath is not at all an ordinary day like the rest of the days of the week, He has asked us to treat it special. so how do we do that?

Since the beginning of this ministry in 2002 it has been my privilege to introduce the gift of  Shabbat to many people.  Across the board the response has been one of delight and joy as couples and singles alike find they begin to look forward to Friday evening with great expectation.  I am always so amazed how easily they have adapted to changing life styles to support taking the time to come apart and be with the Lord.

My own initial experience was much different. For me it was a struggle to adapt to a day of rest. Where others long for that day of solitude or family time, I became irritated with the restriction of waiting to complete my to do list until Sundown.

Now, let me say, I thoroughly enjoy the Friday night times of coming together for fellowship and to share a meal. The worship and study times have been rich additions to my life. Not to mention that the presence of the Lord has been so rich that it draws each one of us into a greater love of His ways.  Even the times I am alone or with my family on Friday night and I enter into Shabbat there is a joy and peace. That part of Shabbat I love. However, to settle down the following day has been a discipline that has been hard to embrace.

Understand,  I see fully  God’s wisdom in calling us to a day of rest and communion with Him. I also understand how important it is to Him; after all I did write the essay on this page “Call to Shabbat”. What I am reflecting here is that I identify that for most of us our life styles are so busy that to truly take advantage of what God has orchestrated for us often comes with a price, or so we think. The interesting part of it all is that  when I do submit to the Lord, the blessings over take me throughout the week. This has also been true of many of those who share with me about their Shabbat experience.

Many Shabbat’s ago as I gathered with a group of believers. During worship there was an overwhelming sense of God’s healing presence.  You know, if you study the New Testament you will see Yeshua often healed on the Sabbath.  What more glorious way to enter into His rest than to receive His healing and rest from your pain or sickness. Well, He brought me into his rest by healing a two year old back injury that had caused me to take daily pain medication. I am grateful to report I continue to be pain free at the time of this writing, which is over two years since the healing.

I am also grateful to report that with great tenderness the Lord has shown me how to replace my thoughts of my to do list with thoughts of spending each Saturday under His direction. It took a little time for God to reveal to me that my irritation was lack of trust in Him that things would get done if I stopped my activity and put Him first. Ouch.  So now sometimes, I will visit a Messianic Congregation, sometimes He and I will curl up with a good book or take a walk or visit with friends. Most important I submit the day to Him and enter in to His rest. So how do we treat it as not just an ordinary day? Ask Him how would you like to spend this day Lord?

 Isa 58:[13] “If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, GOD's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing ‘business as usual,' making money, running here and there— [14] Then you'll be free to enjoy GOD! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob.” Yes! GOD says so!  ( the Message)

Shabbat  Shalom.