by Debbie Wicker BCCC
Honoring the Sabbath: We have now reached the Fourth Commandment in our series exploring how the Ten Commandments can guide us in our daily lives:
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…”
— Exodus 20:8–10
God goes on to explain that He created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. He blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
God Knows What We Need
Honoring the Sabbath each week can be a wonderful blessing.
Throughout my life, I have tried to make Sunday a true day of rest—a day to contemplate God, spend time with loved ones, and prepare my heart for the week ahead. I don’t work on Sundays, and I generally avoid scheduling appointments or meetings. Instead, I spend time with family and friends, attend church, pray, and seek God’s direction for the coming week.
This weekly practice has brought balance and healthy pacing into my life. Resting on Sundays lowers my stress, gives me an opportunity to regroup, and helps me stay connected to what God may be calling me to do.
God knows that we need rest.
He knows how easily the demands of life can consume our time and attention. The Sabbath gives us an opportunity to step away from those demands and turn our attention back toward Him.
“Call the Sabbath a Delight”
The prophet Isaiah gives us a beautiful picture of what can happen when we honor the Sabbath:
“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
then you will find your joy in the Lord…”
— Isaiah 58:13–14
Notice the words “call the Sabbath a delight.”
The Sabbath is not meant to be simply another burden or a list of rules. It is an invitation to slow down, rest, worship, listen, and enjoy our relationship with God.
Honoring the Sabbath Brings Me Joy
When I rest and seek God on Sundays, I genuinely find greater joy, balance, and peace.
During this time, I can reflect on the previous week. I can recognize what went well, consider what I could have done differently, and ask God for wisdom about the days ahead.
I have practiced this for nearly forty years. During that time, God has supported me through struggles, challenges, and crises. He has been faithful through every season.
He is always there.
My connection with God has grown stronger through regularly setting aside this time to rest and seek Him.
Is God Speaking, but Are We Listening?
Many people struggle with hearing from God. Others wonder why they don’t feel that God is listening to them.
One question I would encourage them to consider is this:
Do you make time to listen to God?
Do you set aside a regular day to stop, become quiet, contemplate God, and seek His wisdom?
In our busy world, we can spend our entire week rushing from one responsibility to another. We may pray quickly, read Scripture briefly, and then immediately return to everything demanding our attention.
The Sabbath gives us something different.
It gives us an entire day to slow down and intentionally seek God.
That can be where a deeper connection with Him begins.
When we consistently set aside time each week to rest in God’s presence, we create space to hear His wisdom and recognize His direction.
What a wonderful gift God has given us.
Start Now
It is never too late to begin honoring the Sabbath.
Set aside Sunday as a day of rest, worship, reflection, and contemplation. Use the day to focus on God and to consider what He may have for you in your life.
You may be surprised by the depth of wisdom and insight that comes when you stop rushing and give God your attention.
As we become willing to submit our lives to God and turn our plans over to Him. He can direct our paths in ways we could never have imagined.
A weekly Sabbath may seem like a small commitment.
But imagine doing it 52 weeks a year for decades.
That regular time with God can transform the way we approach our entire lives.
We become more rested.
We’re more balanced.
We become more aware of God’s presence.
We’re better prepared to face life’s trials and difficulties.
And we don’t have to face them alone.
God is at our side.
The Sabbath not a day off
The Sabbath is not simply about taking a day off. It is about remembering who God is, remembering that we belong to Him, and allowing Him to restore and guide us.
That is a magnificent blessing.
Honor the Sabbath. Rest. Listen. Seek God. And discover the joy that comes from making Him the center of your week.
About the Author
Debbie Wicker is a Board Certified Christian Counselor who brings a thoughtful mental health perspective to the study of the Bible. With more than 15 years of counseling experience, Debbie helps individuals understand Scripture not only spiritually, but emotionally and psychologically as well.
Before entering counseling, Debbie was a partner in a Big 8 public accounting firm, where she built a successful career in management consulting. After a mid-life career change, she felt called to integrate faith and mental health — equipping others to grow spiritually while addressing real-life struggles with wisdom and compassion.
Through the-Bible.net, Debbie writes to help readers better understand God’s Word, human nature, and the transforming power of Christ.