Read Genesis 1:31-2:3 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
1. What did God just finish doing?
2. What did He say about what He’d done?
3. What do we see Him model in Genesis 2:2?
Reflect
In His boundless wisdom, God intricately crafted the universe in six days, and then He rested – knowing precisely when to declare “enough.” He completed everything that He intended to create and was satisfied with the results. There was, therefore, no need to continue. He didn’t rest because He was weary but because the work was complete. The word “rested” in Genesis 2 is shabat in Hebrew, which is where we get the word Sabbath. It means to stop, cease, or be complete.
God wove this idea of rhythm into His creation, and He extends an invitation to us – a beckoning toward a better way. He calls us to embrace spiritual rhythms – consistent patterns of connecting with Him through prayer, fasting, reading Scripture, Sabbath, service and community.
Along with forming you into God’s image, these rhythms are also how you cultivate a deeper connection and presence with God, others and yourself. Amidst a world that clamors with distractions, let these rhythms act as a guiding force, reorienting your heart and life around God.
Respond
Rest is commonly associated with weariness, but how does the picture of God resting after creating the universe challenge this perception? In what aspects of your life do you feel a need for a “better way”? What spiritual rhythm is God calling you toward this week?