At the heart of a disciple is someone who is willing to lay aside everything they knew or defined themselves to be for a greater, more worthy cause.  This is a HUGE statement.  Don’t blow past it.  For many, this may be a deal-breaker.  You might be saying to yourself, “That’s asking too much, it’s too scary and I’m not sure there is an upside.”  Truth is, you wouldn’t be the first to think this.   

Hold on to this thought as you practice your new daily rhythm. 

In an attempt to establish a new rhythm in your life, continue to (P.R.A.Y.) ‘P’: PAUSING to be still.  ‘R’: REFLECTING on Scripture or commentary.  ‘A’: ASKING God to help you and others on the journey and ‘Y’: YIELDING to his transformative work in your life, no matter the cost. [i] 

P. R. A. Y.

Pause – Set prayerful intention

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to recenter my scattered senses upon the presence of God. 

Holy Spirit, my Counselor and the One Who woos me, as I dive into your Word I ask that you would soften my heart, open my ears, and fill me with courage today. 

Read & Reflect – Scripture & Commentary

Often, we live our lives never really making an “all in” commitment.  We observe others experiencing the thrill of “full commitment,” but we never “taste it” it for ourselves.  When it comes to discipleship, we talk a lot about this idea of being in relationship with Jesus and following him.  But what does that really entail?   

In Matthew 4:18-21, we learn of Jesus offering his first invitation to follow him.   

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he (Jesus) saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 

In the culture of Jesus’ day, your family had an enormous influence on your future occupation.  Unlike in the U.S., where we think we can be “anything I put my mind to,” for people living in first-century Israel, you essentially went into the family business.  So for these fishermen, all they knew was what their father did and little else. For them to leave “their nets behind” was ultimately a drastic choice.  

Ask – Prayer & Self-reflection

Jesus, reveal to me areas where I have yet to yield in following you.  Expose the people or things that hinder me from being “fully committed” as your disciple.  Give me courage as I follow you into the abundant life you offer me again today.  

Questions for self-reflection: 

• From what you read today, what do you think makes a disciple a disciple? 
• When you think of a follower of Jesus in modern-day USA, what images come to your mind? 
• Based upon Jesus’ invitation to ‘follow me’, what questions come to mind?  
• Do you find yourself either following or not following Jesus out of fear?  If so, can you name that fear? 

Yield – Final comments, yielding prayer

The heart of discipleship is making Jesus the greatest relationship in your life.  To be fully committed to following him means you will have to leave something behind.  At Bel Air Church, we want to be people who are: Thoughtful = people who weigh the cost of our decisions; Fully Committed = To Jesus and what Jesus is all about; Disciples = willing to lay aside everything we know or define ourselves to be in order to follow someone greater and worthy of our drastic discipleship. 

Yielding Prayer 

Jesus, I give everything to you again – my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength, my relationships, my identity, my possessions, and my ambitions.  All that I am, and all that I have.  I give it all to you and ask that you teach me your ways.  Teach me the way of perpetual life that can only come from following you every day, and everywhere, with everyone. 

Gracious God, help me to live this day to the full, being transparent before you, in every way.  Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, modeling your love to everyone I meet.  Spirit, help me to live by your power, filled with courage to follow Jesus in all I do and say.  Amen. 

Scripture Memorization

As you memorize Luke 9:23-24 this week, once again copy the following verses verbatim, but this time say it out loud as well: 

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.”

“Non-discipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil.  In short, it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10)…the correct perspective is to see following Christ not only as the necessary it is but as the fulfillment of the highest human possibilities and as life on the highest plane.” – Dallas Willard [i]  

As you continue with your new rhythm, pray (P.R.A.Y.) ‘P’: PAUSING to be still.  ‘R’: REFLECTING on Scripture or commentary.  ‘A’: ASKING God to help you and others on the journey and ‘Y’: YIELDING to his transformative work in your life, no matter the cost. [ii] 

P. R. A. Y.

Pause – Set prayerful intention

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to recenter my scattered senses upon the presence of God. 

Holy Spirit, my Counselor, and Teacher, as I dive into your Word I ask you would soften my heart, sharpen my mind, and shape my identity today.  

Read & Reflect – Scripture & Commentary

As you approach your discipleship journey, it’s important for you to be honest with yourself about the cost of following Jesus.  Jesus never did a “bait and switch” or offered false promises when he invited people to follow him.  Instead, he was clear, honest, and transparent about the conditions and benefits of being one of his followers.  Consider the following conversation between Jesus and his disciples: 

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”  They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.”  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” 

He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.  What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?  Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.  But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”  – Luke 9:18-27 (NRSV)  

As you have already explored this week, at Bel Air Church, we believe a disciple is one who responds in faith and faithfulness to the gracious call to follow Jesus every day, and everywhere, with everyone.  Discipleship is a lifelong intentional process where one is fully committed to allowing the love, character, and desires of Jesus to come alive in you. 

Take some time now to reflect: 

• How would you restate this definition of a disciple in your own words? 
• What questions or issues surface as you reflect on this statement? 
• How would you describe the cost of non–discipleship? 
  

Ask – Self-reflection & Holy Spirit invitation

The gospel of Matthew records a similar account of Jesus’ teaching read earlier in Luke 9.  Listen to how Eugene Peterson paraphrases Matthew’s account: 

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead.  You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.  Don’t run from suffering; embrace it.  Follow me and I’ll show you how.” (Matthew 16:24 MSG) 

What “self” have you built up that may be blocking you from letting Jesus lead?  Are there ways in which you run from suffering in an attempt to save your own life?  Are there aspects of your life that you need to let go of in order to actually allow Jesus to save it? 

(Pause and Pray) 

Jesus, reveal in me the areas of my life that are blocking me from following you.  Expose the things and ways I rely on because I think they will bring about personal safety and security.  Reenforce my confidence in the abundant life you offer me again today.  

Questions for further self-reflection: 

• What does it mean to “deny self”? 
• Articulate some ways from your own experience where you attempt to “save your life”? 
• How do you imagine losing your life so Jesus could actually save it?

Yield – Final comments, yielding prayer

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”  (John 10:10) 

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves…take up their cross…daily.” (Luke 9:23)  

Discipleship is costly.  But so is non-discipleship.  The decision isn’t between difficult and costly vs. easy and cheap.  However, as anyone who has been on this journey with Jesus will tell you, the cost of following him is totally worth it. 

Yielding Prayer 

Jesus, I give everything to you again – my heart, my mind, my soul, and my strength.  All that I am, and all that I have.  I give it all to you and ask that you teach me your ways.  Teach me the abundant life that can only come from following you every day, and everywhere, with everyone. 

Father, help me to live this day to the full, being transparent before you, in every way.  Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, modeling your love to everyone I meet.  Spirit, help me to live by your power, filled with strength to follow Jesus in all I do and say.  Amen.   

Scripture Memorization

As you memorize Luke 9:23-24 this week, fill in the missing words below: 

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my ____________, let them __________ themselves and take up their ________ daily and __________ me. For those who want to ________ their life will _________ it, and those who __________ their life for my sake will _____________ it.”*   

*Look back to yesterday and see how you did.  You don’t want to simply get through Scripture, instead you want Scripture to get through you.

[i] Dallas Willard, taken from Devotional Classics, edited by Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, pg. 16.

[ii] P.R.A.Y. inspired by Lectio 365.

When “the grace of God is tasted, and by frequent tasting it is proved to us how sweet the Lord is…it draws us to the pure love of God.” – Bernard of Clairvaux [i] 

Today, you are being introduced to Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) as one of the great leaders in the history of the church.  As a monk, a scholar and a follower of Jesus, his works had profound influence on both Martin Luther and John Calvin. Do those names sound familiar to you? Both Luther and Calvin laid the ground work for the Protestant Reformation.

Why do these guys matter? As a Protestant, if Bernard influenced Calvin and Luther and these reformers laid the stepping stones for the Protestant Reformation then (by ‘six degrees of separation’) Bernard has influenced you! In today’s reflection you will peer into his most famous work, On the Love of God, which is considered one of the greatest explanations of God’s love, largely because of its powerful simplicity.

The Apostle Paul emphasizes God’s love as the core motivation for following Jesus saying, “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.”  Christ’s love “urges you on.”

Hold onto this thought as you continue in your daily rhythm of PRAY(er) ‘P’: PAUSING to be still.  ‘R’: REFLECTING on Scripture or commentary.  ‘A’: ASKING God to help you and others on the journey and ‘Y’: YIELDING to his transformative work in your life, no matter the cost. [ii] 

P. R. A. Y.

Pause – Set prayerful intention

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to recenter my scattered senses upon the presence of God. 

Jesus, my Lord and Savior, as I engage with your Word I ask that you would draw me to your heart, transform my mind, and reform my life’s by your love. 

Read & Reflect – Scripture & Commentary

Read 1 John 4:7-19 (NRSV)

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. 

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.” 

As you engage with what follows, you will explore four degrees of love that describe a basic progression for growing closer to Jesus.  It is common to begin one’s journey with (1) the love of self. Then, if you grow, you learn to (2) love Jesus because you recognize your need for him.  By God’s grace, if you continue to grow, you learn to (3) love Jesus because you’ve “tasted his sweetness” – loving Jesus because he is Jesus.  The fourth degree (which won’t be addressed and may or may not be attainable in this lifetime) is described as being so infused with Jesus that your identity is completely enveloped by him. 

Ask – Self-reflection & Holy Spirit invitation

Pause and Pray

Holy Spirit, illuminate your love in my life that I might see clearly your love for me.  Highlight the ways I love myself and serve my own self-interests first.  Reenforce my confidence in the love of Jesus as I seek to submit myself to him again today.  

Re-Read 1 John 4:7-19 above

1. The First Degree of Love:  Love of Self for Self’s Sake 

Bernard writes that love comes from God, but our human nature is weak and is compelled to love and serve itself first. 

• If God created love and he created us, why are we so prone to distort love into self-absorption? 
• Is loving ourselves wrong?  In what context would it be associated with human weakness? 
• What is the danger in over or underestimating self-love (ex. I’m ‘amazing’ OR I’m ‘horrible’)? 

Re-Read 1 John 4:7-19 in a different translation other than the NRSV

2. The Second Degree of Love:  Love of God for Self’s Sake 

“Happy are those who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8b) This second degree of love highlights when we turn to God in times of trouble.  We love God because we have learned that we can do all things through him, and without him we can do nothing.  We love God for our sake. 

• How is this growth from the “First Degree of Love”? 
• What are the motivating factors you’ve experienced going from degree one to degree two? 

Re-Read 1 John 4:7-19 in a third translation

3. The Third Degree of Love:  Love of God for God’s Sake 

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8) Bernard describes the third degree of love in this way, “once God’s sweetness has been tasted, it draws us to the pure love of God more than our needs compel us to love him…Thus, we begin to love God not merely for our own sakes, but for himself.” 

• Describe a time when you’ve “tasted God’s sweetness.” 
• What impact did this have on your relationship with Jesus? 
• What did you learn about God’s love toward you? 

Yield – Final comments, yielding prayer

As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, you not only grow in your love for him but you grow in your knowledge of his love for you. Our brother Bernard says it this way, “this love is pure because it is disinterested (i.e., not offered in order to obtain something).  It is pure because it is not merely in our words that we begin to serve, but in our actions.  We love because we are loved.  We care for others because Jesus cares for us.” 

Yielding Prayer 

Jesus, my Savior and my Lord, I submit myself to your love in my life once again.  All that I am, my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength, and all that I have, my ambitions, goals, dreams, agenda…I surrender it all to your loving care.  Lead me in your love as I recommit to following you every day, and everywhere, with everyone. 

Father, help me to live this day to the full, living from a place of being loved by you.  Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, modeling your servanthood to everyone I meet.  Spirit, help me to live by your power, filled with strength to follow Jesus in all I do and say.  Amen.    

Scripture Memorization

As you memorize Luke 9:23-24 this week, fill in the missing words below: 

Then _______ said to them ______, “If any want to _________ my ____________, let them __________ _____________ and ________ ______ their ________ _________ and __________ me. For those who want to ________ their _______ will _________ it, and those who __________ their _______ for ______ sake will _____________ it.”*   

*Look back to yesterday and see how you did.  Remember, you don’t want to simply get through Scripture, but you want Scripture to get through you.

What folly to fear to be too entirely God’s!…It is to fear to love God’s will in all things.  It is to fear to have too much courage in the crosses which are inevitable, too much comfort in God’s love, and too much detachment from the passions which make us miserable.” – François Fénelon [i] 

François Fénelon (Sounds fancy right?) lived from 1651-1715 and was appointed archbishop of Cambrai, France, in 1695.  Prior to becoming Archbishop, he was a prominent member of the court of Louis XIV. Leaving his old life behind, he withdrew to Cambrai, distributing all his possessions among the poor and developing a reputation of being an ideal pastor.  Interesting side note, François was probably the model for Victor Hugo’s Monseigneur Myriel, a leading figure in Les Miserables.  

In your discipleship journey this week, you have discovered that following Jesus is an either/or way of life. You either are following Jesus or you are following something else. There is no middle ground, no compromise, and no integrating the way of Jesus with any other way to live.  You are either following Jesus as your first love or you aren’t.

Hold onto this thought as you continue your new daily rhythm of PRAY(er) by ‘P’: PAUSING to be still.  ‘R’: REFLECTING on Scripture or commentary.  ‘A’: ASKING God to help you and others on the journey and ‘Y’: YIELDING to his transformative work in your life, no matter the cost. [ii] 

P. R. A. Y.

Pause – Set prayerful intention

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to recenter my scattered senses upon the presence of God. 

Jesus, my Lord, and Savior, as I engage with your Word I ask that you would draw me to your heart, transform my mind, and reform my life’s focus today. 

Read & Reflect – Scripture & Commentary

Seems pretty drastic to say that following Jesus is an either/or way of life. And yet this truth isn’t unique to following Jesus, but rather core to following anything or anyone. As people, we are all devoted to our highest love. The question isn’t whether you have a first love, but rather, “who or what is your first love?”

Listen to how Jesus says it, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24 NRSV) 

Why would Jesus say this if following, subscribing, or devoting oneself to something or someone was reserved for only a select few? He wouldn’t. Jesus says this because he knows it’s an issue we all struggle with. Devoting oneself to something or someone as your first love is a common human behavior.

Jesus reminds his followers that you can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship both God and (insert whatever else is your first love here). 

Jesus is highlighting the question, “Am I your first love?”  This might sound like a narrow question, yet Jesus says that you must enter through the narrow gate to experience life. To be clear, the narrow gate is not something that you enter through because of your good works or good intentions. Rather, Scripture says that when you begin a relationship with Jesus, you step through the narrow gate. As Jesus said, “I am the gate; whoever enters by me will be saved…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:9,10b NRSV) 

This is why following Jesus is different than every other religion. 

Religion puts the road before the gate.  Live the right way and then you will be saved.  This leads to insecurity, fear, and bondage. 

Relationship with Jesus puts the gate before the road.  Be saved, experience the love of God and out of a place of loving and being loved follow Jesus along the right way. This leads to security, peace, and freedom. 

Ask – Self-reflection & Holy Spirit invitation

Jesus draws a line in the sand and invites you to make a decision. His love for you is unfailing, yet Jesus gives you a choice to love him in return: 

The question you must ask yourself today: 

• “Who or what is my first love?”
• Take a moment to journal as you reflect upon your answer to this question.
• Share openly and honestly with Jesus your answer. Don’t sugar coat it. Don’t pretend. Be open and honest before him.
• Jesus’ love for you is not dependent upon your love for him. Regardless of what you shared, hear his voice speaking over you, “You are my beloved. I love you. Rest in my love for you.”

Pause and Pray

Jesus, I hear your invitation.  Thank you that you offer me the opportunity to say, “Yes!” to you.  I confess that I serve masters other than you.  Redirect my allegiance to serving you, and you alone.  

Yield – Final comments, yielding prayer

As you submit to the truth that you are deeply loved by God and allow that love to compel you to follow Jesus is your leader, you enter into an adventure with Jesus of practicing his ‘way.’  As you journey throughout the rest of this curriculum, you will be introduced to six non-negotiable purposes of every follower of Jesus.  These purposes are tangible, action-oriented items that are accessible enough to put into practice now, yet expansive enough to eagerly spend the rest of your life exploring.

Within these six purposes, you’ll discover six practices that are intended to become helpful habits for your life of following Jesus. Furthermore, as you put into practice these six habits as you live out your six purposes, you will learn neither can be accomplished in isolation. Remember, there is no such thing as a lone ranger disciple. 

Since these habits and purposes can be practiced every day, and everywhere, with everyone, you’ll quickly realize the same holds true for being a follower of Jesus. 

There is no moment, no situation, and no place where Jesus is not inviting you to “follow me.” 

“There is only one way to love God: to take not a single step without him, and to follow with a brave heart wherever he leads.” – François Fénelon  

Yielding Prayer 

Jesus, my Savior and my Lord, I choose to follow your lead in my life once again.  All that I am, my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength, and all that I have, my ambitions, goals, dreams, agenda…I entrust it all to you, and ask that you guide me.  I join you in learning your ‘way’ as I recommit to following you every day, and everywhere, with everyone. 

Father, help me to live this day to the full, loving because you first loved me.  Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, sharing your love with everyone I meet.  Spirit, help me to live generously, filled with wonder as to what this abundant life might look like as I follow Jesus in all I do and say.  Amen.    

Scripture Memorization

As you memorize Luke ___:23-24 this week, are you able to write it by memory? 

Then he said to them all, “                                                                                                      ”   

*Look back to yesterday and see how you did.  Remember, this isn’t a competition or a tool to judge your spiritual maturity.  This is a practice to help you get into Scripture and let Scripture get into you.

“Much of what the Bible demands can be comprised in one word, remember.” – Rabi Abraham Joshua Hershel

Your Christian faith is grounded in memory – you are not only called to remember God’s presence reflected in the life of Jesus, but also in your own personal story and in your everyday life.  As you recall your memories, you enter into a wondrous journey where your past can breathe new life into your present.  As you become aware of unconscious significance, you begin to see clearly what you couldn’t see before.  Your sense of who you are and whose you are is once more nurtured and sustained.

This understanding of memory is affirmed throughout the Bible.  When curious Israelite children desired to know more about God they were seldom taught a list of intellectual rules.  Rather, memories were shared with them.  Stories told of their God who had brought them out of Egypt, led them through the wilderness, made water flow from the rock, fed them manna in the wilderness, and protected them from scorpions and poisonous snakes.  For the Covenant people of God, remembering was essential.

Remembering your own personal story is a spiritual practice aimed to reinforce a biblical truth that “in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  Your life is continuously lived in God’s creative, loving presence.  Your life is a sacred journey in which God is constantly involved, always looking for ways to reveal the grace and love of Jesus.  May you become alive with wonder like the psalmist who cries out, “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb!” (Psalm 139:13)

Today’s practice is designed to help you develop a Christian memory. By clicking on the “Personal Lifeline” button below, you will be able to view and download a helpful tool to chart your journey. 

How did this week’s memory work go? Were you able to take on that spiritual practice and have a Scripture get THROUGH you that you haven’t before?  Remember, practices take time. We don’t get their benefit overnight. But in time, God can use them to help transform us and bring us in closer relationship with Christ.  

Speaking of remembering, let’s remember what the Lord God did on the seventh day and look at the notion of Sabbath keeping.  Keeping Sabbath is a spiritual practice and it is not an easy one.  Few people in the church actually take a full Sabbath day, a day where they don’t work and focus rather on being with God and enjoying the things God has given uniquely to them.  

How does the thought of a full day off from any work to just be with God sound to you? Inviting, overwhelming, awesome, or maybe scary? Welcome to a day set apart. Even when we are at home, we can get busy and preoccupied with work.  

God says, in the Ten Commandments, “Remember the Sabbath.”  Sabbath is designed as a day of “remembering.”  Notice that word remember.  In one sense, it’s a day of rest and reflection on the goodness of God. In another sense, it’s an opportunity to re-member our fragmented selves, to put ourselves back together again and become whole.  Jesus is sometimes called the Lord of the Sabbath and He taught that God gave Sabbath to us as a restorative and recuperating gift. 

Scriptures to consider: Exodus 20:8-10; Mark 2:27; Hebrews 4:1, 9-11 

Practice: Set aside a block of time to be with the God you love and the people you love; let go of the tyranny of the urgent and focus on your interior self.  Practicing restful activities – a long walk or hike, a nap, visiting someone you love, sharing a favorite beverage with a friend, a family game, reading a book, etc.; resting in God and with God; let difficult conversations or tasks wait for another day; let go of your ‘to-do’ list for one day.  

Potential Fruits: freedom from the addiction to hurry sickness, busyness and rushing; keeping company with Jesus throughout a twenty-four hour period; obeying one of the Ten Commandments. 

Questions for further reflection:  

• How does Sabbath encourage your worship and enjoyment of time with God? 
• What difficulties and challenges do you have in trying to keep a Sabbath? 
• What happens to you when you go without regular rhythms that allows you to rest as in a Sabbath day? 

~ Keeping Sabbath initially requires intentionality and planning. Getting a good night’s sleep is part of a Sabbath day. How is God inviting you to prepare and plan a Sabbath day, one in which you delight in it?