Why college students can and should keep the Sabbath holy
This post is all about keeping the Sabbath holy.
Keeping the Sabbath holy in college can seem like an impossible endeavour. But after developing this habit myself in my first year of university, I can tell you it’s possible. And not only that, it’s CRITICAL for your spiritual (and even mental) health.
If you hope to keep the Sabbath holy as a college student, I can also assure you that this can be done without sacrificing your grades. In fact, when I started keeping the Sabbath holy, my performance in school improved. So, let’s get into the reasons for why this was possible for me (and can be for you, too).
This post is all about keeping the Sabbath holy.
WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP A WEEKLY DAY OF REST:
1. Keeping the Sabbath Holy is Biblical
Why are we quick to forget that keeping a day of rest is one of the ten commandments? We consistently teach the other nine commandments, but skim over the commandment about keeping a day of rest. Even though we are covered by the grace of God, we are meant to do all He has instructed us as best we can for His glory. There’s a lot of sanctification that can come out of keeping the Sabbath holy.
This topic would be a whole post on its own, but I’m not going to get into it here. For more about keeping the Sabbath holy, check out The Bible Project’s podcast series on the topic. Or, you can check out the podcast “Fight Hustle, End Hurry.” I am not affiliated with these resources, but they are both great for understanding the day of rest from a biblical perspective.
Oh, and also, pray about it. If you come to God with a heart that truly desires what He desires, He will show you what the Bible says on this.
[RELATED POST – Things to Give Up for Lent (35 Unique Ideas!)]
2. Keeping the Sabbath Holy Prevents and Cures Burnout
In my first semester of university, I got really burnt out. I was taking a full course load, working part time, starting up my own business and getting involved with two clubs on campus. It was a lot. I never allowed myself the time to rest. But when I started dedicating one day a week (Sundays) to rest, I found that I quickly became much healthier spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Sundays meant that when I got home from church, I would nap, pray, eat, and do anything else that would allow me to feel well-rested. That included not even allowing myself to think or worry about any work I hadn’t done!
3. Having a Dedicated Day of Rest Improves Time Management
When you have a dedicated day of rest, you have to get cracking the other six days of the week. Not only does this make you more productive, it makes you more efficient as well. Plus, instead of constantly having tasks on your mind that you need to complete, you can rest assured that you’ve already allocated time in your schedule for it all.
4. Having a Dedicated Day of Rest Strengthens Your Walk With God
If you don’t have a day to refocus on God, the busyness of life WILL impact your spiritual health. There is no question about it. For me, dedicating Sundays to prayer, community and time of solitude has equipped me to carry a spirit of rest throughout the week. I’m able to better minister to my friends at school, stay grounded in truth, and have a more intentional prayer life. All because I took the time at the beginning of the week to focus first and foremost on my relationship with Jesus.
Many college students walk away from their faith in college. We can be honest here and say that it gets hard! The culture of this world is often totally contrary to biblical teaching. We need to equip ourselves to be a sheep among wolves (Matt 10:16) and walk in step with the spirit (Galatians 5:16-26). God will keep you. But you need to spend time with Him so you can know Him better and love Him deeper.
5. Keeping the Sabbath Holy Improves Your Prayer Life
Dedicating time to prayer on your Sabbath day will remind you to communicate with God throughout the week. You can get out your biggest concerns in a longer time of prayer on the Sabbath. Then, ask God to help you keep your mind focused on Him throughout the week. I’ve found that keeping the Sabbath holy gives me a deeper desire to pray.
Ultimately, you are the only one who can decide how to go about your relationship with God. And I strongly encourage anyone reading this not just to take my word for it, but to pray about it. I believe that keeping the Sabbath holy was a command for a reason and that it is greatly to our benefit. I have found rest and deeper relationship with God through keeping the Sabbath holy. But we all need to take every action with a genuine and believing heart.
Have you tried keeping the Sabbath holy in college?
This post was all about keeping the Sabbath holy.
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Being Christian in College: 5 Tips to Grow in the Faith
Time Management For College Students: Proven Tips For Your Productivity
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