I like to think that I am a rather religious person. I believe in a God who died on the cross, who resurrected from the dead, who judges the living and the dead, and will come back again someday. During an unplanned weekend, I ended up at a family member's church which I had never attended before. I had very little expectations as I walked into the building. But what happened during this mass made me begin to rethink the way that God intended us to live our lives, and further, how we can improve our lives through our faith and religion.

The church looked like a ballroom, and many of the people filling the it were in their twenties and thirties, which I appreciated. I really enjoyed the upbeat praising of the Lord that this church adopted, and I noticed myself smiling at jokes told throughout mass to keep the crowd alive.

I have been going to church for quite some time, and usually you hold your breath right before the preacher tells the church what he will focus on this morning. You fear it being boring or irrelevant. But when the pastor came forward to speak at this mass, he began to talk about the Sabbath. Interesting choice, I thought, since this is a topic popularly discussed around the Easter or Christmas season. But here we are, in neither season, so what could this be about? If you are unfamiliar, the Sabbath is a time for worship and thanksgiving on every 7th day, and on which God intended that His people rest. It's the reason why local stores and businesses are closed or close early on Sundays. In other words, God intended for rest to be automatically incorporated into our lives.

The point of the sermon was that we all live crazy lives, but no matter the stage of life, or how busy you may be, everyone should take 24 hours (or even half of a day) once a week, to do nothing. We live in a culture where taking a break is odd. Everyone is "go, go, go" 24/7 and the pastor's sermon emphasized that the overall concept of that belief is odd. There should be no guilt in taking a break once a week to look, appreciate, and thank God for the love he has provided us.

I loved this concept put forth during the sermon. For our lives to be truly successful, we need to make time for the rest that God wanted us to have in them. We can start by slowly incorporating our own Sabbath into our weeks. It shouldn't be jam-packed, or full of pressure, but rather a day of relaxation, just as the pastor outlined in his sermon.

The bond between you and God will grow when you start to take time for peace and thanks during your week Your life will feel more fulfilled where you may feel empty; peace where there is stress; strength where there is weakness, happiness where there is sadness, and so on. Your friends and family should support you, and even join you on this quest.

The bottom line is that there is no guilt in resting. When you actively take in that time to appreciate the life the Lord has given you, you may realize the love He shows you each day. Spend the day thanking Him and talking with Him. If it becomes stressful, you are doing it wrong.

This day, every seven days, can serve as a reminder that God loves you, and that he is with you, and that you can reflect his goodness through you. Christianity is about showing Gods love and mercy throughout are actions in life. It is about supporting one another through life’s journey, and communicating love, strength, and concerns with one another.

I encourage you to create your own Sabbath day. Mark the time in your calendar in permanent marker. Allow others in your life to respect this time you are devoting to God, and to appreciate the life and love give. Encourage each other to join in on the peace you are creating for our world.