Day 7 – Sabbath in your DNA (wellness)
“He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” Psalm 23:2-3 NLT
Loma Linda University Medical Center in California (a Christ-centered Seventh-day Adventist university dedicated to mission-focused learning through the integration of health, science, and faith) conducted studies in community groups who keep the Sabbath and those who don’t. Their research showed that cortisol levels are substantially reduced during a 24-hour rest period. Cortisol is a stress hormone released in your body, like a warning sign that you need rest. It can lead to anxiety, high blood pressure, lowered immunity, and burnout.
The studies also included brain activity and overall wellness. Under extreme fatigue, the frontal lobe (the brain’s decision-making and focus center) starts to shut down, leading to memory loss, reduced concentration, micro sleeps (dozing off or daydreaming), depression, and mood disorders.
Resting is not wasted hours. It is healing hours. We must unlearn the notion that if we are not busy, we are not valuable. It is a societal lie. We aren’t just physical machines; we hunger for meaning and connection. Rest is a form of spiritual growth as it gives us time and space to connect with our Creator. Just like David, allow God to lead you into rest.
Prayer: Father, thank You that rest is found all through Your Word, emphasizing its importance not just for our physical health, but for our mental well-being too. A time to reset, focus, and grow in a relationship with You. Amen.
