What makes Sunday different? For the Hebrews, it was a significant slow-down (stoppage) of activities. Our secular society has long ago moved away from any observable slow-down of activity. The stores are just as full, the highways are even fuller, and the lakes are packed. We hurry away from church, anxious to get to the scheduled plans that will consume the rest of the day–a day most often packed full of activities either leisure or personal that are anything but restful and relaxing. (Of course, there are exceptions, but I am writing about the overall direction and philosophy of our society and many/most of the Christians who live in this culture.)
How does a Christian uniquely make Sunday the Lord’s Day in such a culture? Each person must find answers in the context of their own life and obligations, but following are some of the things I have found helpful through the years.
- Arise a little earlier than normal so you can have some private time with God. If this is not possible inside your house, generate the “aloneness” time artifically with a brief walk outside, a time of prayer and reflection on the patio or door stoop, or during shower/bath time or personal grooming time. The goal is to find a brief time you can uniquely devote to God thoughts.
- Spend a little extra time with the Word. Ideally, this is Bible reading, but it can also be reflection on a well-known or favorite passage of Scripture.
- Sing some Christian songs, or provide Christian music as background music for the morning during your activities as you prepare to worship God.
- Be more spiritually sensitive and look for God–in the little blessings, in the places where he is but you may pass him by during the week. Enjoy the God-created surroundings in which you find yourself and look for his hand of blessing and guidance.
- Prepare your heart for worship. Avoid negative thoughts, put a positive outlook on the events and activities of the morning, laugh, seek spiritual realities, seek in a special way to demonstrate the presence of God’s Holy Spirit within you.
- Spend a little extra time in prayer, perhaps in a prayer than you uniquely use on Sunday, glorifying God, seeking restored and meaningful relationship, connecting with God.
How do you make Sundays special? What things have you found helpful in preparing your heart for worship and in escaping (mentally, at least) the busyness of our world?