If you’ve been around me for any amount of time, you’ll know that one of my favorite words is “katartismos.” This Greek word comes out of Ephesians 4:12 and refers to “fitting together in proper order” (referring to gifts, etc. in the Body of Christ).
Another definition of this word (which is my personal favorite) is “a chiropractic adjustment in the Spirit.” Many of you experienced this during our most recent retreat. You will also experience it many times during your ongoing prayer ministry sessions.
Today, however, I would like to introduce you to my new favorite word!!! “Sabbatismos!” (Ref. Hebrews 4:10.)
As you begin to familiarize yourself with me and this ministry, you’ll quickly recognize that one of my goals for you is to learn to rest in the Spirit of the Lord. That has a two-fold meaning: 1. To live in a place of rest. 2. To move, and live, and have your being in the Holy Spirit.
This week while reading Hebrews, I came across the word “Sabbatismos.” Oh! My word!!! I can’t tell you how excited I was to now have a word that perfectly describes our goal.
“Sabbatismos” means “living in the Sabbath rest,” which is exactly what we should desire. Most folks think the Sabbath is only relegated to a day, but in fact, it is a promised lifestyle for us as Christians!!!
Ideally, we all should grow in our spiritual maturity to the degree that we are completely unaffected by our surroundings, our environment, and our circumstances. We then can choose instead – and are able – to live in perfect Peace. (Notice the capital letter that begins Peace – which means we live in the personhood of Peace, promised to us by the cross and blood of Christ, in the promises of the Word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit).
So, if we know all of that and believe all of that, then we should aspire to live in it. And that is one of the goals we have in this Journey. Which brings us to the next point.
How do we choose to live in Sabbatismos? First, we have to acknowledge that it is a promise of God. Not only does He instruct us to “take a day of Sabbath” (one day a week), but He also offers us this every day.
For me to learn this process, He first showed me the importance of honoring a Sabbath day. I realized the difference in my life with just that small shift in my heart and mind.
After I realized the incredible results that the Sabbath had on my life, I started trying to bring that into the other aspects of my life.
Then, I realized this is His desire for me – to live absolutely unaffected by the things in the world. Ideally, nothing should steal my Peace. Nothing should affect my ability to remain in Presence.
The second thing He introduced me to was to practice “centering prayer” or “contemplative prayer.” (They are the same thing.) This form of prayer requires you to sit quietly focusing on the Kingdom of God within you.
(You can download a centering prayer app to help you with this process. It’s located under Health & Fitness in the Apple store and is offered free. You can also read about centering prayer and other contemplative processes in Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline. I highly recommend reading that book as it offers many of the disciplines that I suggest for growing in this Peace journey.)
The process of centering prayer not only offers the Peace that is promised, but also it actually rewires your brain to peace. I’ll teach on that a little later, but for now, just trust that any and all forms of prayer re-train your brain to return to the “Joy center” of your brain which is where peace and rest are for you. I call this “coming back to peace” or “coming home.”
Once you recognize this place is accessible for you, then you can practice it and choose it anytime and anywhere. Then you will become so familiar with it that you will not want to be anywhere but in perfect peace.
While you’re in traffic you can “decide” to go to peace. When there is chaos in your environment, you can choose to go to peace. Before long you will realize that you are living there without even consciously making a decision to do so.
Out of practicing a Sabbath and practicing prayer, you can choose to live in this place of rest (body, soul, and spirit) no matter where you are or what you are doing. You just have to choose over and over to bring yourself back to peace.
I believe this is the promise of living in Sabbatismos!!! And we are going to become residents of this promise!!!
“Still / Live at Peace on Earth” by Amanda Cook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=37&v=VkQ5uAy9pbs