Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Donna Schaper is an area minister for the United Church of Christ and popular retreat leader.  A writer for Weavings, The Other Side, and Homiletic, she has also published several books.

Decluttering is not austerity. It is not getting rid of everything so that we have space for God. It may be rearranging things so that they are in right relationship to God, so that “tidying” is not our life’s work but rather an opening to God…Some people can keep their week and their work focused by weekly worship, while others need more frequent times set aside for God. For sabbath is not merely going to church on Sunday; it is remembering the source of our air, which we can do any day. It is a spiritual decluttering, the way we must clear a coffee table that still has last week’s newspapers, tickets, Kleenex, and earrings spread all of it.  Sabbath is like homing, a return to the place from which we have come so that we may go out again with vigor.

Sabbath Keeping

Prayer

Merciful God, draw us into Your presence today.  Help us to clear the spaces in our lives that need to be tidied so that we might open space for You. May we make You a priority.  Strengthen us to be Your people and to reflect Your love and goodness today. Amen.