DAY 12 | The LORD Who Sanctifies You

Say to the Israelites, ‘Be sure to observe my days of worship. This will be a sign between me and you for generations to come so that you will know that I am Adonai Mekaddishkem (The LORD Who Sanctifies You).
Exodus 31:13

photography by Andrzej Kryszpiniuk / calligraphy by Rita Ip

MUSIC

PRAYER

The LORD, my Sanctifier, I adore You. You rested on the 7th day of creation; you blessed and sanctified that day and instituted the Sabbath to reveal to mankind the importance of complete and solemn rest.

Thank You for the gracious gift of Sabbath. It is the day for resting my body, mind, and spirit before You, magnifying You, and savoring the marvelous things You've done.

Forgive me for being preoccupied with my productivity and performance. Sometimes I refuse to slow down and rest. Forgive me for neglecting Your commandment and denying my needs.

Holy Spirit, calm my soul at the cross of Jesus, where all striving, worldly pursuits, and works of the flesh should cease.

Because You are the LORD who sanctifies me, I will keep the Sabbath holy and find true rest and renewal in You.

A few facts…

Adonai Mekeddishkem is translated as The LORD Who Sanctifies You or The LORD Who Makes Holy.
Adonai, YHWH, Yahweh, and Jehovah refer to the same word, known as the only proper name of God. Mekaddeshkem is also transliterated as M'Kaddesh, Mekadesh, Mekeddeshem, Mekoddishkem.
Mekaddishkem derives from the Hebrew word "kadosh" and is translated in English to "sanctify", "holy", "dedicate", "consecrate", "sanctuary", or "hallow". "Sanctify" means "to set apart an object or person to the dedication of the holy".
Mekaddishkem first appears in Genesis 2:3a when God sanctified the Sabbath: “Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and set it apart as holy, because on that day He stopped all his work of creation.”

Exercise 1:

TWO-WAY JOURNALING

Find a quiet space to write, and try your best to eliminate distractions. Roll and relax your neck and shoulders to release muscle tension.

Smile and breathe. Smile and be still, He wants you to rest in Him, and refresh your soul today. Breathe in deeply as you picture yourself resting comfortably in God’s arms. Hold your breath for a few seconds, and acknowledge that you are equally loved and valued by Him, whether you are resting or working. Gently and slowly exhale as you release your restlessness, fear of missing out (FOMO), obsession with performance, and perfectionism. Repeat this simple breathing exercise as needed.

Journaling can possibly offer more than just praying or having an internal monologue. It is an outlet for our emotions, it is also a place for us to see a clearer picture of our thoughts and beliefs, so we can dig deeper to uncover the sources of our mind clutter or emotions. It allows us to clear out what isn’t serving us and free up space for what’s truly meant for us. So let’s prepare ourselves for today’s journal exercise.

On a fresh page in your journal, write to The LORD Who Sanctifies You. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to guide you, and see where He is taking you to. Steady yourself and find the flow of His Spirit. Record your conversation with Him in your journal.

[Part 1]
Dear Father / the LORD Who Sanctifies Me, …
[Part 2]
Dear child / (your name), …

Based on the above context,

• you may write to Him about your experience of resting in Him

• you may tell Him what “resting” means to you, and ask Him what “resting” means to Him

• are you reeling under a performance-driven culture? You may tell Him how you feel about it

• you may take this opportunity to plan your rest with Him, ask Him how He wants you to rest and listen to His response
Check out Appendix 2 for more.

Exercise 2:

DECLARATION

He is the LORD Who Sanctifies You. He instituted the Sabbath and calls you to rest. How does this relate to the way you live today? In your journal, write down your declaration.

Because You are the LORD who sanctifies me, I declare I can / I will / I am…

Read your declaration out loud to Him and yourself. Repeat a few times, and let it sink into your soul. Feed your mind with God-pleasing thoughts, and starve the thoughts that don’t serve you and His kingdom.

This completes Day 12 of HE. Today, I pray that your restless heart will find true rest in Him, the One who rested on the 7th day of creation and who will bring us into the ultimate Sabbath rest.

Bonus

Personal remarks. For over a year now, I’ve been observing the Sabbath from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It probably isn’t the time to explain all the whys, hows, and benefits here. To keep it short, I would say that I set aside that day just for activities that are restful and worshipful, activities that help me connect with God, myself, or my loved ones.

I am by no means asking you to observe the Sabbath the way I do, but it is a spiritual practice that is worth looking into, especially when we are living in a world that worships productivity and performance. If you are interested, you are welcome to view/use the Sabbath prayers I use with my sister.

Further study: