Play & Pray
The resurrection celebration reminds us that as Christ walked out of the tomb he brought with him a new creation of which we are a part!
As new creations in Christ, we access God’s ultimate Sabbath rest – we are no longer burdened by the intolerably heavy yoke of sin, but are free to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. We rest always under the light and easy yoke of Jesus, enjoying a foretaste of the final sabbath rest, the year of jubilee when all things are finally and fully made new.
Effectual Sabbath rest requires both praying and playing. We need to quiet ourselves before the Lord, spending time in his word and delighting in his presence. We also need to grant ourselves leisure and recreation.
Eugene Peterson puts it succinctly, “Playing and praying counter boredom, reduce anxieties, push, pull, direct, prod us into the fullness of our humanity by getting body and spirit in touch and friendly with each other."
"Praying and playing” can be defined as broadly and creatively as you and your family need - host friends or set a boundary and protect time together as just your family; simply watch a movie together or go for a four mile hike; cook a super elaborate meal or throw something in the crockpot that requires minimal effort. Different seasons call for different kinds of rest. Consider what would be life-giving in the season that you're in and do that. Easter is a season for life, after all.
In case you're curious about the 50 days of Easter, here's a quick overview! This year, Pentecost is Sunday, May 19.
