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Why I Started Keeping Shabbat

Why I Started Keeping Shabbat | Land of Honey

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Shabbat keeping is a choice.

There is a growing movement of people who serve Yahusha as their Messiah and who have decided to start honoring Shabbat, including most readers here at Land of Honey. Most of us weren't born into homes where the seventh day of the week was set apart. So what caused us to make this change in our lives?

My route was probably easier than most. Growing up my family never really found a Christian church that was a good fit for us, which caused us to bounce from place to place and hear wide ranges of doctrines, opinions, etc. on Scripture. This in turn forced us to constantly evaluate what we believed and why. I strongly believe that if someone is studying Scripture for what it says - and separates that from what they have been told - they will eventually get to a point where they see YHWH's commandments and instructions as life-giving and not burdensome. And that's really what it was like for our family, and by that time, small group. After admitting that what we had been taught wasn't consistent with what Scripture actually says, it seemed so obvious that this was a change that needed to be made. My husband and I were engaged at that time and were both willing to try this together. Our small congregation then changed it's meeting time from Sunday morning to Shabbat afternoon, and the 'peer pressure' of that was helpful. We began with just attending service on the seventh day, and then slowly realized other elements of setting the day apart like having time off from work, not shopping or eating out, and intentionally resting.

This is the point in the story where many of my Christian friends, coworkers, or relatives interject with something like, "You know that's legalism and Christ did away with that, right?" And I know where they're coming from because when I first considered the possibility of keeping Shabbat those were my thoughts too. Up until then my faith, though growing, was pretty mainstream (albeit with an extra dose of 'the Holy Spirit is real and does stuff'). I went to FCA at school, saw Rebecca St. James in concert, went on a couple of mission trips, attended youth group and summer camps, interned at a Bible college, and was on staff with several churches and non profits. I had the 'normal Christian' beliefs. We didn't know anyone who kept the Sabbath day on the seventh day of the week. We certainly didn't decide to make this change because it was convenient. This wasn't a decision made on a whim. It came after months of Scripture study, listening to teachings, reading books, and praying and asking for understanding. It was a decision we made because we felt very strongly that YHWH was asking us to do this, even if this idea was unpopular and misunderstood.

This is one of the best changes we have ever made! Shabbat adds so much peace to our lives, something wonderful to look forward to after a hectic week. I have more energy and feel like my time is more under control. And after experiencing this you can't feel like a day of rest is a burden. It's a gift.

Keeping the Sabbath Will Change Your Life - Why I Started Keeping Shabbat | Land of Honey

Why did you choose to start keeping Shabbat? Remember that Shabbat survey I asked you to participate in a while ago? Well, I am going to share some answers from that today. :) I hope for those of us who are in the Hebrew community that it will be edifying to hear of others who have made the same choices we have. For those of you who are new to the idea of Shabbat observance I hope it will clear up any questions you may have.

Why did you start keeping Shabbat?

"Because Scripture clearly states and stresses the importance of it."

"It says in the Bible to keep the Sabbath, which is on the seventh day. We figured God did it, Yeshua did it, and he told us to, so why not?"

"Reading Scripture convicted me. If I'm grafted into Israel, and Israel was commanded to observe the Sabbath for all their generations, then the commandment now applies to me."

"We (my wife and I) started observing Shabbat because we did some research and found out that the Catholic church changed the day and meaning of observance."

"We realized it was the Biblical day and God commanded it."

"My mom had been convicted off and on almost her whole life.... She eventually just put her foot down and said she was going to keep it. My sister and I thought it was an okay idea at the time too, but now we would never go back!"

"I could read it in the Bible in black and white that it was for me to do if I was grafted into the Vine. It  had never been removed. And why would we only keep nine out of ten commands?"

"It was a part of my kids homeschool curriculum. It was a beautiful teaching and I wondered why Christians stopped so I've been reading and researching on my own."

"My wife showed me in the Bible."

"Because I realized the beauty of what it means to disconnect in order to reconnect with what actually matters in life."

"Out of a hunger to show obedience as a fruit of my relationship with YHWH."

"God woke me up and revealed to me [Shabbat] is not Jewish and it wasn't done away with after Christ."

"I began worshiping with a congregation and learned the importance of keeping Shabbat."

"Learned it was the right thing to do, that Sunday is not the Sabbath."

"My husband told me to! Haha!"

"After some studying of Torah and [the] commandments, we saw it made perfect sense that this is something He desires us to do."

"My family came to the understanding that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and that in keeping His commands we find blessing."

"I knew by Scriptures that Saturday was Sabbath. I have lost a lot to observe it but it's been worth it."

"To have a richer family life and to share the old ways with our children."

"We keep Shabbat, because we love our Father, and want to obey His instruction on how to live."

"I grew up in a Christian church, and also a Messianic congregation. I decided upon becoming an adult, that I wanted to embrace my Messianic side. Observing Torah, and consequently, keeping Shabbat is integral to that."

"I read my Bible from front to back and was convicted."

"My husband and I received the revelation of Torah over seven years ago, and Shabbat is one of the most obvious/important things that you find when you first start reading and learning Torah."

"To experience more gratitude and intimacy with YHWH."

"I felt convicted to start setting Saturday apart. To truly use it as a day of rest, a day of connection with my kids and husband, a day to get into deeper study."

"I started studying the Word of God from a Hebrew perspective and saw Christianity from a whole new light."

"My husband started it at home... I wasn't happy with the idea.... but I did what I know best - praying. I asked the Father if this is good and is Yours, lead me to understand, manage the time, enjoy, rejoice, and love your Shabbat."

"God tugged at my heart about the commandments and to keep Shabbat."

"I got my eyes opened to what Yah says is a sign between us."

"Once I learned that it was really Biblical, not only for "the Jews," not abolished, and not changed/abrogated, it was the only choice I could make."

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the Shabbat survey! So many responded that it's not really feasible to share everyone's answer but I have so enjoyed reading each one. Thank you for sharing your story. How do you guys feel about posts like these? Is it fun for you to hear from others? I know I love it.

12 comments:

  1. Shabbat shalom! I came across this post via Pinterest. It's good to read about others who are seeing the truth in Yah's Word and adjusting their lives to line up with it!

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    1. Yes I am so excited to read these responses I am thankful for the encouragement.

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  2. I learned to keep the Sabbath when a lady I met in Walmart told me about it.
    I am so thankful she did.
    I had just given her a gospel tract when she told me about Sabbath.
    I wanted to make a retort with a new testament scripture that had been twisted by people for years.
    But something told me not to and to look it up and pray about it for myself.Found over thirty scriptures on the Sabbath and it was not on first day of the week!🤗
    Praise Yahshua for truths He must have known I was ready to hear.
    We gladly keep it every week now along with the holy days.
    At least my boys and I do.
    My husband helps me get the things I need at the store and will rest this day as long as work does not call him in.
    He does not see the truth yet but I am thankful he at least allows me to celebrate without being too critical.
    I am praying one day we will agree on this important issue.
    Thanks for your article it's interesting to find out how people came to know the truth.
    May Yahweh bless those who see the truth and obey it joyfully.
    Acts 13:42
    Luke 4:16
    Acts 18:4
    Praise Yahshua for truth!


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    1. Alicia, your story is amazing! Totally know what you mean about the quick retort too, I was that way and I encounter that a lot...it's easier to put up a wall than to examine your beliefs. But in taking a closer look we really let YHWH speak to us. So thankful you were open to listening. :) Praying your husband's understanding grows as well!

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  3. I have recently found Torah sisters and I am really enjoying reading the testimonies here. I am from Wollongong Australia and I have been keeping Shabbat for 3 and half years now. I was a Christian for many years and I felt something was missing and really was wanting to know the truth. A friend shared about the Sabbath day with me and when and how to keep it, I knew right then and there in my heart it was truth, so I kept it from that day forth. I have 5 daughters and a son that I am praying for, that they will embrace the Sabbath and grow to love it as I do.I do not attend Sunday worship anymore. Shabbat Shalom Torah sisters. HaleluYah.

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    1. Michaiyah, I am so glad you referenced Torah Sisters, I looked it up and ordered mine today! I am very excited!!!

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  4. I found this on Pintrest and it is so our story. My husband is a pastor and YHVH has been opening his eyes for years but until 3 years ago it hit us like a bammmm.. He has begun teaching Torah and we lost many of our church family because they thought we were crazy. We kept faithful and in March started meeting on Saturday , Shabbat.. What a blessing. many young families are now coming and finding us as Torah believers.. thank you for your story..

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  5. Alicia, I cried when I was reading your story! I am just thankful to hear other people’s stories about how YHVH revealed to them His way! I will pray your husband will be blessed and see the truth too! Praise Yah he allows you and the kids to be obedient!!

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  6. Alicia, I cried reading your story. I am so thankful to hear of other people’s stories of how YHVH led them in the way! I pray your husband be blessed in his participation and lettingnyou and the kids follow in obedience.

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  7. It helps so much to see other people studying and pursuing the Torah! It can be isolating sometimes, because it’s not the norm. I enjoy reading your posts! It’s nice to not feel alone!

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  8. SHABBAT Shalom! Peace to you and your people my love <3 .. your article is beautiful thank you Dear :)

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  9. I learned many years ago about the 7th day being the Sabbath. I was shocked that I hadn't realized that sooner! I just went along believing that Sunday was the Sabbath day without realizing that Sunday isn't the 7ty day on the calendar! Duh!!! I joined a 7th day church but wasn't really happy there...but I have to admit...much of it was my husband's feeling about how to worship and flatly "how to live." That said...the gnawing feeling that I needed to be observing Shabbat on the 7th day. I'm back doing just that and am very happy about it.

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