I’m of the age I remember stores being closed on Sundays. We had to purchase any groceries or other items we needed before Monday. This often required planning and thinking ahead. But it wasn’t a hassle. Everyone knew that Sunday was a day to go to church and then visit relatives afterwards. Or at least that’s what my family did.

I liked the routine of attending church in the morning and going to see cousins in the afternoon. I have fond memories of playing cards, swimming, and going on outdoor adventures with them.

In 1992, they lifted the Lord’s Day Act ban on retail sales. As a young working adult, I welcomed the opening of stores on Sundays. Then, as a young mother, I liked the freedom to shop any day.

But now, as an adult of “a certain age” I prefer to reserve at least one day a week of downtime. A day of rest. This includes no work on my computer and no shopping.

This preference is in line with God’s plan.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work (Genesis 2:2 NIV).

God expects us to take a day of rest, renewal, and worship. What a lovely expectation from the Creator of the universe.

One day a week — I choose Sunday — is supposed to be a different rhythm of life. A day of worship. It’s a good day to go to church, listen to worship songs on the radio, and pray.

It’s a day to be treated as sacred. A day to enjoy. I like to take my bicycle and praise God as I ride the back country roads. I like to read and write in my journal. Others enjoy gardening, reading their Bible, and visiting with friends.

What a wonderful God who asks us to take a day of rest and refreshment to restore our body and soul.

And to take a day off from the wearying chore of shopping.

Want to go deeper in your worship and walk with God? You’ll find this story—and many others that reveal the heart of true worship—in Prayer, Church & The Bible: Exploring Biblical Truths About True Worship, available on Amazon.