3 Steps to Getting Started with the Sabbath
Are you curious about beginning with the practice of the Sabbath? Or do you want to take your current practice even deeper? We are sharing 3 steps you can take right away to practice the Sabbath in an easy and practical way.
Sabbath is a practice that has marked and rooted Christians and Jewish people for thousands of years. Up until recently, Sabbath was recognized even by secular society. Businesses and grocery stores would remain closed on Sundays, and most of our communities looked at this day as a day set apart.
However, the practice of the Sabbath seems to have gone by the wayside. Instead of having a day of rest and renewal, the Church (i.e., the body of Christ) has begun to look more and more like the rest of the world- constant busyness, overwhelming anxiety, and exhaustion. Sadly, regular, extended time for God and pleasure seems to be a thing of the past.
But there is hope!
There are those of us who do want something more than a fast-food-style relationship with God.
You are here- reading this right now, so I know you are craving more. Maybe it’s a deeper relationship with the Lord. Perhaps it’s more intentionality in your time with Him. Or maybe it’s a desire to slow down and really enjoy life and your family more.
Practicing the Sabbath is the answer.
Honoring Sabbath may mean you need to reorder your weekly life or sacrifice certain activities to make more space for God. If we want our lives to be rooted in Christ and if we desire our families to go deeper in their connection with Jesus, we need to do something beyond the one-hour Sunday church commitment (and some of us aren’t even doing that).
The Lord uses the Sabbath to grow your roots deeper in Him.
Then he (Jesus) said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Mark 2:27
At first, implementing a rhythm of a weekly Sabbath can seem overwhelming or impossible. When Kayla and I realized that the Holy Spirit was convicting us to honor the Sabbath, I had a demanding career. Keeping the Sabbath seemed like a massive sacrifice because the weekend was our only chance to do necessary projects and upkeep around the house.
I would have thoughts like: “Am I going to have to cut the grass in the dark? When else will I be able to do it?”
Another thing that frustrated us was the possible loss of our family income. Kayla was running a part-time business and Saturdays and Sundays were the time that she held most of her appointments. Taking one whole day away from work felt like a financial risk!
But we knew deep down in our hearts (and based on God’s Word) honoring the Sabbath was the right thing to do (Click HERE to check out a recent article on the scriptural basis for the Sabbath.)
So out of an act of obedience to what God was calling us to do and total trust in His provision, we began slowly honoring Sabbath by taking it one week at a time.
The hardest part is just getting started!
Once you begin keeping Sabbath regularly, there are many ways to enhance your experience, but today I am sharing 3 easy steps to help you begin!
Three Steps to Getting Started With Sabbath
1. Brainstorm a list of activities for the Sabbath
The thought of not working actually sounds boring to many. So to combat that, I want you to brainstorm a list of activities that sound enjoyable. You may want to think of the activities that you can do on Sabbath in 4 categories: worship, fun, rest, and self-care.
Worship
How would you like to spend time with Jesus on the Sabbath? Maybe spend extra time in the Word, journal, have family devotions, or go for a walk in nature. Spend leisurely time with God on the Sabbath.
Fun
What kinds of activities or hobbies does your family like to do or would like to try? Our family loves to play new games, watch a movie, do crafts, or do a workout. The point is not to plan your day out hour by hour but instead create excitement by having things to look forward to.
REST
How does each member of your family like to rest and rejuvenate? In our family, we have a mix of introverts and extroverts, so we make space for everyone to enjoy alone time for individual activities. Then we create opportunities to be together for game night, family shows, or a hike in the woods.
Self-Care
As for self-care, see the Sabbath as a time when you can give yourself that extra space to do things that “fill your cup.” Some may see this as selfish, but we actually see this as selfless. When you take care of yourself, you can serve others better because you are rest, rejuvenated, and replenished. For some, this might mean taking a bubble bath or reading, and for others, this could mean working out and eating a healthy meal.
Our only goal for our family on Sabbath is to have the space and opportunity for everyone to connect with God and to feel rejuvenated and refreshed.
If you would love more ideas for your Sabbath, we have created a FREE resource that includes 101 unique ideas to do on your Sabbath! You can download that HERE.
2. Set your Boundaries
Boundaries sound constricting, but they actually give freedom. When they are clearly defined, everyone in the family will enjoy themselves more. There is no confusion about what will or won’t happen on Sabbath!
Some boundaries that are important to consider:
The day of the week. Pick a 24-hour period that you can be consistent with each week. Your schedule may not allow your family to be perfectly consistent, so be flexible when needed. But have a consistent day scheduled that everyone can expect and not plan over.
Phone Usage. How will you limit your phone usage? We suggest that you put your phone down as much as possible to give your mind, eyes, and heart a break. You can set your phone up to only ring if a favorite/emergency contact reaches out. Of course, be safe and take it with you if you leave your home. This isn’t meant to be a strict legalistic guideline; We all use our phones as a distraction from everyday life so use the Sabbath to be present with God and those you love!
People. Who will you spend time with? God calls us to love everyone, but that doesn’t mean we need to be with anyone on our day of rest and rejuvenation. Choose to spend time with people who give you encouragement and support so that you can be your best for everyone else the rest of the week.
Going deeper requires intentionality.
3. Pick a day and just do it!
With any new habit comes the moment where you just have to rip off the bandaid and just do it.
And that’s what it’s like to make space available in your calendar to take your first Sabbath. The first few times, it will feel rather tricky or maybe even like a huge inconvenience. It will probably require some rearranging of your schedule and your to-do list. It might even mean that some work doesn’t get done.
A Word of Caution
In the days leading up to your first Sabbath, the enemy is going to try hard to convince you that you just don’t have the time this week. He will make it feel impossible by tempting you to add even more to your to-do list or your work plate.
Even today, with many years of Sabbath under our belt, Kayla and I have many work and home tasks that we wish to get done before Sabbath. Your to-do list will most likely never be complete the moment that Sabbath begins.
Sabbath becomes the physical reminder that we are finite human beings. It gives us a moment to surrender to our work and ultimately trust that God will take care of us for the next 24 hours. It’s a moment to release and let go. If you feel these frustrating moments leading up to Sabbath, you are normal!
When your Sabbath begins, ask the Lord to help you turn off and unplug. Allow yourself to let go of your responsibilities, tasks, and to-dos. And place your worries, fears, and doubts about the next 24 hours in the Lord’s hands.
We want you to experience the joy of the Sabbath and see how it can transform your walk with Jesus like it has for our family. Sabbath is a gift from the Lord, and we can choose whether or not to accept that gift. He is holding that gift out to you.
Will you accept it?
Better yet, will you unwrap it and experience it?
Don’t toss His gift aside. Sabbath is for you today, in this season of your life. Don’t miss out on all that He has for you.
Be still and know that He is God.
