How to practice Sabbath

Sundown on Friday is my favorite time of the week.

It’s when I begin my Sabbath.

I usually spend the evening with friends then go to bed and sleep in as late as I like (being a morning person, this means no later than 10). I spend the following hours praying, going for a walk, listening to a teaching, and resting through it all.

Afterward, I’m ready for the week to come.

That’s how I practice Sabbath and it’s just one of many ways.

Sabbath Guidelines

In the Old Testament, God tells the Israelites to take the seventh day of the week for their Sabbath. No work is to be done; they are to rest in the Lord.

When Jesus came, He fulfilled the Law and made this practice of Sabbath no longer binding.

That grants us a lot of flexibility in how we pursue rest.

Ideally, I believe a 24-hour Sabbath is best; that’s what we saw God do in Genesis 2 and what He prescribed throughout Scripture.

So, if you can do the 24 hours, take the 24 hours, whether they're on Sunday, Monday, or in between other days.

I do, however, realize that this isn’t always possible. Some people are in vulnerable situations where they have to work two jobs or have the responsibility of raising a family all on their own.

If that’s you, I recommend looking for pockets of rest in which to practice Sabbath.

Maybe your Sabbath is an hour in the morning or before you go to bed. Restful moments can be found in any schedule if we're willing to look for them.

All in all, rest assured that God knows your situation and that He is fully prepared to meet you there.

What Sabbath Isn’t

John Mark Comer makes a good point when he says that Sabbath isn’t simply “another day off.”

It’s easy to fill a day off with more work: Chores, side projects, social engagements, etc., but that’s not what Sabbath is about.

Remember what the word Sabbath means? It means to cease working. To hit the brakes and just rest in God’s presence.

Sabbath should always redirect to God.

This can take many forms: Quality time with family and friends, solitude to minimize distractions, reading Scripture, or spending time in nature… the list goes on.

Just ask yourself: What restful activities make me more aware of God’s presence?

Write those down, set aside time in the coming week, and seek God in Sabbath rest.

At its core, Sabbath isn’t so complex. It's just stopping our daily work and taking it easy in the presence of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

So seek that rest and reorientation and tell us how it goes for you!

And be encouraged knowing, as we rest, God fills us with more of His Spirit so we can go out into those other six days and experience the abundant life He’s called us to.

After all, good work comes from good rest.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

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