Today, the idea of a Christian Sabbath can feel impossible. Our overworked culture has made an idol of productivity. These days, more people work from home, the lines between work and home have been blurred and many of us find ourselves checking work emails from bed and texting to do lists on our commutes. If you find yourself weary or disconnected from God, learning how to observe the Sabbath may be a good practice to add to your life.

The Sabbath was created for our good and can help to deepen your relationship with God, reduce your stress, and help you build stronger connections with those around you.

1. Remember the purpose

As you consider how to observe the Sabbath as a Christian, it is important to first remember how Sabbath was instituted. For Israel, Sabbath was established as a day to set apart for rest and for God as a part of the ten commandments.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11)

As New Testament believers, this doesn’t include a strict list of do’s and don’ts. But we are also called to remember that we are created for rest and we are recharged by connecting with God.

2. Create a Rhythm

Having a rhythm of work and rest has been modeled to us from God from creation.

Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 2:3)

Jesus models this throughout his ministry as he leans-in to minister to those around him, and then steps away to rest and connect with God. For Israel, this was a strictly observed weekly rhythm of sabbath. Today, the important concept is that this is a consistent time in your schedule to rest and connect with God.

Be intentional to add “white space” to your calendar. This could be a day of rest on Sunday, a mid-week break when your spouse and kids are at school or work, or one evening a week that you commit to keeping open.

Whatever your rhythm, choose a time that can be consistent and that you can observe on a regular basis.

3. Connect with God

It is easy for us to fill the blank spaces in our calendars with mindless scrolling or catching up on chores. During your Sabbath, prioritize reconnecting with God.

This is a chance to step back from our ordinary routines to remember our previous slavery to sin and celebrate our freedom in Christ.

Connecting with God could include prayer, reading the Bible, journaling, or corporate worship. If you prefer structure, consider a journal that includes prompts or a formal Bible-study. If you are a bit more free-spirited, consider spending time in nature to enjoy creation or having unguided prayer time.

In the quiet of your Sabbath, work to listen for the Holy Spirit so that you can focus on God’s presence and perspective instead of the world around you.

4. Find Soul Rest

In our culture that applauds hustle, it can feel “unproductive” to rest. But Mark 2:27 reminds us that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

While there are several stories of Jesus working on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17, Mark 2:23-28), it is helpful to not have any scheduled work during your Sabbath so that your mind and body can find rest.

Sabbath rest can look different for each person. For you, it could look like taking a nap or watching a movie with your family. It may also look like spending time outdoors, doing a craft that feels life giving, or reading a book.

In Genesis 1, God modeled looking at creating and celebrating what was good. During your rest, thank God for the good things in your life. You’ll find that this practice of gratitude to God will bring rest to your soul.

5. Develop Your Relationships

One of the opportunities that we have once we have stepped outside of our normal routines is to more intentionally connect with those around us.

During your Sabbath, consider how you can nurture the relationships in your life. You could do a puzzle as a family, have a great conversation over a cup of coffee, or call an older relative who lives on their own. God created us to be in relationship with him and with one another, and Sabbath is an opportunity to move deeper in our relationships.

You can also serve those around you during your Sabbath. Jesus modeled this for us by serving those in his life. In Matthew 12:12, Jesus responds to the law-obsessed Pharisees, reminding them that “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Serving at your local church, baking cookies for a neighbor, or watching a friend’s child so that they can also get rest will reorient your attention to how God is working in and through you.

6. Put Your Trust in God

Regularly having a Sabbath is an opportunity to claim our full trust in God. By stopping our work, we remember that it is God who provides our “daily bread”. For New Testament Christians, Sabbath is more than an empty ritual or religious act. Colossians 2:16-17 tells us:

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

In heaven, we’ll regularly rest and connect with God and others. It is a gift to be able to experience a taste of this heavenly practice here on earth.

7. Recognize Your Season

It’s helpful (and often freeing!) to remember that your Sabbath practice will change depending on your season of life. If you are single, you may want to focus on finding community that helps you to remember the goodness that God has for you. If you have young children, your rest may look more like a family walk than a nap. If you have lots of free time, you could serve at your church or food bank as a way to worship God and connect with others.

We are called to celebrate the heart of the Sabbath practice – not follow an explicit law. Recognize your unique season and enjoy what God has for you in your present circumstances.

We are God’s creation and Sabbath is a gift to us. By releasing control of your schedule, you can experience rest and freedom promised by God and find true fulfillment in him.

✏️  AUTHOR CREDITS

This blog was written by the Mission Hills Church Communications Team.