What is the Sabbath?
The Sabbath is a day of rest and worship that occurs every seventh day. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Sabbath falls on Saturday, extending from Friday evening to Saturday evening. The practice of observing the Sabbath comes from the biblical account of God resting on the seventh day after creating the world in six days (Genesis 2:2-3). God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.
The Fourth Commandment given to Moses instructs us to “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). The Sabbath serves as a reminder of God’s creative work and his desire for us to find rest in him. It provides a weekly rhythmic break from work and everyday routines. Honoring the Sabbath allows us to refocus our hearts and lives back to God.
Why is Sabbath rest important?
Observing a Sabbath rest is vital for several reasons:
- It honors God – Setting aside the Sabbath shows reverence and obedience to God’s design for a weekly day of sacred rest.
- It refreshes our souls – Taking a full day off from work responsibilities, chores, and other demands provides needed refreshment and renewal.
- It strengthens family ties – Quality time together deepens relationships with immediate and extended family.
- It benefits our health – Studies show taking regular and consistent breaks improves mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
- It frees us from slavery to work – Choosing not to work one day a week breaks the constant drive to be productive.
- It witnesses to our faith – Our Sabbath-keeping distinguishes our Christian beliefs and honors God publicly.
God did not design us to work non-stop. Honoring the Sabbath demonstrates our trust in God’s provision and awareness that our worth is not defined by constant productivity.
How do you prepare for the Sabbath?
Keeping the Sabbath holy and set apart starts with preparing our hearts, homes, and schedules. Here are some tips for getting ready:
Heart Preparation
– Confess any sins that might hinder your fellowship with God.
– Yield your worries and request God’s peace and rest.
– Renew your mindset from workweek focus to worship and wonder.
Home Preparation
– Clean and tidy your home so there are minimal distractions.
– Plan menus for Sabbath meals and do grocery shopping ahead of time.
– Find or purchase flowers to provide a visual Sabbath reminder.
Schedule Preparation
– Wrap up work projects and assignments early.
– Reschedule any events or appointments that fall on the Sabbath.
– Cancel extracurricular activities and minimize scheduled events.
– Protect the Sabbath hours from non-essential commitments.
How do you observe the Sabbath day?
The way you celebrate the Sabbath will reflect your own personality, interests, and family traditions. Here are some common Sabbath observance ideas:
Worship and Prayer
– Attend church services in the morning and evening
– Pray prayers of thanksgiving and adoration
– Sing hymns and worship songs
– Read Scripture aloud
Rest and Relaxation
– Take a Sabbath nap or sleep in
– Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and dinner
– Go for a long nature walk
– Read books, magazines, or the newspaper
– Listen to podcasts or audio books
Enjoy Creation
– Have a family picnic at a park
– Go on a hike through the woods
– Visit a botanical garden, nature preserve, or museum
– Camp out under the stars
– Take a drive to see fall foliage
Reflect and Apply
– Journal about spiritual insights from the past week
– Discuss sermon messages and Sunday School lessons
– Memorize and meditate on Scripture
– Listen to Christian music and study song lyrics
– Review photos from the past week and express gratitude
Serve and Gather
– Call, visit, or send cards to shut-ins
– Bake bread and deliver to neighbors
– Volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter
– Host friends or family for a Sabbath lunch or dinner
What activities should you avoid?
While Sabbath celebrations can be unique, there are certain activities that detract from the intent of holy rest. Ask the Lord to guide your decisions about what to avoid:
- Working – Refrain from employment, house/yard work, cooking, cleaning, errands, shopping, paying bills, etc.
- Tech overuse – Limit screen time, social media, video games, and non-Sabbath internet use.
- Sports and hobbies – Take a break from extracurricular activities and hobbies.
- Secular entertainment – Avoid movies, TV shows, concerts, plays, and sporting events.
- Needless spending – Prevent shopping online, at stores, or dining out.
The goal is to make the Sabbath drastically different from your normal routine. Use wisdom and conviction from the Holy Spirit to discern what constitutes work or distraction for your family.
What are potential obstacles to Sabbath-keeping?
Despite good intentions, consistently practicing Sabbath rest often faces challenges:
Overscheduling
Our calendar pages are filled with important commitments like work, school, church, sports, lessons, and more. It takes effort and sometimes sacrifice to reserve the Sabbath for God-focused renewal.
Guilt
If our worth is tied to constant work, we may feel guilty “not being productive” on the Sabbath. This reveals our mistaken identity and need to find rest in God alone.
Legalism
Strict Sabbath rules with no grace can lead to pride, burnout, and focusing on what “not” to do versus worship. The Sabbath should generate life and freedom in Christ.
Busyness
Our fast-paced, driven world makes it hard to slow down. But busyness is not a badge of importance. God modeled the need for rest.
Distractions
The many diversions of home life, technology, and recreation can easily crowd out the serenity of Sabbath time. We must guard against letting other things take priority.
Apathy
Over time, we may carelessly drift from Sabbath observance altogether. Reigniting a passion for this special day takes renewed commitment.
How can you overcome potential obstacles?
Here are some tips for troubleshooting common struggles that hinder consistent Sabbath rest:
| Obstacle | Solution |
|---|---|
| Overscheduling | Schedule Sabbath first on your calendar, then plan other activities around it |
| Guilt | Remind yourself that stopping work honors God and is His design for flourishing |
| Legalism | Focus on the intent versus letter of the Sabbath; show others grace |
| Busyness | Ask God for discernment about when to say no; delegate and share burdens |
| Distractions | Turn off devices, screens, and electronics to remove temptation |
| Apathy | Recommit to Sabbath delight through prayer, Scripture study, and accountability |
What are the blessings of Sabbath keeping?
Honoring the Sabbath, while challenging at times, ushers in profound blessings when we devote this sacred time to God:
Deeper Connection with God
Removing work and distractions allows us to focus fully on worshipping God. We commune more intimately with him through prayer, scripture, song, and time in creation.
Restored Souls
Stepping off the treadmill of responsibilities renews our minds, bodies, emotions, and spirits. We experience the rest only God can provide.
Stronger Family Ties
Investing a full day together, free from other demands, deepens family relationships and creates meaningful memories.
Life Balance
Regular Sabbath-keeping maintains a healthy rhythm of work and rest. We start each week refreshed instead of burned out.
Kingdom Perspective
Taking a sacred pause realigns our vision toward God and eternity versus worldly affairs. We recognize what ultimately matters.
Improved Health
Studies correlate Sabbath rest with decreased stress, anxiety, hypertension, heart disease, and increased longevity.
Freedom from Slavery to Work
Sabbath observance breaks the illusion that our identity and worth depend on constant productivity and achievement.
Conclusion
God established the Sabbath at creation for our benefit – to revitalize our bodies, reconnect with Him, restore relationships, realign priorities, and rely on His provision. While Sabbath-keeping requires sacrifice, its blessings far outweigh its costs. Through weekly Sabbath rest, we honor God’s design for human flourishing.