Tips for Resting on the Sabbath

Here are a variety of simple tricks and tips to help you to rest on the Sabbath! It can be hard to carve out time for rest, especially if you are a parent, caregiver, or have animals to care for. These ideas will help you to make the most of the Sabbath day so that you can fully embrace God's rest and honor him with your obedience to this command.

-Let those in your care rest by putting on a movie or music, and then use that time to rest yourself.

-Set yourself up for success by keeping some frozen meals on hand so that you don't have to spend the Sabbath cooking, even if you didn't prepare a meal for it during the week.

-Embrace simple meals and a few fridge and pantry staples for Sabbath nourishment. You absolutely do not need a six course meal to welcome in God's day of rest!

-No short orders for meals or snacks. Create a basket of Sabbath snack options that kids can grab and eat. If someone bugs you for a snack, you can send them to the basket to make their selection themselves.

-Learn to embrace a sink full of dishes. The Sabbath is not a day we need to have immaculate kitchens. When I see dishes piled up in the sink on the Sabbath, I smile because it means we are keeping God's command to rest! 

-Skip giving kids baths unless it's absolutely necessary. Or in the summer, let them play in a sprinkler and call it good enough! 

-Wear pajamas or comfy clothes as a way to signal to your body that it's time to rest. If you go to congregation, having kids put on pajamas when you get home can signal to them that this day is different from the rest of the week (and make for an easier bedtime later). 

-Give farm animals enough food and water the day before to get them through the day. 

-Hang up a cabbage for chickens in the coop. It keeps them occupied and fed the next day! 

-Sign off of social media and silence notifications. Put your phone on landline mode. Give yourself a mental break. No sense in having constant interruptions on the Sabbath! You can also set your phone so that it only rings for callers in your favorites list.

-If you keep thinking of things to do, jot them down. Making a list takes the load off your brain to remember it all and will help you to focus on other things. 

-Remind yourself that it's okay to do the minimum. If you have loved ones or animals in your care, as long as everyone is safe and has their basic needs covered, it's enough. Sabbath does not have to be the day for someone's favorite meal, the longest walk of the dog's life, or a curated activity list.

-Recognize that not being able to rest unless things are perfect is a lie! Our culture has convinced us that rest is something we can only have once we have gotten every other conceivable thing done. This not Biblical truth. God does not expect you to have it all done every week. You can rest even if you could use groceries or the house needs swept or the trash needs taken out. Sabbath rest isn't about finishing everything, it's about pausing even though there' still work to do. 

-Remember that you're not supposed to be accomplishing things today! Just connect with YHWH, rest, and enjoy time with your family or fellowship. 

Related posts:
Sabbath Prep and the Idol of Cleanliness
How to Stop Working on the Sabbath
20 Tips to Simplify Shabbat Prep

Five Ways to Have a More Peaceful Sabbath

Shabbat shalom is translated as a wish for a peaceful Sabbath day. How can you do that? While peace in general comes from repentance and living in YHWH's love and mercy (I love Colossians 3:15 to let the peace of YHWH rule our hearts!), and finding healing for our emotional hurts and baggage, today we are talking about a special kind of peace on the Sabbath. There is an art to resting on the Sabbath, and it requires us to do things a little differently than the rest of the week. While the world around us doesn't stop, we are commanded to take a holy pause in the busyness of life. Sometimes even when we have the day off it can be easy to get swept back into the rush of things. Here are five simple ways to avoid that and to have a more peaceful Sabbath day.

Five Ways to Have a More Peaceful Sabbath:

1. Leave the mail in the box. You know what is not restful? I'd say going through the mail, opening up bills, sorting out junk mail, getting notices that you need to schedule a dentist appointment, etc. Almost every time I open up the mail it gives me something to do. Let the mail stay in the box for an extra day so that this doesn't interfere with your Sabbath peace. The same goes for email.

2.  Switch off the wifi. I probably don't need to tell you that most people are addicted to their smart phone. Picking up the phone to check the time can all too easily lead into scrolling away the next twenty minutes (or more!) of the precious day of rest. And what does browsing social media add to your life or day? Possibly frustration with someone, probably comparison of yourself to others, and maybe a to-do list of cute projects. I think the Sabbath was intended to be more restful and joyful than what our phones can offer. Switching off the phone entirely might not be a reasonable option for you, but not having wifi on can be good incentive to stay off of your phone, and be present where you are. Some doctors believe that turning off the wifi can be more restful and healthful for your body as well.

3. Find a peaceful place. By no means does the house need to be perfect in order for you rest on the Sabbath, but if resting in the midst of a mess is hard, consider where you'll spend the day. That could mean making it a point to stay out of the messy kitchen, or hanging out in the seldom-used guestroom. Spend time on the patio or relax with a hot bath. If it's nice out you could spend the Sabbath day at the lake, a nearby playground, or a park.

4. Don't cook. While I normally have a solid plan in place for Sabbath lunch, can I just say that I haven't had a dinner plan for Saturday night ever? I try to cook enough throughout the week to have leftovers and I make it a point to stock easy snacks, as I shared in this post. And while it doesn't usually make for an Instagram worthy meal it works out just fine. We eat leftovers or something that takes five minutes or less to put together (like quesadillas or salad), and it's not a hassle. There's no need to spend your Sabbath in the kitchen or to overwork yourself beforehand with making an elaborate meal. Simple foods really work out.

5. Make a list. Snuggled up on the couch, I'm cozy under a blanket and have a cup of tea ready to enjoy. I have read three verses of Scripture and then I remember something to do. I find myself rereading the same passages as I'm distracted by thoughts like: I need to order a gift for the baby shower. I should make enchiladas for dinner this week. Oh yeah, I need to return that library book. Maybe you've been there, where you are kept from engaging in rest on the Sabbath because it's hard to switch off the to-do list. Keep a pen and paper nearby, and when one of those things comes up you can write it down and be done with it. I know this doesn't sound like it should work but it really does! Once you've written it down you know that you'll remember it, so your brain isn't focused on reminding you of what you need to do. Go back to your book now!



Other ideas for Sabbath rest:
Five Ways to Honor Shabbat
20 Tips to Simplify Shabbat Prep
Encouragement for the New Shabbat Keeper
Five Things I Love About the Sabbath