The spiritual practice of rest

17 December 2020

Creating a Sabbath space

Sabbath is God’s gift to us. It is a time we set apart to rest from work, to worship God, to tend to our spirit, and to bless others. Knowing that people need rest in order to flourish, God created (and modelled) a weekly time of Sabbath rest.

Here are a few ideas to develop a Sabbath space in your home.

Begin with words of thanks, remembering all the good gifts you’ve received from God this past week.

Decide together how to spend your time by talking about activities that bring each of you joy, and those that make you feel weary or anxious. Are they life-giving or life-draining? Experience the presence of God as you enjoy the presence of one another during this time of rest.

Gathering for worship forms a firm foundation on which to build the rest of your week. When you worship at home, use a devotional guide such as ‘Growing Faith at Home’ from the Grow Ministries website. www.growministries.org

Celebrate God’s goodness in ways that are festive and joyful. Eat a special meal; listen to music; share where you’ve seen God at work this week or what you’re grateful for; spend time outdoors; laugh out loud together; and enjoy God’s good gifts.

God restores our mind, body, and soul through rest. Look for ways in which God might also be calling your family to extend restoration to others; perhaps by inviting people into your Sabbath celebrations or easing someone else’s burden.