Abide

Our practice

Rest for your Soul

The human condition is naturally prone to restlessness and in our fast-paced digital age and consumer-driven culture, that restlessness only grows louder. But Jesus offers us a different way. He invites us into a life shaped by rest, not just as the absence of work, but as the presence of peace. The restfulness of Jesus is more than just taking a day off, it’s a spirit we carry, a rhythm we live by throughout the week.

To Sabbath is to intentionally set aside time for deep rest and worship. It’s not about checking out or escaping, but about pressing in to God, to joy, to renewal, and to what truly matters. One of the most important and often overlooked practices of Jesus was his commitment to rest. He made time to withdraw, to be with the Father, to renew his strength, and to simply stop. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to do the same — to model rest in a restless world, and to trust that God is at work even when we are not.

Baseline Practice

Aim to take regular breaks throughout your day and set aside one day to 'sabbath' every week.

Next Steps

Try Practicing Sabbath

As an individual

Set an alarm on your phone to remind to take short breaks throughout your day.
Decide on a window of time you will spend without your phone.
Mark out a 24 hour time period (or as close as you can) to rest.
Explore Sabbath activities that don’t require a phone, internet, or a screen. If you’re prone to vegging on Netflix, try picking up a book or reading the Bible.

With Your Family

Put together a box of special toys with your kids, that they get to play with on the Sabbath.
Plan a special sabbath meal (like breakfast) or dessert.
Read a story from the Bible
Take a walk in your neighbourhood or to a local park
Parents, take turns taking time doing your own thing.
Single Parents: See if someone is willing to hang out with your kids, so you can have some time alone.
Parents of teens: Sleep in (and let them sleep in), limit the amount of screen time (in conjunction with your teens). Explore a hobby with them.
Empty nesters: host an intentional family dinner, explore your spouses hobbies, find a hobby to do together, drive to the coast, read the Bible and pray together.

In Community

Make any social plans for your Sabbath ahead of time so you don’t need to be on your phone that day.
Arrange to have coffee with others in your community.
Meet up at a local park, go cycling with friends, explore a part of the city you’ve never visited before.

Questions

What are the things to stop you from resting, busyness, hurry, what makes you think you can't stop?

For more resources visit: www.practicingtheway.org/practices/sabbath

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Rest for your Soul

Try Practicing Sabbath

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