How Can We Prepare for Sabbath?

Want some ideas for ways you can prepare for Sabbath?

Chores/tasks/activities that can help you feel more physically, mentally, and spiritually prepared to enjoy the Sabbath:

• Finish the laundry
• Do dishes/clear the countertops
• Put fresh bedsheet and pillows on the bed
• Tidy up rooms
• Vacuum and sweep
• Fill cars up with gas
• Go through the mail stack
• Pre-plan or pre-make meals
• Take a long, relaxing bath
• Silence phone notifications
• Journal
• Write a to-do list for next week…then set it aside
• Take a walk
• Pray
• Read a devotional or a passage of Scripture
• Attend an evening church service
• Gather as a family
• Spend quality time with friends or extended family
• Bake and share bread
• Sing or play music
• Light candles
• Make hot drinks
• Put fresh flowers in a vase

Why do people prepare for Sabbath?

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Preparing for Sabbath allows us to more deeply enjoy its purpose and its blessings.

This makes sense, considering what Sabbath is all about. On the very first Sabbath, God finished His work, then made time to stop and enjoy it (Genesis 2:1-3). To appreciate it. To experience it. It’s a transition from “go mode” to “chill mode.” And He extends this same blessing to all humankind so we can enjoy fellowship with Him, appreciating the world He made for us.

The Hebrew word for Sabbath, Sabbat or Shabbat (שַׁבָּת), means “to cease.”¹

But why would we need to “prepare” to cease? To stop? To pause?

Well, we can’t rest very well if we don’t put down our work, right? And if you think about it, preparing for rest is a fairly natural process. For instance,

• We work hard to earn enough money for retirement.
• We prepare for holidays weeks (or months) in advance so we can truly relax, de-stress, and enjoy the festivities (or intentional lack thereof).
• Before a vacation, we try to finish as much of our work as possible so we don’t have to think about it while we’re gone. Instead, we want a clear head so we can make the most of our getaway.
• If we’re hosting some visiting friends or family, we want to clear our schedules and prepare certain things ahead of time so our regular obligations don’t get in the way of the quality time we want to spend with our loved ones.

Similarly, Sabbath is like a little vacation each week where we also get to spend quality time with the best Friend we could ever have. That’s why God asks us to hit the pause button—so we can be present, tune into His Spirit, and have a legitimate chance to stop and smell the roses (both literally and figuratively).

It’s so much easier to do this if we make an effort to be ready for it. It enables us to disconnect from the constant need to produce, deliver, construct, achieve, etc. Then we can appreciate God allowing us time just to exist, acknowledge His presence, and remember that we can lean on Him for sustenance instead of trying to take on the world ourselves.

So what are some ways we can prepare for Sabbath beforehand?

Let’s start by looking at how God taught the Israelites to prepare for Sabbath in the Bible.

What does the Bible say about Sabbath preparation?

In chronicling the lives and spiritual growth of Israel, the Bible provides several examples of God teaching the Israelites how to prep for Sabbath.

The fact that the Israelites needed God to give them instructions for preparation suggests that the Israelites had forgotten the Sabbath day amid their captivity in Egypt. As slaves, they would have had little opportunity to observe it.

But God brought the Sabbath back to them. He did it to restore the original plan He made for humankind, but also to remind them of the love and rest He offered (Ezekiel 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:15).

What a relief this day must have been for a group of people who had been enslaved, required to regularly work to the point of exhaustion (Exodus 5:4-18).

In addition to being a reminder of God’s love and care, the Sabbath was intended to reforge their relationship with God that had been stifled in Egypt. And pausing from work to reserve quality time is an essential way to do that.

In Exodus 16, we find the Israelites wandering the wilderness, slowly making their way to the Promised Land. But along the way they began to complain that they were hungry, expressing doubt in God and Moses’ leadership.

God responded to their doubts graciously. He wanted the people to trust Him and see that His leadership would never fail. He also needed to help them mature morally, spiritually, and practically after being liberated from slavery. So He provided them with a food routine.

The food came to them in the form of manna, a flaky, bread-like substance that they could easily find and gather each day. Along with this food, He gave the Israelites specific instructions:

• They were to gather manna every day of the week (except for the seventh day).
• Each morning, they were only to gather enough for that day—they weren’t to hoard it or take more than their household needed (otherwise, any extra they took would spoil overnight).
• But on the Sabbath, no manna would appear for them to gather.
• Instead, they were to prepare for the seventh day by gathering a double portion on the sixth day (Friday). This was the one day they were allowed to gather more than just a day’s worth.

This simple practice was a reminder to the Israelites that it was in their best interests to keep the Sabbath God had first instituted at Creation:

“‘See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.’ So the people rested on the seventh day” (Exodus 16:29-30, NKJV).

God continued to teach the Israelites how to prepare by explaining what tasks could be avoided on Sabbath and done beforehand.

This included tasks like:

• Wrapping up work (Exodus 20:8-11): Because people paused from their work on Sabbath, final tasks for the week were completed before Sabbath arrived. Even servants and animals would get the chance to rest from their labor.

• Buying and selling (Nehemiah 13:15-22): Commerce was also paused on Sabbath. Because Sabbath rest is for everyone, the Israelites avoided work (like selling things to earn a profit) as well as any activity that would require others to work for them (buying goods and services from others). In this way, the Israelites would have bought and sold everything they needed before Sabbath began.

• Tasks that required significant effort (Exodus 35:3): The Israelites also avoided sizable chores like lighting fires on Sabbath. Back in their day, gathering materials for fire (and lighting it) required a hefty amount of manual labor. So they made preparations for warmth, safety, and cooking/preserving so they could have a break from these things on Sabbath (Exodus 16:23).²

• Gathering (Numbers 15:32-36): If you’ve ever gathered, hauled, and assembled a stack of wood to make a fire or use in a stove, you know it can be exhausting and time-consuming. So the Israelites were instructed to gather enough of what they’d need during their day off.

• Carrying heavy loads (Jeremiah 17:21-22): These verses most likely refer to the act of carrying goods to sell.³ However, we can understand why carrying any kind of load would put a bit of a damper on our Sabbath rest. It might feel like using our precious little time off to pack up a moving truck. For this reason, Israelites would ensure all heavy lifting was taken care of before Sabbath.

In completing these tasks before Sabbath, the Israelites would have an easier time sincerely focusing on the day God set aside for their rest, both physically and spiritually (Luke 23:54-56; Genesis 2:1-3).

Of course, some things couldn’t always be prepared for—like emergencies or daily necessities. The Jews still needed to feed and water their livestock every day (Luke 13:15). They also wouldn’t ignore or put off urgent needs, especially those that involved the health and safety of others.⁴

But there were many things they could do in advance like cook, clean, sell, buy, gather, make, and so on.

One other thing to keep in mind is that the Bible also shows us how sin can corrupt or skew Sabbath-keeping and preparation into something completely different.

As we can read about in the beginning of the New Testament, the meaning of Sabbath was distorted by some factions of Jewish religious leaders as they heaped on additional regulations for Sabbath-keeping and preparation.⁵ But Jesus Christ Himself confronted this and clarified that Sabbath was made for the benefit, health, and joy of humanity. It’s a blessing—it was never supposed to be a burden (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:27).

So, instead of being founded on ultra-specific rules, observing or preparing for Sabbath is all about acknowledging and embracing the principles it was built upon.

And it’s these principles that can help us determine how to get ready for Sabbath in a way that’s relevant, personal, and meaningful for us today.

How can we prepare for Sabbath in today’s world?

Photo by Teona Swift

Just as it’s always been, celebrating Sabbath is easier and more accessible when we take care of unnecessary distractions and to-do lists beforehand.

The two key principles of the Sabbath are pausing for rest⁶ and spending special time with God,⁷ so any way we can facilitate these things would be an example of preparation.

That being said, just like with Sabbath-keeping, preparation isn’t about adhering to specific tasks or rules that, upon completion, make us somehow more “officially” prepared for this weekly holy day.

Making things like this too specific can be limiting and isn’t always helpful or relevant. That’s why, throughout the Bible, we more often find principles to apply than highly-detailed, step-by-step instructions for life.

The actual tasks of prep will also vary from person to person. For example, cooking can feel like a chore for some while others find it fun or calming. So one person might try to pre-make some meals for Sabbath and enjoy a break from cooking, while another might enjoy the chance to prepare special meals on Sabbath as part of the enjoyment of the day. But both of these types of people are likely to make sure all the grocery shopping for the weekend was done ahead of time, etc.

Or some people who are artists by trade might make an effort to clean up and put away their art supplies before Sabbath so they don’t have to think about work throughout that day. But those who like to paint or sketch as a hobby might find the Sabbath a meaningful time to follow the whims of artistic inspiration, so they leave their art supplies out and instead focus on completing other mundane or burdensome tasks that they don’t want to have to think about on Sabbath.

Or some people might like to assign Friday as a reserved day of preparation while others spread out preparation efforts during the week.

But setting up strict rules for Sabbath preparation can weigh it down, making it seem like a burden when God made it to be a delight. Sabbath won’t be restful if we’re always rushing to finish a big list of tasks in time. We don’t need to put that kind of pressure on ourselves. And this kind of focus can also cause us to forget Sabbath’s purpose in the first place.

That’s why there’s no lengthy to-do list here. Instead, some fairly simple Bible study can provide just the wisdom we need to prep for Sabbath. Scripture encourages us to do what we can to:

• Guard Sabbath rest: We naturally guard our time for things that we prioritize. And in Bible times, guarding Sabbath rest involved taking care of strenuous tasks and chores before the sun set on Friday night. While what we consider “work” looks different today due to modern conveniences, there’s still plenty we can do to lighten our load on Sabbath. This might be finishing the week’s laundry, cleaning the house (or key parts of it), running errands for things we might need during the weekend, or pre-cooking Sabbath meals in the crock pot. Or it could mean getting through all our emails by Friday and turning off all our pings and notifications until Saturday night.

• Guard special time with God: Sabbath was also meant to be the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with God by gathering together for worship and studying His Word. If we ready ourselves mentally and spiritually for Sabbath, we can enjoy a more intentional, liberated mindset. So if we have things that often distract us, weigh on us, or hold our attention and moods captive, we might choose to give those things a break for 24 hours.
  Some might put their phones away for most of the day, or make sure certain apps are closed or silenced. Some might refrain from binge-watching the day away on the shows they’re currently into. Some might plan ahead to do certain activities only on Sabbath, making them extra special and purposeful. Some might make it a point to attend a Friday vespers (evening service) at their local church. Some might have family prayer or worship at sundown on Friday to direct their mindsets to the beginning of Sabbath. The possibilities are limitless.

Now let’s look at how we can turn our preparation priorities into a routine that we can stick to.

Developing a Sabbath prep routine

Some may prepare for Sabbath differently each week, especially if their work schedules vary from week to week. But many people like to make routines or habits that can be planned for and counted on. So let’s talk about some ways to build a Sabbath preparation routine that’s both meaningful and practical.

The number one step will be the same for everyone: prayerful consideration. The whole point of Sabbath preparation is to help us enjoy God’s gift and deepen our relationship with Him, so He is more than willing to bring helpful things to mind.

Then, it can help to ask yourself questions like:

• What tasks can I take care of to make my Sabbath feel more restful?
• What would be nice to not have to think about on Sabbath?
• How can I prep my mind to enjoy a Sabbath free of distractions and stress?
• How can I make it a priority to spend personal time with God this Sabbath?
• What special things can I do to make Sabbath something I look forward to every week?

As you reflect on these things, know that the Holy Spirit is always there to provide guidance.

But that’s not to say you won’t run into difficulties. You might struggle with finding the time (or energy/willpower) to complete all the things you’d like to get done before Sabbath.

It’s all too easy to be ambitious with our plans, but then have to adjust for reality later on. And that’s ok.

What if I can’t prepare everything in time?

Photo by Andreas Bentele on Unsplash

Again, let’s remember that Sabbath is Sabbath, and the blessing is there for us even if we aren’t as prepared as we want to be. There’s no need for guilt or shame if it’s sundown on Friday and our minds are still spinning from work drama, or we arrive home to a very messy house that we just don’t have the time or energy to clean up in the nick of time.

Instead, we can just be thankful that the weekly time has come to set all the chaos aside for 24 hours

For many people, their work schedule could already interfere with how they’d prefer to prepare for Sabbath. Especially during the winter months, by the time we get home from work on Friday evening, it’s already about to be Sabbath. Sometimes we don’t get a whole lot of transition time.

While it may be possible for a few people here and there to adjust their work schedules, this is likely not an option for most others. That means the priority will be finding ways to facilitate a quick, smooth transition to the Sabbath mindset, even if we’re just getting back from an exhausting day at work.

Some might choose to have things as prepped as possible before even leaving for work on Friday.

Some might read devotionals right after work or have an inspiring, thoughtful podcast cued up.

Some might switch on some calming music or even some background ambience tracks, like rain, birds, or ocean.

Some might have a dedicated prayer in the car on the commute home.

Some might enjoy a family routine that becomes a meaningful tradition, like lighting candles, eating challa (a Jewish bread recipe sometimes called “Shabbat bread”), choosing a Bible verse to reflect on together, or simply reserving time for the whole family to be present and attentive, relaxing together and welcoming the incoming peace of the Sabbath.

Preparing to receive this peace is the whole point.

It’s okay if your house is still untidy by Sabbath. It’s okay if your to-do list for the week only got half done. Preparation isn’t about meeting standards; it’s about meeting your needs. What do you personally need to have ready so you can embrace Sabbath peace?

What helps you “remember”?

In the Sabbath (fourth) commandment, God asks us to “remember” the Sabbath day to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8). It’s all about remembering who God is (our Creator) and what He did for us.

So when we’re “preparing” for the Sabbath each week, it helps to ask, What helps me remember that Sabbath is here—that I can slow down, pause, and reflect on this blessing?

And above all, the very best Sabbath preparation advice anyone can give is to pray. God has always intended for us to enjoy the Sabbath with Him each week, so it only makes sense that He is already there to help us prepare for it as well.

Want to keep learning about the Sabbath?

or

1. Strong, James LL.D, S.T.D. The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Zondervan, 2001. pp. 1570, 1784. [↵]
2. Nichol, F.D. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary And Bible Students’ Source Book, vol. 1 (1954), p. 679. [↵]
3. Nichol, F.D. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary And Bible Students’ Source Book Volume 3, Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1954. p. 424. [↵]
4. Luke 14:5; Mark 2:23-26; Matthew 12:11-12. [↵]
5. “What Are Some Sabbath Rules That The Pharisees Made?” BibleAsk.org, June 6, 2017. [↵]
6. Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11. [↵]
7. Leviticus 23:3; Isaiah 58:13-14; Ezekiel 20:20. [↵]

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