how to Sabbath—
Podcast: a 4 episode
Sabbath series
Sabbath Companion
Guide (digital PDF)
Apprentice Under Jesus
at PracticingTheWay.com
get a paper back Sabbath guide book for you + your people
enjoy a free Sabbath Meditations digital read
maximizing routines + habits—
Match one of your hygiene must-haves with a spiritual practice for a simple, yet powerful experience. Keep scrolling to see a list of my current favorite bonding with God spiritual practices. Brainstorm where these practices can go in your current routine or check out some of my favorite hair + skin nourishing habits in the links below.
oil treatment—
A weekly routine you can implement into your Friday night Sabbath ritual to prepare for a slow Saturday morning shower delight. This is a great time to pick a passage from God’s Word and meditate on what that passage is saying to you for your situation today.
night time skin care protocol—
A daily marker of time in which you can magnify the minutes it takes to go through your 4-7 step routine with a guided prayer played from the Spotify list below. With all sincerity I believe one of those guided prayers paired with the soothing feeling of your skin care routine will refresh you beyond your wildest dreams. This might become your new favorite time of the day.
scalp scrub—
Since scalp scrub is an in-shower product, you’ll benefit from the audio options listed below in Simple Ways to Bond with God. The Bible Project is easy listening that gives you quality understanding of the whole story of the Bible from the way the biblical authors wrote it and why that matters now as you read and pattern your life after biblical truth.
simple ways to bond with God—
Bonding is not formal. Bonding is not tidy. Bonding is usually messy, disorganized, authentic, and sometimes loud. Bonding happens when you express vulnerability with God. He is kind and good, even when He is unpredictable and firm. He wants to be in deep relationship with you. Here are some simple actions and prayers techniques I have used myself to do my part in building connection with the God of the Universe.
guided prayer
For 5-9 minutes let someone else guide you to prayer. Guided prayer has been an excellent resource for me when I’m sad, numb, confused, lonely, or exhausted. Here is a Guided Prayer Project podcast series on Spotify linked to the right.
hopes, dreams, + goals
This is a time you set aside to align yourself with God. Too many times we assume God is just straight up “unfun”. However, He is the most joyful and fun being in the universe. This is a time for you to meditate and analyze what you love to do, goals you want in life, dreams you have ever let go of, etc. Share these hopes, dreams and goals with the Author of them. Let Him counsel you on which ones to pursue now, which to pursue later, and which to sacrifice for an even greater something. God is more dynamic than we realize and He is kind with our vulnerabilities.
Bible Project Podcast
As a busy mom this podcast has been a lifesaver for me to learn what the Bible is trying to say. Now I am familiar with the themes of the Bible and how it is one unified story from start to end. Knowing these themes intimately has allowed me to know God intimately, hear His voice more clearly, and obey with an understanding of His character. I highly recommend this podcast to all. I have linked a great beginner series to the theme: “image of God”. Click the image to access this series.
T-W-I
This is a favorite style of prayer in our family. My husband and I will set aside 45 minutes to an hour and turn on the “Echoes in the Valley” playlist linked to the right on shuffle. For the first fifteen minutes of prayer we share Thanksgivings. We say one liner “Thank you, God, for…” statements. After that 15 minute period, we move to one liner “God, you are…” statements. This is our time of Worship. These are simply stating God’s character back to Him in worship. The last fifteen minutes is Intercession where we ask, beg, intercede on behalf of ourselves and others. We popcorn these statements and no one spends time explainingo the group any of our statements because this is prayer time to Him. It’s a special time.
meditation
This is best done for me with a hot coffee or a good stroll. As I walk I meditate on something I’m learning or asking God currently. Sometimes God gives quick answers and sometimes God’s answers come slow and after much searching. This slowness changes us along the way of finding the answer.
listening prayer
When going into listening prayer it is best to have a list of questions to ask God (the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) and listen to how He responds. It’s a great prayer time for uncovering what He has been wanting to tell you, but you haven’t been still enough to listen. Some church members are trained in Listening Prayer so ask your local church if they have this resource available. Linked to the right is a list of questions you can ask God right now. Get somewhere without distractions and get ready to hear Him speak!
festooning prayer
Perhaps there is a passage or a few verses that have been on your mind recently. Set those verses in front of you and ask God to show you what He wants you to hear today from these verses for your specific situation going on right now. The Bible was written to an ancient Israeli people group and then first generation Christians in the Mediterranean. It has specific context when read, Yet, the Bible is also written for all Christians in all places and at all times. The Holy Spirit can guide you in your life today through these ancient words and modern day accountability in the Body. Keep your heart listening for Him.
our family’s Friday Night discipleship—
We have young kids. Sports schedules are not really a boundary for us yet, so we continue to have our Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. We’re also extremely involved in our church and occasionally have worked on a church staff which makes Sunday not very restful. We encourage you to pick a day of the week that suits your family’s rhythms, while keeping in mind Sabbath will interrupt something— that’s kind of the point. We want to be a family that continually interrupts our schedules to seek God. We’ve spent far too much time letting our busy-ness be our excuse for not truly being with Him.
Our Friday nights, as often as we can, are saved for at-home family time around the dinner table. On Sabbath night we’ve noticed a natural segway into family discipleship. Why do we sabbath? Why are we intentional tonight? Who is God? What is He like? How has He been good to our family? Let’s count the ways He has fathered us faithfully and let’s tell stories of the evidence of His good character.
There is so much to talk about when your family gets stilled and focused. But, have you ever tried to have a convo with a 3 year old about God? It’s not easy. What do you say? What’s too over the top for them? How do I filter some of these Bible stories to be more age appropriate? What are they really understanding? Is any of this worth it?
We are there with you. Family discipleship is hard. So, let’s figure it out together. As a family we’ve thought the best thing we can do for our 5 year old, 3 year old, and 1 year old is to expose them to more of God. Not mastery, not looking for them to grasp anything deep- just exposure. How can they know a God that we never talk about? How do we do that? The Bible. Weekly, I will share the 10-15 minute “lessons” we do as a family on Friday night around the dinner table in case you’re also looking for a place to start. Click below to get access to our free weekly Friday Night Discipleship texts.
If you’re stuck in confusion on how to foster a love for God inside your kids, don’t settle for doing it alone. (Because it’s likely you won’t do it!) Sign up for a WEEKLY text straight to your phone for this Friday Night’s Discipleship 10-15 minute lesson.
