Start Here: The Invitation to Rest

How to Begin Shabbatin'

You said yes-and that yes matters.

Daniel and I said yes to Shabbat many years ago. At first, the transition from Sunday to Shabbat felt unfamiliar-even awkward. If you currently observe Sunday worship or attend church regularly, I'm willing to bet that, like we once did, you still rarely experience the kind of true rest that Scripture calls Sabbath.

Let's be real: Sunday may be your church day, but it's often filled with all kinds of activity. If you miss a service here or there (or everywhere), it doesn't feel like a big deal. After church, you're running errands, shopping for groceries, prepping meals, doing laundry, catching up on chores-or maybe just watching football and trying to reset before Monday. It's not set apart. It's not holy. It's a day for your own pleasure.

Don't be fooled. The issue of observing Shabbat goes far deeper than just which day you go to church. It's about covenant. It's about alignment. It's about honoring what God calls Holy.

Daniel and I both grew up in church-every Sunday morning, every Wednesday night, and everything in between. And we're genuinely grateful. We were raised in godly homes, surrounded by family and community who pointed us to Yeshua (Jesus). That foundation matters.

But however you came to know Him, that was only the beginning.

Don't let your past, your family traditions, or even your church keep you from going deeper with Him. Let the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth-step by step, rest by rest.

It might feel different at first. Hard, even. That's okay.

Your yes will be rewarded far beyond anything you can imagine.

This moment marks a shift. You are no longer walking in the world's rhythm-you are responding to heaven's call to rest. Let this guide be your gentle companion as you begin your journey into Shabbat.

Step 1: Shabbatin' (Simple Steps)

Prepare - Quiet your space, heart, and home.

Begin by slowing down. Let the noise of the week fall away. Set the atmosphere-perhaps with soft worship music in the background, candlelight, or simply a clean space that invites peace. You're preparing not just your environment, but your spirit and soul to receive the gift of rest.

The most important thing is intentionality-choosing to honor this day as holy and set apart. It's not meant to feel like any other day. This is not going to be like anything you have ever experienced. God does not give as the world gives.

So make it special, however that looks for you.

The way you might prepare for a guest.

The way you might decorate for a celebration.

The way you set the table when it matters.

Light 2 candles (optional) and set your intention by this prophetic action of welcoming in Shabbat.

Let your actions say, "This day is different. This day is Yours, Lord"

Step 2: Blessings To Speak Aloud

Pause - Speak a blessing. Read a Scripture.

Why We Speak a Blessing Aloud:

When we speak a blessing aloud, we're not just reciting words-we're partnering with God's creative authority. He spoke, and it was. When we speak in alignment with Him, we release peace into our homes, declare His rule over our rest, and set the spiritual atmosphere with intention. There is power in your voice. Blessing your home at the start of Shabbat isn't a ritual-it's a prophetic act. You're not just entering rest...you're inviting the presence of the One who sanctifies it.

This space is set apart. Let rest fill this home.

Let peace reign. Let His presence dwell here.

May this time be holy, may our hearts be still, and may we remember that we are His.

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, who has given us this day of rest and called it holy and set apart-different from all the other six days You created. May Your peace fill this home as we light the candles of Shabbat and remember."

Step 3: Selah-Scripture Meditation

Why We Meditate on Scripture:

Shabbat is not just a time to stop working—it’s a time to start listening. When we meditate on Scripture, we create space for the Holy Spirit to speak, reveal, and realign us with God’s heart. This isn’t about study—it’s about stillness. It’s about letting the Word settle in deeper than your thoughts… into your spirit. Take your time. Read slowly. Let the verse speak back to you. Then respond—not just with understanding, but with faith. This is where transformation begins.

Hebrew Word: Selah (סֶלָה) Appearing throughout the Psalms, Selah means to pause, reflect, weigh, and lift up. It’s an invitation to linger—to let the Word echo until it becomes part of you.

Suggested Verse: Isaiah 58:13-14 (AMP)

"If you turn back your foot from [unnecessary travel on] the Sabbath,

From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,

And call the Sabbath a spiritual delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable,

And honor it, not going your own way or engaging in your own pleasure,

Or speaking your own (idle) words,

Then you will take pleasure in the Lord,

And I will make you ride on the high places of the earth,

And I will feed you with the (promised) heritage of Jacob your father;

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Step 4: Selah

What Does It Mean to Him?

Reflection Space: When we talk about Shabbat, people tend to ask, “Do I really have to keep the Sabbath?” But maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question. What if we asked instead: “What does the Sabbath mean to God?”

In Exodus 20:8, the Fourth Commandment begins with a word no other commandment starts with: “Remember.” God knew this commandment would be forgotten, argued over, and explained away. And yet—it was the one He told us not to forget.

Daniel and I both grew up in church. Sunday morning, Wednesday night, and everything in between. And while we’re thankful for that foundation, the truth is—we never knew rest until we said yes to Shabbat.

 Sunday was church and grocery shopping. Cleaning. Planning. Football. A reset day for the week ahead—but never a day set apart. Never rest like Scripture describes. 

This journey of remembering Shabbat isn’t about legalism. It’s about listening to the voice of the One who created time. It’s about agreeing with what He called holy. The Sabbath isn’t Jewish tradition—it’s creation truth. Six days of work, and then… a holy pause. A blessing. A sign. A testimony.

And here’s what most people miss: the Sabbath has everything to do with Yeshua (Jesus). He is the Word that spoke creation into being. He is the one who sanctified the seventh day. He is the Lord of the Sabbath. Shabbat is not something we’re trying to make a religious, legalistic burden—it’s a rhythm that He created that we’re returning to. 

Because the same God who rested on the seventh day is calling us to do the same—not as a burden, but as an invitation into blessing.

Step 5: Yes to Rest

Reflection Prompt

What does rest mean to me right now?  What does rest mean to Him-the One who created it?

Where in my life have I been striving instead of trusting?

Until The Next Shabbat...

You made it to the end of this guide… but in truth, this is just the beginning.

By saying yes to rest, you’ve stepped into something ancient, prophetic, and deeply personal. Shabbat is not a ritual—it’s a rhythm. It’s not a rule—it’s a relationship. And it’s not about doing everything right… it’s about remembering. 

You’ve chosen to align your life with the calendar of heaven. You’ve chosen to trust that God’s timing is better than your hustle. You’ve chosen to make room for the One who fills every empty place. 

And as you continue to walk out this set-apart journey—week by week, pause by pause—I pray that your home will be filled with peace, your heart will be renewed with purpose, and your spirit will rise in joy as you discover the delight of the day He calls holy. 

Until the next Shabbat... 

Keep resting. Keep remembering. Keep saying yes. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Daniel & Beth