If summer vacation has left you feeling like you need a break, maybe considering how to establish regular rhythms of rest could help. Try some of these great reads to help you get in the mindset of rest as you learn more about the God-created gift of Sabbath.
- 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life by Matthew Sleeth: Christians are familiar with the words of God: “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” We know Sabbath is about letting go of the controls one day a week and letting God be God. So how do we do it in our technology-saturated world? In 24/6, Sleeth, a former emergency room doctor, describes our symptoms, clarifies the signs, diagnoses the illness, and lays out a simple plan for living a healthier, more God-centered life in a digitally-dazed, always-on world.
- The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel: In this brief, yet profound meditation on the meaning of the seventh day, Heschel, one of the most widely respected religious leaders of the twentieth century, introduces the influential idea of an “architecture of holiness” that appears not in space but in time.
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Marc Comer: When Comer met with his mentor John Ortberg to discuss his growing concern about who he was becoming, Ortberg’s guidance wasn’t what he expected. This book, which stems from Comer’s examination of his rhythms and habits, Comer uncovers the symptoms of toxicity in our modern world he and we try to treat, instead of pinpointing their causes. This book provides details for personal investigation and explains how to practice what the title offers.
- Sabbath: The Ancient Practices by Dan Allender and Phyllis Tickle: Allender and Tickle expel the myriad myths about the “day of rest,” starting with the one that paints Sabbath as a day of forced quiet, spiritual exercises, and religious devotion and attendance, showing it to be at odds with the ancient tradition of Sabbath as a day of delight for both body and soul. Learn to make use of the Sabbath by seeing God’s original intent for the day with new eyes.
- Sis, Take a Breath: Encouragement for the Woman Who’s Trying to Live and Love Well (but Secretly Just Wants to Take a Nap) by Kristen Watson: As a mom of seven kids, wife of a professional athlete, and cohost of a popular podcast, Kirsten is often asked by other women, “How do you do it?” Watson’s answer begins with taking a breath. Her second piece of counsel involves leaning in and understanding the peace given by the Word of God to handle every situation.
- Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Non-Stop World by A. J. Swoboda: Combining creative storytelling, pastoral sensitivity, practical insight, and relevant academic research, Subversive Sabbath offers a unique invitation to personal Sabbath-keeping for a fuller and more joyful life. Swoboda demonstrates Sabbath is both a spiritual discipline and a form of social justice, connects Sabbath-keeping to local communities, and explains how God may actually do more when we do less.
- Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again by Ruth Haley Barton: In our culture, the possibility of living in balanced rhythms of work and rest often feels elusive. This especially rings true for pastors and leaders who carry unending responsibility. Barton reveals the journey to a meaningful Sabbath practice to be slow and gradual – a journey best taken in community. Sharing from her own story of practicing Sabbath for the past 20 years, Barton offers hard-won wisdom.
