Habit #2: Rest and Refresh
You may be surprised to see Rest and Refresh as the second habit. We placed it here intentionally for a couple of reasons:
- Most of us are way too busy, and we need to slow down a little to build our relationship with God.
- The scripture places great importance on observing the Sabbath and taking the time to rest. It’s a gift from God. In fact, Adam and Eve’s first day was Sabbath. They rested before they got to work.
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Big Idea
God built us for a rhythm of work, so build rest into your life. Specifically, build a rhythm of work and rest in your life on a daily and weekly basis.
God built us for a rhythm of work, so build rest into your life. Specifically, build a rhythm of work and rest in your life on a daily and weekly basis.
Choose Your Actions
Choose one or more of the following:
- Pick a daily action (taking a nap or bath, going for a walk, reading a book) that brings you rest.
- Brainstorm a list of activities that refresh you and make you feel more alive.
- Make a list of activities that are pseudo-rest, that look restful but leave you drained (e.g., excessive social media scrolling, playing video games for too long, or binge-watching shows).
- Pick a recurring date for a full-day Sabbath, and put it on the calendar.
Suggested Resources
Bible Project Video
This Bible Project video helps explain what the Bible teaches about rest.
Resources on Sabbath and Rest
- The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath by Mark Buchanan is one of the first books I read on this subject. It’s still the first book I’d recommend to most people.
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer is a timely book for many of us.
- Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture by David Murray is written for men who want to find a more sustainable pace, and Refresh: Embracing a Grace-Paced Life in a World of Endless Demands by Shona and David Murray is written for women.
- Zeal Without Burnout: Seven Keys to a Lifelong Ministry of Sustainable Sacrifice by Christopher Ash is written for people in Christian ministry who want to pace themselves to last.
- 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life by Matthew Sleeth and Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World by A. Swoboda are both helpful books on Sabbath.
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