For the past couple of months, I’ve been practicing a 24-hour Sabbath.
It starts every Friday evening when I turn my phone and devices off until Saturday evening. No texts. No scrolling. No quick “just checking in” responses. Just off.
At first, it felt strange to have my phone completely off. I’d catch my hand reaching for it out of habit, only to remember it wasn’t even powered on. The muscle memory was still there, even when the device wasn’t.
But as the weeks have passed, I’ve started to welcome the quiet space where notifications can’t find me. My calendar can’t chase me. My worth isn’t measured by how quickly I respond.
I’ve realized that Sabbath isn’t only about what I’m resting from. It’s about what I’m resting toward.
Beauty as Worship
In that space, beauty comes into focus.
The steam rising from my coffee, the gold edges of sunlight spilling across my kitchen table, the sound of my kids laughing outside; these moments are no longer background noise. They become part of the liturgy of the day.
In Becoming by Beholding, Lanta Davis writes about how we are shaped by what we look at most. She draws from Scripture’s call to “behold the beauty of the Lord” as a way of becoming like Him. Sabbath gives me the space to do exactly that: to lift my eyes from the constant scroll of to-dos and behold the beauty God has placed in front of me.
Beauty is not an accessory to life. It’s a glimpse of the kingdom. When I notice it, I’m reminded that God is not only functional, but also lavish. He didn’t have to make sunsets shimmer or coffee smell the way it does, but He did. And to stop and notice is to agree with Him: It is good.
The more I’ve learned to behold beauty on Sabbath, the more I’ve found myself looking for it during the rest of the week. It’s retraining my eyes, and my soul.
Contemplative Prayer and Listening
Sabbath has also become a space for contemplative prayer. This is different from my usual prayer rhythm. It’s not me bringing a list of requests, but me being still enough to hear what God might be saying.
Sometimes the stillness feels peaceful. Sometimes it feels uncomfortable.
A few hours before I turn my phone back on each week, I often feel a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. My mind starts racing: I wonder who texted me? Who’s waiting on me? What if something urgent happened?
Instead of rushing to make that feeling go away, I’ve been learning to lean in. I ask the Lord, What is this really about? Almost every time, He points to something deeper than emails or texts — my need to be needed, my fear of not being missed, my habit of measuring my value by my availability.
A tool that has helped me is Lectio Divina — an ancient way of prayerfully reading Scripture in four movements (I also have a full post on Lectio Divina if you want a more in depth understanding):
Read (Lectio) – Slowly read a short passage of Scripture, noticing any word or phrase that stands out.
Reflect (Meditatio) – Let that word or phrase turn over in your mind. Why might it stand out today?
Respond (Oratio) – Talk to God about what’s stirring in you.
Rest (Contemplatio) – Simply sit in His presence, letting Him love you without needing to do or say anything.
Some guiding questions I use during this time:
Lord, what do You want me to see in this passage today?
Is there a word here You want me to carry into my week?
What might You be inviting me to release?
What might You be inviting me to receive?
Journaling as a Way of Slowing Down
Journaling has become one of the most helpful Sabbath practices for me. My mind is naturally fast-paced, always scanning and planning ahead. Writing slows me down enough to notice what’s really going on beneath the surface.
On Sabbath, I’ll often jot down:
A beauty I noticed that day.
A word or phrase from Scripture that stayed with me.
A question I’m carrying into prayer.
A place where I feel restless and want God’s peace to meet me.
Journaling helps me process, but it also helps me remember. When I look back, I can see how God has been meeting me in ways I didn’t notice in the moment.
Setting Expectations with Others
No one else in my house practices Sabbath quite like I do. But over time, they’ve come to expect it. I’ve set clear expectations with friends, colleagues, and extended family about when I’ll respond, and they’ve adapted.
The discipline has taught me that boundaries are less about keeping people out and more about protecting the space where my soul can breathe.
Why I Keep Practicing
I’ve written before about my Kind Undoing, my Fog of Disorientation, and my Return. Each of those seasons has reminded me that formation doesn’t happen by accident. Sabbath is one of the ways God is re-forming me; retraining my eyes to behold beauty, quieting my heart to listen, and teaching me that I am held even when I’m not holding everything together.
Sabbath Starting Points
If you want to try a 24-hour phone fast and Sabbath rest, here are some ideas to help you begin:
Pick a consistent start and end time – Consistency trains your body and mind to expect rest.
Tell the people who might need you – Set expectations with friends, family, and colleagues so they know when you’ll be back online.
Plan something life-giving – A walk outside, a good book, a slow breakfast, or an afternoon nap.
Choose a short Scripture for Lectio Divina – Let it anchor your day.
Have your journal ready – Capture beauty, questions, and moments of God’s presence so you can return to them later.
Release the urge to “do it perfectly” – Sabbath is not about performance. It’s about presence.