Sabbath and Fasting Resources
As a church, we are focusing on four of our nine Practices of Jesus this season—Scripture, Prayer, Sabbath, and Fasting. On this page, you’ll find resources for Sabbath and Fasting, including FAQs, guides, and recommended books and podcasts. Our hope is that these tools will help you deepen your walk with Jesus, embrace His rhythms, and grow in both rest and spiritual hunger for His Kingdom.
Sabbath
Sabbath FAQs
Do I have to sabbath on Sunday?
In short, no. The New Testament doesn’t give a specific instruction that Sabbath must be practiced on Sunday. However, if possible, Sunday may be the best day to practice, as it is the day the church gathers together in communal worship and celebrates communion. It is also a day for most that is lighter on responsibilities and creates time for families and friends to observe Sabbath together. Rhythms like volunteering at church can be considered part of Sabbath as well.
How should a family with young children Sabbath?
Parenting young children rarely feels restful. Even on Sabbath, children need to be fed, diapers need to be changed, and silence and rest can feel impossible to find. In the midst of Sabbath challenges in this stage, it is good to remember that no one in ancient Israel was exempt from Sabbath, even parents of young children. Consider giving your Sabbath day to letting go of multitasking and focus only on what is in front of you – whether that is preparing a meal, tying a shoe, or coloring a picture. Reflect on some activities that the entire family could enjoy and make a priority to do those – a visit to the playground with friends, a family movie night, or roasting marshmallows around a firepit. We rarely find ideal conditions for Sabbath, so work toward prayerfully accepting the limitations of your current season rather than resenting them or giving up on Sabbath altogether.
How should I Sabbath if I live alone or my spouse is not interested?
Sabbath is both a communal and an individual practice. If you live alone or Sabbath alone, make efforts to spend some time with people you love on the Sabbath and do things you enjoy – consider inviting friends over for a meal after church, playing a game of ultimate frisbee, or spending the afternoon with friends and their loved ones. As stated above, we rarely find ideal conditions for Sabbath, so work toward prayerfully accepting the limitations or challenges of your current season rather than resenting them or giving up on Sabbath altogether.
How can I Sabbath when I have an inconsistent work schedule or always work weekends?
Setting aside the same day every week is preferable, but it is not possible or realistic for everyone. The Sabbath is an invitation to rest and worship and that can be done any day, or even for a portion of a day. Consider reviewing your schedule with your family weekly or monthly and scheduling your Sabbath days ahead of time around the days you are free. If you don’t schedule and protect the time, it probably won’t happen.
Are there things I must do or that are completely off limits on Sabbath?
In general, no. The Bible, however, is clear that we should not work on Sabbath and should focus on worship. Learning to Sabbath often involves trial and error – finding rhythms of rest and worship take time and may fluctuate based on the season, community, and schedule commitments. It’s important to take time after your Sabbath to prayerfully consider what did and didn’t work for you on that Sabbath day, and then make adjustments for future Sabbaths.
Further Learning
Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting by Marva Dawn
A thorough exploration of the purpose of Sabbath as well as practical ways to incorporate it into a personal rhythm.
Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter Bruggeman
An exploration of Sabbath as a pathway to social justice and restoration of a whole society.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
A practical and relevant book on living a life that is defined by presence and worship rather than hurry and anxiety.
The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath by Mark Buchanan
An argument that Sabbath is essential to humanity and faith and the joy produced when rest is found in God.
The Sabbath by Abraham Heschel
A Jewish perspective on the design of and practice of Sabbath.
Celebrating the Shabbat Meal
Typical Shabbat practices and meals are full of rich tradition and many of them have beautiful symbolism. This guide is meant to be a very simplified version of those practices. It can be very overwhelming when starting out and it’s easy to desire to get it all “right.” As you begin this journey, remember that the goal of a Shabbat meal is to draw nearer to the Lord. While many of the traditions may be meaningful, there is very little Biblical instruction on how to observe Shabbat. We know that we are to keep it holy by refraining from regular work and we are to rest, causing us to trust in the Lord’s provision. We are to dedicate the time in a special way to learning, loving, and worshiping the Lord and thanking him for the blessings He has provided us. Do only what you feel led to do at this time!
Most Biblical holiday traditions begin with candle lighting. It sets the moment apart as entering into a new, unique, and special time. As believers in Christ, we know that He is the “light of the world” (John 8:12) and we can also use the candle lighting as an opportunity to remind us of this, acknowledging and welcoming Christ’s presence among us.
Preparation Day
This may seem obvious, but in order to have a restful Shabbat, there is some preparation that likely needs to happen beforehand. This will look different depending on what your life looks like, but think about the things that are likely to come up or get in the way.
Shabbat Meal
Lighting of the Candles
The mother of the home lights two candles then she recites the prayer below.
“Thank you God for the blessing of lighting the candles. May they shine upon us in love and peace. Thank you God for sending your son, Jesus, to be a light to us and the world.”
Blessing over the Children
If applicable, parents place hands on their children as they recite aloud the following blessing over the children.
“May the Lord bless you and keep you
May He make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you
May the Lord lift up His countenance and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26)
“May the Lord draw you closer to Him every day and cause you to become more like Him.”
Blessing over the Wife
If applicable, the husbands at the meal speak blessings over their wives through reading Proverbs 31:10-31 aloud
Blessing over the Wine
Shabbat leader proclaims the holiness of Shabbat.
“Thank you God for the grapes that grow and the wine we drink to celebrate Shabbat.”
Blessing over the Bread
Traditionally there are two loaves of challah bread, but you can use any kind of bread or even crackers. The two loaves are to remind us of when the Israelites were wandering in the desert and how God provided extra to sustain them through Shabbat. Typically, the Shabbat leader recites this prayer, but feel free to choose any volunteer for it.
“Thank you God for the blessing of bread and the meal we will now enjoy together.”
Enjoy the Shabbat Meal
This can be anything you’d like but it should be something that is considered a special meal for your family. As the first real activity you and your family and guests are participating in, it should echo the blessings and comfort of Shabbat, something everyone is excited about. Traditionally lamb or brisket are often served, but it really can be anything!
After-Meal Blessing
Typically, the Shabbat leader recites this prayer, but feel free to choose any volunteer for it or say it all together.
“Thank you God, who provides our food.
Help us to share what we have and care for those who are hungry.”
Fasting
What Is Fasting?
Fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. We fast because we long for God’s Kingdom, which is not yet fully here. We are putting our stomach where our heart is—adding intensity and expressiveness to our ache for Jesus. Whether fasting in grief, repentance, seeking God’s will, or seeking humility, each reason carries a longing for Jesus and His Kingdom to come.
Jesus speaks of fasting as a normal part of life with God (Matthew 6:16–18), and the early church practiced fasting together (Acts 13, Acts 14). Our hope is that a communal fast at Resonate will unite us in seeking His Kingdom and His will together.
Prayer and Fasting
A key element of fasting is prayer. When fasting from something, we become keenly aware of our need or desire for that thing. When our body starts to remind us of this need through feelings of hunger or mood changes, we turn to God in prayer, reminding us that He is the ultimate fulfiller of our needs.
It is a good idea to set aside time specifically for prayer during a fast, rather than being so busy you don’t notice the hunger or desire and neglect to engage in prayer.
Fasting FAQs
What should I do if a history of disordered eating or a medical diagnosis prevents me from food fasting?
For some, the wise decision is to practice abstinence from things not related to food. Consider a fast that causes you to feel inconvenienced – riding the bus instead of driving, sleeping without your pillow, turning off your phone, skipping Amazon Prime, etc. For a more thorough exploration of this concept, listen to this podcast with Dr. Allison Cook.
What do I need to know about a multi-day fast?
There is a scriptural precedent for extended fasts, but also some significant physical/medical considerations. Richard Foster, in Celebration of Discipline says, “As with all Disciplines, a progression should be observed; it is wise to learn to walk well before we try to run.” Prior to engaging in a multi-day fast, Richard Foster suggests a few weeks of 24 hour fasts, building up to a multi-day fast. Prior to engaging in a multi-day fast, you should research the physical effects of an extended fast and consult a medical practitioner to ensure you can do it in a safe and healthy way. Foster closes his instructions on fasting by saying, “Although the physical aspects of fasting intrigue us, we must never forget that the major work of scriptural fasting is in the realm of the spirit. What goes on spiritually is much more important than what is happening bodily.”
Did Jesus ever command fasting?
St. Augustine wrote, “If you want your prayers to fly to God, equip them with the wings of fasting and almsgiving.” While we don’t have an explicit command to fast from Jesus, he makes the expectation of a fasting practice clear in the Sermon on the Mount. In giving fasting instructions in Matthew 6:16, he says “Whenever you fast…” not “If you fast.”. With this, we can infer that we are to practice fasting regularly.
Types of Fasts
Complete Fast — Drinking only liquids (water, light juices, coffee, tea); broth may be included.
Selective/Partial Fast — Abstaining from certain foods (e.g., meat, sweets) or eating only during certain hours (e.g., sunrise to sunset).
Soul Fast / Abstention — Fasting from a regularly enjoyed activity (e.g., social media, shopping, TV, exercise, news, sports updates, phone use) when health or food-related concerns prevent fasting from food.
Types of Fasts in Scripture
Lament – 1 Sam 31:13; 2 Sam 1:12; Ps 109:24
Intercession – 2 Sam 12:16-23
Discernment – Acts 13:2; Acts 14:23
Deliverance – Esther 4:16; Jonah 3:4-5; Matt 17:17-21
Seeking God – 2 Chr 20:3; Ezra 8:21-23; Mark 2:18-19; Luke 2:36-37
Repentance – Joel 1:14; Joel 2:12-14; Neh 1:4; Neh 9:1-3; Jer 36:6-7; Dan 9:3-4
Justice – Isa 58:3-12
Set Apartness / Fighting Temptation – Dan 1:8-16; Matt 4:1-2
Further Learning
A Hunger for God by John Piper
An exploration of how to desire God through fasting and prayer.
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Chapter on Fasting.
Practicing the Way
Includes a guide, recommended books, and a podcast series.
Monthly Fasting + Prayer Guide
That we would…
- Live out gospel doctrine and gospel culture (Eph 2:8-10)
- Represent diversity and a shared table across generations, socio-economic status, race, ability, theological convictions, political beliefs, etc. (Rev 7:9-10)
- See all finding salvation in Christ – adults and children (John 3:16)
- Be a people of prayer (Rom 8:26-27)
- Flee from sin and pursue righteousness (2 Tim 2:22)
- Exemplify the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-24)
- Testify to the work of Christ in word and action (Col 3:17)
- Identify and embrace the supernatural work of God in and around us (John 16:13-14)
Pray specifically for Resonate’s…
- Elders, Partners, & Staff
- Regular Attenders & New Visitors
- Global Missionary Partners
- LifeGroups
- Kids and Youth
- Volunteers
- Local Outreach Programs and Partners: Ethne Health , Friends of Refugees, Wellroot Family Services, Mosaic Ministries
- Belvedere Park and Belvedere Plaza: neighbors in the community, those in commerce as employees and regular shoppers, those experiencing homelessness, those experiencing addiction and/or mental health challenges