Sabbath Bread
My word of the year in 2024 was Sabbath.
I longed to understand what Sabbath meant in a spiritual sense but also how to implement it in my life in a practical way.
In my naive understanding, I pictured laying down on Sundays for a nap which is not a reality for most people, especially while raising 3 young children.
I was curious how I could live out this biblical principal in our modern cultural moment. I knew there were deeper things to learn about sabbath and so I intentionally set aside a year to study it out and seek the Lord for a deeper understanding in this area.
Exodus 31:13 - “You must observe my sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am the Lord who consecrates you.”
In one of the books I read, I learned that there are 4 categories to Sabbath rest: physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational.
Another book explained it this way, “He who works with their hands should sabbath with their minds, and he who works with their mind should sabbath with their hands”(Rabbi Abraham Heschel).
However, one of the suggestions Wayne Muller made in his book, Sabbath: Finding rest, renewal, and delight in our busy lives struck a chord with me. He was simply describing that one way to implement Sabbath is to bake bread weekly for your family. This can become a tradition that everyone in your home looks forward to and creates an intentional moment of warmth and rest together.
I began searching for a simple bread recipe and tried a few and found one that turned out great every time.
Last March, I decided to make 2 loaves of bread…one to keep and one to share.
This idea quickly began to take shape in my mind. I prayed for God to lay people on my heart to take bread to each week and began to make a list.
I’ll admit there were several weeks where I was too exhausted and began to make excuses. However, I was discovering how to rest and trust in Him are more important than accomplishing one more thing. I would take bread to our actual neighbors, clients of my husbands, friends, or just because. If we learned of someone that had a baby, was sick or had a loss, I would try to take them bread the next Sunday.
Sabbath can feel like an impossible feat when we’re in seasons of struggling to make ends meet or on the verge of burnout and overwhelm. However, I felt challenged to keep doing this for one year to see how God would use it. In doing so, it forced me to take my eyes off of whatever struggle I was facing, and keep my eyes focused on Jesus. It also compelled me to continually realize my limits, and lean into His strength. Admittedly, this is hard for me.
I constantly struggle with needing to do “one more thing.”
And while this felt like I was adding more to my plate on Sundays, I recognized to seek to meet the needs of others, and God can provide opportunities for those desperate for respite to rest and connect with Him. Including myself.
My goal was to bake bread every Sunday for a year and I’m thrilled to say that I did this minus a few. I’m not sure if I will continue it or not, but I am so thankful I was obedient to the nudging of the Lord because He has taught me so much through it.
How can you use your time, talent, and resources to meet the needs of those around you? How might God be asking you to Sabbath in this season? Perhaps it’s hosting more often and inviting people into your home. Maybe you’d like to implement an idea of “one to keep and one to share” in your life as well. Sabbath can be practiced in countless different ways.
I am learning that discipleship and practicing Sabbath is not just about passing on doctrine or theological concepts. It’s so much more about relationships built with Jesus through humility and sacrifice, and relationships built with others through serving and love in action.
On this journey with you,
Rachel
Here are a few of the books I read on the Sabbath:
Sabbath: Finding rest, renewal, and delight in our busy lives by Wayne Muller
Breathe: Making room for Sabbath by Priscilla Shirer
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
This is the bread recipe that I use. This recipe is not my own, you can find more detailed instructions here.
Ingredients:
3 cups bread flour
2tsp rapid yeast
2tsp salt
1.5 cups warm water
Directions:
Use the handle of a wooden spoon to combine ingredients. Cover with a towel and place in sunlight for 2-3 hours to allow it to rise. Knead dough with flour gently (don’t over knead) and place on parchment paper in a dutch oven. Bake with lid on at 450 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove lid and bake for 10-12 more minutes. Remove and allow to cool on counter before slicing.
Variations that I have tried and loved:
Mozzarella Garlic
Jalapeno Cheddar
Chocolate
Cinnamon Sugar
I also bought a pack of small tupperware containers to take butter to people with their bread.
Easy Cinnamon Honey Butter recipe:
Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp cinnamon
Directions:
Use hand mixer to combine. Enjoy!