Sabbath Rest

Disciplines of Devotion

by Megan Hill

TGC’s Brief Guide to the Sabbath Helps Women Draw Near to God

Keeping up with our do-it-all culture is not only exhausting, it can also hinder us from seeking the Lord. How can we grow in devotion to God in a world of endless distractions? TGC’s Disciplines of Devotion series helps women cultivate a life of devotion to the Lord by building simple, biblical practices into their days.

Each volume highlights one spiritual discipline―exploring its meaning, biblical examples, and benefits―and offers accessible ways to make this practice a spiritual habit. In this volume, Megan Hill encourages women to find rest for their souls by observing the Sabbath. Explaining that God graciously gives us time to commune with him, Hill shows women how to enjoy the Sabbath in their busy lives. Brief, biblically rich, and highly practical, Disciplines of Devotion booklets are ideal for individual or small-group study.

Approachable Guide to the Sabbath: Explains how this biblical practice helps believers draw near to God, with reflection questions for individual study or small-group discussion
Brief and Practical: Short enough to be read in one sitting, this booklet is designed to help busy women pursue the spiritual discipline of Sabbath rest
Accessible: Written for any woman who is exploring faith or interested in growing deeper in relationship with Christ
From the Gospel Coalition: Upcoming topics in the Disciplines of Devotion series include fasting, prayer, worship, and evangelism

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Devotional

64 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

Megan Hill is a pastor’s wife and a pastor’s daughter who has spent her life praying with others. She serves on the editorial board for Christianity Today and is a regular contributor to Her.meneutics and the Gospel Coalition.

Reviews

[Emma S]

Possibly the shortest book I’ve ever read but it took me nearly three weeks because I wanted to pause and digest each page. Such a great short reflection on Sunday rest, how we can prepare our hearts, bodies and homes and what “Sabbath” actually means (not just lying on the sofa). Lots to take away here.

[Natalie Herr]

A super, super short intro on the Sabbath, could be read in one sitting. Mostly focuses on gathering with God’s people (rightly so) but does not say much about how to approach all the other hours of the Sabbath day. I appreciated the acknowledgment that resting well in the Lord will take preparation and practice!

[Isabella Mitchell]

Wow oh wow this book was so good, such sweet reminders! Such a quick and easy read, honestly might read every sabbath.

[Carla]

Helpful little booklet on Sabbath rest. Megan Hill provides a Biblical overview for Sabbath rest beginning at creation through restoration. The questions at the end of each chapter are great for reading this alongside other women.

[Kailie Smith]

Implementing a full day of Sabbath rest has been a pivotal rhythm for me this year, and this super short book gives a helpful overview of the purpose and benefits of it! A great starting point if you’re looking to learn more and the reflection questions at the end of each chapter are helpful for thinking through how you can start wherever you’re at.

Some of my favorite quotes:

“On the cross, Christ did everything, and we did nothing. We begin every week not with labor but with rest, remembering that Christ has already worked for us.”

“Sabbath rest, however; clarifies whom we are most significantly connected to: the members of Christ’s family… they’re the people Scripture calls us to love, greet, know, pray for, serve, forgive, and show hospitality towards.”

“When God’s people gather for worship, the Lors promises his presence (Matt. 18:20), proclaims his word (1 Thess. 2:13), receives our prayers and praises (Rev. 5:8), makes us holy (Eph. 5:25-27), converts sinners (Rom. 10:14), and seals us to himself in baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Rom. 6:4, 1 Cor. 11:24).”

“Weekly, we stop to consider where we’ve been, and then, refreshed, we again set out toward that holy city where Christ is.”

“…setting aside one day in seven is a yoke of sorts. It requires us to give up our own desires and goals, it prescribes our actions and agendas, and it may prevent us from material gain. And yet the Lord invites us to rest in this yoke—to take the day he has given to us and find him sweeter and his ways more delightful than anything the world can offer.”

[Lia Ross Reads]

This booklet was a good reminder of the importance of slowing down and resting from the busyness of life to worship God, enjoy his people and put aside our work. I honestly wish it was longer! Megan did an excellent job of giving biblical examples of the sabbath and the importance of observing it and sharing personal stories of how the practice has been lived out and valued in her own life. It has reflection questions, less than 50 pages and would be great to discuss with some friends.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy!

[Karri]

This is my first in the Disciplines of Devotion series. It was a very short book (easily read in an hour or less), but it was still a great little mental reset.

That said, I do think the author has a bit of a blind spot for those who work for the church and, by necessity, work on a Sunday (pastors, security, children's ministry directors, tech teams, maintenance, etc.).

[Jordan Giuliani]

Read while waiting in line at the DMV. Lol. Eh. I was underwhelmed and left wanting more.

[Casey]

Short and to the point! A great reminder of how important sabbath rest is!

[Alicia Burrows]

I find great encouragement in Megan Hill’s writing. She articulates this matter in away that helps me redirect to the heart of Christ. This was a super short and concise word on the Sabbath. Very practical and informative for anyone confused by it, is it Saturday or is it Sunday? What is meant for, how do we handle it? What is the proper context?

This booklet is such a helpful reference and reminder when I have recently felt torn between what I believe to be right for my family and everything else that pulls my attention and desires away from true rest on the Lord’s Day.

My only complaint is that it ended too soon :)

[tckrb]

Short and sweet! This little book does some endearing advocacy for worshipful rest and has some helpful ways to put it into practice. Plus there’s some good worship theology nuggets in here too!

Big fan of this quote on page 30: “Thankfully, the Lord doesn’t wait for us to agree on a time to get together that’s convenient for both of us. He simply tells us that he’s arranged everything and he’ll be showing up every Sunday.”

Recommended.

[Rachel]

4⭐️

A good, short introduction to the subject of Sabbath Rest for believers. This booklet brought up several questions that I’ve considered before and I’d like to read more about related to sabbath and rest and their opposites/exceptions (not a wholly bad thing) Nonetheless, Hill offers a solid and encouraging case for how to consider the discipline of sabbath— it is not effortless nor legalistic but a gift from and for the glory of God.

[Abigail Scanlon]

This is the tiniest book ever - it’s really like a long Substack article - but it packs a good punch! This is probably the first Sabbath resource I’ve read that (rightly) points out that observing the Sabbath does not equal doing whatever you want for 24 hours, but actually resting from all other obligations IN ORDER TO dedicate that time to the Lord, his people, the body, therefore worshipping him. So short that no one has an excuse not to read it!

[Emmanuel Siordia]

This little book/booklet is one of the best I’ve read regarding Sabbath rest. Arguing the continuation of a Sabbath day (now the Lord’s Day, the Christian Sabbath), Hill outlines a reflective and practical theology of the Sabbath. She gives practical ideas on how to observe the Lord’s Day centering on the love of God and the love of neighbor, especially in the local church. Highly recommended even for those not convinced of the Christian Sabbath stance.

[Brittany McDaniel]

Borderlines a 3/5 ⭐️ but for the sake of context - this book is very small and provides a surface level look at Sabbath Rest in the life of a believer. It encouraged me to continue to look at other resources that expound further on this topic.

[Kelly]

Excellent book on God’s gift of the Sabbath. It can easily be read in one sitting. Each short chapter has reflection questions making it a wonderful book to read with a friend.

[Ashley Turk]

It's a sweet book that is a good refresher for a more mature Christian. I wouldn't recommend it for a newer Christian, and I would like to see Megan write something in a more longer form, but it is a nice refresher.

[marlies]

Short & sweet! Thanks Elise!! Very good.

[Kaylynne J]

Quick read. Great follow up after reading Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. Prioritizing rest and worship and what that sabbath rest looks like. This gave me more ways I can fully rest and participate in Sabbath especially when it comes to church and fellowship with others. It is not just to be done alone but together!

[Jennie]

Sabbath Rest by Megan Hill is part of the new Disciplines of Devotion series. I am really enjoying this series, last month I read the one on Prayer and reviewed it These books are quick reads and that give you a helpful biblical understanding.

What does the Bible say about Sabbath? This is often one of those topics that is misunderstood amongst Christians. This book gives a helpful explanation on how to honor the Sabbath day and what resting in the Lord looks like. Along with some additional resources for further study at the end of the book.

A couple of my highlights:

The must-dos and have-tos of life in 900 BC were just as pressing as they are in our day.
The Sabbath is the pattern God established from Genesis to Revelation, so we ought to recognize this pattern and defend it in our lives.
When God’s people gather for worship, the Lord promises His presence, proclaims His Word, receives our prayers and praises, makes us holy, converts sinners, and seals us to Himself in baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Without the discipline of Sabbath rest, we can easily take cues from our unbelieving neighbors and squander the day at the soccer field or in front of a screen.

[Becky]

This booklet is very good. The Christian Sabbath seems counter-intuitive. We may thing, "Why should I stop working for one day out of the week?" And yet not only is it a commandment that God has given to us, but it is also a blessing. God gave us the pattern in creation in that he worked for six days and then rested, and he commands us to do the same thing. Yet Sabbath rest is not just taking an extra nap on Sunday afternoon, it is spending intentional time going to church and worshiping Him on Sunday with other believers (even when on vacation and away from your home church).

One of the chapters is titled "What are the Blessings of Sabbath Rest." I found Hill's points in this chapter to be very helpful. They are "Sabbath Rest Reorients Our Time, Work, Allegiances, Priorities, and Pilgrimage."

There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

[Ashlee Schmidt]

I have read several of the books in the Disciplines of Devotion series and have found them to be a great resource for anyone looking for a biblical overview of individual spiritual disciplines. Each booklet is intended to provide a gateway by which to better understand a particular discipline and help the reader explore practical ways to implant that discipline into the daily rhythms of their life. They also include discussion questions if you wish to use them an aid in discipleship and recommended resources to help you continue your personal study of these disciplines.

They certainly aren’t the most scholarly and comprehensive work on each topic (as they were meant to be read in less than an hour), but they are full of biblical insight and godly wisdom all the same.

[Melissa]

This book was a great short read that convicted me of what a gift the Sabbath is! On the Sabbath, the Lord fulfills our longing to spend more time with him. To enjoy our God, we need time to slow down and savor who he is and what he has done. In a society increasingly marked by isolation and loneliness, Sabbath rest, provides an opportunity for us to gather with other believers for our spiritual good.

[Rachel]

3.5 stars: This short book was a good way to start thinking practically about keeping the Sabbath. It’s a practice I’ve wanted to incorporate but haven’t known how to start. It discussed the theological reasons for incorporating this and some practical ideas. It was a good start but I would have liked to go more in depth and have more practical ideas. But the idea behind this series is to be almost a quick start guide for spiritual practices and it accomplished that.

[Tabitha McDuffee]

I was quite disappointed that this book did not include a single point about the Sabbath not just being for ourselves individually, but a blessing to society and cultures as a whole as a means of counteracting labor exploitation and oppressive economic structures. It would have been 5 stars if that had been included. Spiritual disciplines are never just for us, but for the flourishing of the church and all people.

[Rina Wong]

a somewhat gendered and traditional view of women, but a decent short read about the importance of sabbath & how to prepare and accomplish it.

-preparing for sabbath is a yoke in itself (more time needed to give yourself rest). similar to taking a day off work 🥹😭😆
-Sabbath is a form of understanding that the Lord gives us our daily bread.

“I did nothing, and the Lord did everything”
“true enjoyment cannot be rushed”

[Marissa Soto]

Extremely short, solid and biblically based. It’s very introductory and pulls a lot of extra articles/books/catechisms for contextual purposes. I’d recommend it for someone who is a new believer or someone who doesn’t know why Christians practice the Sabbath. Overall an easy read but a very basic one for me personally.

[Audrey Hood]

Prayer, Sabbath Rest, and Fasting.

These 3 beautiful little booklets are a perfect introduction, refresher, or reference guide to the spiritual disciplines (disciplines of devotion). Each one of these are a short, single-sitting read, but accompanied by reflection questions to journal, pray through or discuss with a friend or small group to increase the impact.

I really enjoyed each of these practical tools and look forward the next 3 in the series— Bible Study, Evangelism, and Worship!

[Joelle DeMeyer]

Sabbath rest is a hot topic in my home. This book didn’t say what I wanted it to say. Megan Hill is a sabbatarian and I struggle with what that looks like. But this was a very short little book straight to the point: My time is not my own. Gave me a lot to chew on despite being less than 50 pages.

[Carol Martinus]

Very concise and had some excellent points. I would have liked to see more practical glimpses of how to prepare ahead to be truly present on the Sabbath. I also would have liked the inclusion of what the Sabbath could look like on an individual experience but also as a family.