It’s happened to all of us; the week has gotten away from us, and now Sabbath is either here or almost here. Maybe you or the kids got sick, maybe a project consumed most of your attention during the week, or for whatever reason, you either need help with last-minute Sabbath prep or help with keeping the Sabbath when there was no preparation.

In a rush? Click here to download my Short on Time Sabbath Prep Checklist for free and take these steps with you!

First priority: Food prep

If you have a little time to prepare, prioritize food prep. In Exodus 16:23, it says to “bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil” before the Sabbath, but nowhere in the Bible does it command us to have a clean house on the Sabbath. Of course, being fully prepared with a clean home and prepped food is ideal, but life is not always ideal. Let’s face it, we still need to eat on the Sabbath, but we can live with our house being a little messy.

Here’s a list of meal ideas that require little to no prep that you can either buy if you have time or may already have on hand:

Snack Boards (Charcuterie Style):

These require little to no prep, just check your fridge and pantry, because these can be made with whatever produce and snack ingredients you have on hand. Some ideas to inspire your boards:

• Classics such as hummus and crackers or veggies and dip.
• Apple slices or celery sticks and peanut butter
• Nuts and dried fruits
• Grapes and cheese
• Olives or pickles can make fun additions to your board.
• Popcorn can also be a fun light dinner on its own or paired with other snacks (and it counts as a whole grain!)

Simple Salads:

My mom taught me that a great salad only needs three things:

1. A Base, this can be anything from spinach to shredded Brussels sprouts.
2. Toppings/additions -at least three: such as apples, pecans, & raisins, or cherry tomatoes, corn, and black beans. Feel free to experiment; the possibilities are endless.
3. Dressing: a simple vinaigrette or ranch goes with most salads

Quick Mains:

• Haystacks: also known as nacho salad. Just layer chips, beans, cheese, and offer salsa to the side so the chips don’t get soggy.
• Frozen Staples: Keep frozen pizza, tater tots, and your family’s other favorites (this is a good Sabbath prep area for another day).
• Handhelds: Sandwiches, wraps, or bean burritos are fast, and filling.
• Soups: If you have a little prep time, soup is a good option, especially if you have an Instant Pot to set and forget. If no prep time, premade or canned soups are still good options.
• Tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich is one of the lowest prep, greatest reward combos.

Easy Breakfast ideas:

• Cold cereal
• Instant hot cereal
• Fruit and toast
• Fruit salad
• Already made baked goods, like muffins or pastries, these make the Sabbath feel extra special (another good area for Sabbath prep on another day).

Targeted quick tidy

If you have time for a quick tidy. Prioritize function over aesthetics. Ask yourself these questions:

• Are pathways clear?
• Does the bed have stuff piled on it?
• Is the trash and compost taken out so they don’t overflow or smell?
• Are there places to sit and do personal study and/or have family worship?
• Is there a clear space to eat?

Remember, things don’t need to be perfect, just functional. Don’t have time to wash dishes, but you need space? Stack them! Rinse out anything that could get stinky. Haven’t had time to put away a mountain of laundry? Find a place you don’t mind setting it till after Sabbath, preferably not the bed or couch, because those are needed for rest and family time.

The “Out of Sight” Rule: That project or pile of bills that’s been bothering you? Put it out of sight and set a reminder on your phone to deal with it sometime after Sabbath. Do what needs to be done to take your mind off the cares of this world and focus on Christ. Which brings us to the most important preparation.

Entering His Rest

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.”

Hebrews 4:9-10

The most important part of Sabbath preparation is ending your work and entering God’s rest. This not only requires you to physically stop working, but it also requires a mindset shift of focusing on God. This is even more important when you’re feeling unprepared and rushed around at the last minute to do what you can. Like Martha and Mary, we are welcoming Jesus into our homes in a special way on the Sabbath.

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.”

And Jesus answered and said unto her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

Jesus doesn’t want us to be worrying about making everything perfect with much serving. He wants us to spend time with Him! He wants us to choose to sit at his feet and study his words, hiding them in our hearts. He may not physically be with us like he was with Mary and Martha, but the Holy Ghost is present with us in His place.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:26-27

A lot of people lose the peace God has already given them because they don’t guard their hearts from worry and fear. The peace he gives is found in trusting Him. He does not give this peace apart from Himself, for He is our peace.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

So how do we combat worry, anxiety, and fear in our lives? Through prayer, thanksgiving, and keeping our minds’ focus on God and His promises. If these strategies are strong enough to combat worry, anxiety, and fear, they are definitely enough to help us refocus and rest after a busy week. So stop thinking about all the things you didn’t have time to put away and enjoy the one needful thing, quality time with God, friends, and family.

Because the goal of preparation isn’t a perfect house, but a protected heart, I’ve created a simple guide to help you navigate the ‘must-haves’ when time is short. This isn’t another to-do list to make you feel guilty; it’s a tool to help you clear the way so you can stop working when the sun goes down

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 26:3

All scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV), unless otherwise noted.

The Sabbath is God’s gift to rescue us from our to-do lists. If you’re still struggling to let go because your house isn’t ‘perfect’ yet, I’ve been there too. You might find comfort in my post “Keeping the Sabbath When the House is a Mess”.