How to Make Sundays Special for Your Family: Bible-Based Habits for Worship and Rest

Making Sundays Peaceful and Restful—Not Pressured

A few years ago, my Sundays looked a lot like chaos wrapped in good intentions.

I would wake up early, rush around the kitchen trying to prepare a big family meal before church, and feel completely frazzled by the time we were pulling into the parking lot. And while I loved having extended family and friends over each Sunday, the stress of getting everything ready was draining me of the joy I wanted to share.

But then I made one small change: I started preparing the meal ahead of time—either Friday night or sometime on Saturday. Now, on Sundays, the food stays warm in the oven while we’re at church, and when we walk in the door, lunch is already done. No stress. No rush.

One of our relatives suggested using throwaway plates, and at first, I hesitated. But you know what? Less cleanup has meant more conversation. We can sit together longer, talk more deeply, and actually enjoy the meal instead of dreading the pile of dishes waiting in the sink.

This simple shift has turned our Sunday lunch into a time of peace and connection—a truly restful meal where we all leave full in more ways than one.  Peace on Sunday starts with preparation on Saturday

📖 Isaiah 30:15 says, “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” That verse has come alive for us, not just in our worship, but in how we share our Sundays at home.

Habits That Reinforce Keeping Sunday Special

You don’t need a perfect system—you need a faithful rhythm. Sundays don’t have to feel like just another chaotic day in a packed week. With a few intentional habits, your family can experience Sunday as a peaceful, God-honoring reset. Below are seven easy, life-giving rhythms—rooted in Scripture—that help make Sundays sacred.

1. Make Saturday a Prep Day

“Preparation prevents frustration.” That’s not just a catchy phrase—it’s a biblical principle.

📖 Exodus 16:5 – “And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in…”

When the Israelites were told to gather manna, they prepared on the sixth day so the seventh could be restful. Likewise, try preparing meals, picking out clothes, and laying out Bibles on Saturday. It may feel small, but it changes the tone of your Sunday morning. Preparation clears the path for presence.

👩‍👧 Mom Tip: In our house, even my daughter makes the dessert prior to Sunday.  It's one less thing to "have to do" on Sunday.

2. Have a “No Chores” Rule on Sundays

Rest is not laziness—it’s obedience.

📖 Genesis 2:2-3 – “And on the seventh day God ended his work… and he rested… and sanctified it.”

God Himself modeled rest. When we eliminate chores and errands on Sunday, we mirror His rhythm. It communicates to our children: This day is different. It's holy.  

🗣️ Joni Eareckson Tada once said, “Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is rest.”

3. Morning Family Devotional Time

The way we start our Sunday matters.

📖 Psalm 143:8 – “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning…”

Reading Scripture, even just one Psalm, can gently wake the soul. Let everyone take turns reading aloud. Middle schoolers often enjoy leading when given the chance. A quiet morning shapes a focused heart.

🧡 Real-Life Note: Establishing a pre-service devotional time prepares hearts to be ready to worship.

4. Practice a “Sunday Slow” Afternoon

Slow isn't weak—it's wise.

📖 Isaiah 30:15 – “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…”

Encourage naps, board games, nature walks, or simply being together without a packed agenda. When we slow down, we become more aware of God's presence. Slowing down is how we catch up with God.

🗣️ Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength.”

5. Create a Sunday Journal

Reflection builds remembrance.

📖 Psalm 77:11 – “I will remember the works of the Lord…”

Ask each child to write one thing they learned in church or one prayer from the day. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Even a sentence draws their hearts toward spiritual awareness. Reflection turns routine into remembrance.

✍️ Quick Hack: Keep a small journal basket in your living room—no tech, just pens and paper.  Just as much as people love to look at old photo albums, your family will love to look back at these journals and see record of God's goodness.

6. Designate Sunday Night as Family Night

Closeness with one another strengthens faith in God.

📖 Psalm 133:1 – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

Try worship music and candlelight, or let your tween pick a Christian film. Make it intentional, not perfect.  When a family gathers around God’s Word, they grow together.

👩‍👧 When our family shares time around God's Word it demontrates to our children we are concerned about them

7. Reinforce Gratitude

Gratitude is a posture of worship.

📖 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God…”

Go around the table or couch and share three things you’re thankful for. It ends the day with peace, not pressure.  Gratitude turns a regular Sunday into holy ground.

🗣️ Elisabeth Elliot once said, “It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given.”

Create Your Family’s Sunday Rhythm Plan

If your Sundays feel more like a sprint than a Sabbath, this simple exercise is for you. You don’t need a perfect system—you need a rhythm that helps your family slow down, worship together, and enjoy God.

Below is a step-by-step plan that you can adapt to your family’s schedule. Think of it like a “Sunday reset”—a rhythm of rest and worship that refreshes your body and soul.

Step 1: Choose One Hour on Saturday to Prep

Prep removes pressure.

📖 Exodus 16:5 says the Israelites were told to prepare on the sixth day so they could rest on the seventh. The same principle still helps today.

Set aside one hour Saturday afternoon or evening to:

• Lay out clothes

• Plan a simple Sunday meal

• Set Bibles or devotionals in the living room

🗣️ John Piper reminds us, “The aim of Sunday is not escape from duty but renewal for duty.”

Step 2: Pick 1–2 Family Worship Elements for Sunday

Start small. Don’t try to do it all.

📖 Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children… when thou walkest by the way…”

Try one or two of these:

• Read a Psalm aloud together before church

• Let your child choose a worship song to play during breakfast

• Say a simple prayer before your Sunday meal

📍 Tip: Middle schoolers often love being “in charge” of something. Let them lead the prayer or select the Scripture.

Step 3: Block Off Sunday Afternoon

This may sound impossible. But it’s powerful.

📖 Genesis 2:3 tells us God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. It wasn’t just for sitting still—it was for soaking in His presence.

Protect your afternoon from:

• Grocery runs

• Homework

• Housework

🗣️ Elisabeth Elliot wrote, “The world looks for happiness through self-assertion. The Christian knows that joy is found in self-abandonment.”

Step 4: Write Out a List of Sunday Habits to Try for 4 Weeks

Habits grow slowly—but they take root deeply.

📖 Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Choose 3–5 habits to try for the next month. Here are examples:

• No chores

• Family lunch with no phones

• Sunday gratitude journal

• Nature walk and talk

• Scripture memory challenge

✍️ Keep the list visible. Tape it on the fridge or bathroom mirror.

Step 5: Reflect Each Sunday Night

Reflection helps us remember.

📖 Psalm 77:11 – “I will remember the works of the Lord…”

Ask your family:

• What part of today helped you feel close to God?

• What can we try differently next Sunday?

Record answers in a simple family notebook. Celebrate growth—not perfection.

🗣️ Charles Spurgeon said, “The day is not sanctified by idleness, but by the devout worship of God.”

Your middle schooler may roll their eyes. Your husband might forget the habit you talked about. That’s okay. Just start small. Model the desire to honor the Lord’s Day, and God will bless your effort. When your children see you honor the Lord’s Day, they learn to honor the Lord with their lives.

🕊️ As Erwin Lutzer wisely said, “The family that learns to worship together will learn to walk with God together.”

Quick Wins for Making Sunday a Sacred Reset

• Prepare in Advance to Prevent Stress.
  Getting ready on Saturday brings peace on Sunday (Exodus 16:5).

• Prioritize Rest Over Chores.
  God modeled rest so we could enjoy it too (Genesis 2:2-3).

• Start the Day with Scripture.
  A simple devotional helps focus your family’s heart (Psalm 143:8).

• Protect the Slow.
  Unhurried afternoons create space to experience God’s presence (Isaiah 30:15).

• Make Worship a Habit, Not a Hurdle.
  Small, repeated steps lead to lasting spiritual impact (Galatians 6:9).

Remember - you’re not just making Sundays better—you’re building faith that lasts a lifetime.