Many of us crave a spiritual reset — a chance to reevaluate our lives and deepen our connection with God. In this episode of the Good Faith Podcast, host Curtis Chang and teacher and writer John Mark Comer explore how we can intentionally reset our spiritual lives to cultivate genuine community, spiritual formation, and a deeper hunger for God.

One of the key themes in their conversation is the importance of reclaiming Sabbath practices. Comer highlights how taking regular, intentional rest from work and distractions is essential for fostering a relationship with God that goes beyond the demands of modern life. In a culture dominated by digital noise and constant busyness, making space for a “digital detox” is critical for reconnecting with our spiritual calling and curating a desire for more meaningful engagement with God and others.

In addition to Sabbath, the conversation delves into intentional solitude as a discipline for overcoming boredom and allowing space for reflection and prayer. Comer emphasizes how these quiet moments can be transformative, helping us embrace the disciplines of engagement—practices like Scripture reading, prayer, and serving others—that nurture our spiritual growth.

Ultimately, this spiritual reset isn’t just about individual reflection but about practicing love in community. Comer and Chang discuss how true spiritual formation happens in the context of community and faith, where we support one another in our journey toward deeper connection with God.

If you’re looking for practical ways to reset spiritually this year and engage with God and others in a more intentional way, this episode is full of helpful insights. Whether it’s through embracing the silence of solitude, engaging in Sabbath rhythms, or finding ways to overcome distractions, it’s a great starting point for those seeking to cultivate a richer, more vibrant faith.

This excerpt has been edited for length and clarity.

John Mark Comer: Sabbath is a communal discipline. That’s one of the reasons there was not a lot specifically said about it throughout church history because it very quickly became institutionalized by the government by the fourth or fifth century. And so you didn’t have to talk about Sabbath.

My dad grew up in Santa Clara and he tells stories about growing up – this would’ve been the 1950s, 60s – and how everything was closed, almost everybody went to church, almost everybody had family dinner afterwards. He would tell me about when 7-Eleven first opened and how revolutionary it was to go buy something on Sunday. I looked it up, and it opened in the Bay Area in 1969. That is not that long ago.

In that kind of a communal, sociopolitical structure, Sabbath is built in. Now, you have to resist. Kids’ sports and social obligations and getting ahead of work on Sunday nights – you have to really, intentionally form an outpost against this. And we are not designed to do that by ourselves. We are designed to form communities that resist the wider culture, and the wider culture. It’s as simple as getting another couple to do a Sabbath meal with you and saying ‘let’s put our phones in a box for a bit.’ Just start there, start where you can – but try to do this together.