How to Make More Time for God in Your Life

Face it! We all get busy in our day to day lives and sometimes we ask, "Where are you God?" Especially with all the technology nowadays, we seem to make ourselves busier and busier. I love technology, but I know sometimes I will put technology and other things before God. This is something I strive to change. My priorities in my life are God and my family, yet I often put other things (TV, internet, etc.) before them. I have been brainstorming and researching ways I can change my life to put my top priorities first. I would like to share my ideas with you. Maybe you are struggling like me to find ways to spend quiet time with God more often. I hope some of my ideas will help you.

~ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.~ Matthew 6:33

Change Your Mindset

First thing you need to do is change your thinking. Tell yourself, "God is first," and surround yourself with things that will help remind you of this (Bibles in several rooms, scripture verses hung in various places, praying more often, listening to Christian music, etc.) Also, it helps to surround yourself with other Christians who will help you along your journey to remain in God. My husband and I help each other to refocus on God when one of us is going astray. If we feel distant from God, we will find ways such as praying together or doing devotionals together to get us back on the right track. Discipling others has helped us as well. Teaching others, such as our children, about God helps us to stay focused on God and make Him a priority in our lives. Find a home church and go every Sunday. In addition, join a Bible Study or Home Group. Spending time with other Christians and more time in the Word will help you grow closer to God and stay away from the things that separate you from Him.

~Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.~ Romans 12:2

God is Everywhere

God is with us wherever we go and we need to remember that. You do not have to have a set place to pray and a set time to pray (though that is a good thing and I will suggest that later). I pray and talk with God when I am in the shower, in the bathroom, and driving down the road. I also pray before meals and before bedtime. If I spend time with God during these routine times, I can be assured that I will be spending a good amount of time with God. Sometimes, you may just suddenly feel a need to pray for someone. That is the Holy Spirit convicting you to pray, so stop what you are doing and pray. Praying doesn't have to be a long, drawn out, sophisticated, scripture-filled speech (so to speak), it's just talking with God, connecting with God, and growing your spiritual relationship with the Father. Share with others about God. This can help you to keep your focus where it needs to be as well.

~Pray continually . . . for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.~ I Thessalonians 5:17-18

The Word Will Set You Free

I know it seems difficult to find time to spend reading the Bible. But from my experience, the more time I spend in the Bible, the closer I feel to God. The closer I feel to God, the more time I want to spend in the Word. Spending time in the Word starts by making a commitment. Maybe you just need to set a time each day, for example, get up a little early each morning and start your day in the Word for 10 minutes before going to work. Maybe you need to get involved in a Bible study to ensure spending time in the Word. This is what works for me. I am a participant with BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) which is an international, non-denominational study offered all over the world. You can read more about it in another AC article I wrote recently. With a Bible study, you have accountability to your Bible study group. For me, being accountable to do my daily lesson in order to share with the group, helps motivate me. However, once I am in the study, I want to learn more and that is all the motivation I need.

~ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.~ James 1:22-25

Make an Appointment with God

Earlier I mentioned how God is everywhere and you can talk to God anywhere at any time. This is very true, but for some of us, we still have a hard time making time for God, we need more discipline. For some, the best thing to do is to actually make an appointment with God each day or at least a few times a week to start. Write it on your calendar, mark it in your PDA, whatever you need to do to assure God will have you undivided attention and more importantly, your heart. The key to making appointments is commitment. Try to set aside at least 10 minutes a day if possible, sometimes you may not fill the 10 minutes, sometimes, you may spend more time, which is okay. Find a place that is quiet and without distractions (no TV, computer, or phone). Many people, like closets, but a corner in a bedroom, your patio, whatever is comfortable for you will work. When you spend time with God, first clear your mind of all of the days' happenings. Open your mind to God and just listen. You might need to listen to or sing some worship music to set the mood. Then spend some time just talking to God. You might also want to use this quiet time to just open your Bible and meditate on a scripture God has laid before you. You will find over time, you will desire more time with God and the time you spend with God will be enjoyed more than those other activities that filled up your time previously.

~Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.~ Psalm 139:23-24

Remember, We are Not Perfect

There was only one perfect human in this world and that was Jesus. We will fall off the path time to time, but don't let that deter you. Just get back up and turn back around and seek God with all of your heart. Our God is loving and forgiving and He constantly seeks us to be closer to Him. There is no greater love than His. Only He can give us joy, peace, and comfort that we need. So, make time for God and everything else in your life will fall into place. Trust in God to take care of everything, have confidence in Him and you will find joy and peace, and your relationship with God will grow deeper.

~Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.~ Colossians 3:2