Making Time for God in Your Everyday Life

As a high school or college student with back-to-back essays and presentations, there may seem to be no time to get in the Word of God. As a mother of three with a full-time job and housework to do, the closest you may have come in the last month to reading anything like a Bible was a self-help book with tips on how to raise children. You may be busy in a nine to five job without any method to make time for God. But don't worry! There are things you can do! The answers may be simpler than you think.

1) Put Christian music on that Ipod or mp3 player

Certainly you may enjoy a little Michael Buble or Black Eyed Peas, but there's space on that Ipod or CD player for those inspired to sing for the Lord. Whether it's some old DC TALK, God's property, Michael W. Smith, Krystal Meyes, or ZOEgirl, get uplifting songs on your Ipod so that when you're on the go to work, class, or doing chores at the grocery store or in your home, you are punctuating your hectic day with uplifting words. Sometimes just hearing praise and thanskgiving to God will make a difference in your everyday spiritual life.

2) Choose a Daily Verse

Before you step one shoe or stiletto out that door, you should already have memorized in your head a verse for the day. It is something you will follow and remember throughout the course of your activities. It could be as simple as "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16), or as precise as "Walk with the wise and be wise; mix with the stupid and be misled" because you know there are certain individuals at school or at work that you must avoid that day (Proverbs 13:20). Small, easily transportable books like Joyce Meyer's "Good Morning, this is God!" give short, different verses that will give you a spiritual boost throughout the day. You can write a verse on a piece of paper or in your phone to keep handy and remind yourself.

3) Hook those convenient moments you take for granted

Even if it's to go downstairs from your office to the vending machine, to take a trip to the bathroom, or to change your clothes privately for gym, using these mini-moments in-between activities can be helpful for your spiritual maintenance. Remember that uplifting daily verse you should have memorized? This is a great time to remind yourself of it. It will help to keep God at the forefront of your mind. These in-between moments are also perfect times to do two things the Bible says every believer should do daily: 1, Give thanks and praises, 2, Pray to Him.
Wherever you are, say a silent prayer to God and ask Him to help you throughout the course of your day with your workload. Take the brief moment to also thank God that your day is going well, or thank Him for the promise that He would never give you a task too difficult to conquer.

4 ) Choosing "God" material over "good" material

You barely get time to unwind; you complain you have no time for God, yet when you finally try to take a break, you only find yourself watching MTV "The Hills" or the "Bachelorette"? You have to make time for God and stop the excuses. There are many religious programs always airing on religious stations. If you don't have Cable, there are religious videos posted on Youtube 24-7. Instead of Cosmopolitan magazine, pick up the Bible, if even to read a few meaningful verses before you return to that gossip article about some celebrity's new weight gain. You like to read books, correct? You unwind with a romance novel or a self-help book about how to raise kids or do a specific job properly? Why not purchase a Christian romance novel? Why not purchase a self-help book on those same interests but written from a Christian perspective? You can make time for God when you unwind. Do not miss the opportunity.

5) Don't Be Afraid to have a C.O.P. moment!

What is a C.O.P. moment? It is a "Christians-Only-Please!" moment.

Why would you ever need one of these?

Last week in the student lounge, you heard a discussion about the existence of God and decided to get involved. Blood, sweat, and tears later, you're exhausted. Your soul feels battered because everyone is telling you "God doesn't exist" and "Explain God through science!" Now you're too saddened and discouraged by the lack of faith in today's world to get any sleep. This may happen often to you. Many Christians are so gung-ho about spreading the Word of God to other people, or too restless to stay quiet when someone berates their God, that they forget one important thing: The one who nourishes must also nourish himself.

Do not be afraid to make time for yourself with a C.O.P. moment! The Lord wants Christians to minister, but you have to take time out. In a C.O.P. moment, bring positivebelievers around you. It's more than okay to take a breather from witnessing to others and just replenish yourself. The bible tells us to "guard [our] hearts more than any treasure, for it is the source of all life" (Proverbs 4:23). It also tells us to mind our company and do not surround ourselves with unbelievers. You may be the strongest believer that you know, but there is always something that can be built to knock an iron door down. Enough battering will lead to its destruction. This is a good time for Bible reading and fellowship, whether with church members who really love and embrace God without hypocrisy, or with family members. Keep away all sorts of negativity from you, even if this means turning off the news. Do not be afraid to blow that whistle and say, "Enough! C.O.P.!" or, "Sorry, no offence, but I'm having a C.O.P. moment, and I don't know how long it'll last." Remember that a strengthened you can go on to make other people stronger.

6) Spring cleaning (Physical and Social)

Physical

Clean up your environment! It's a Sunday afternoon. Your room or your office looks like a tornado hit it, came back a few minutes later to destroy it some more, and is probably hanging around outside the door to do more carnage. If you have to do hectic work in a hectic environment, your state of mind will likely be as muddled as the environment. Take the opportunity to do a spring cleaning so that your work place isn't as stressful. While you're at it, hang some inspirational things up. Put your Bible in a convenient, open place in your private space. Put pictures up of loved ones. Have at a convenient spot on your desk some framed bible verses that will help you spiritually every time your eyes shift to the spot. But this is only the physical environment.

Social & Family

Mind your company! It's fabulous to have friends you love and cherish. It's great to have friends who are positive and genuine. It's even fine to have friends who aren't always positive, and you instead have to be the one to always help them out and strengthen them. However, it is not okay to have friends who manipulate you or treat you like a rug. Your friend Jessica should not be saying to your face how much she loves you, but then as soon as you turn your back she is calling you a worthless person. Evaluate who you spend your time with.

Sure, a stolen cigarette box or a lighter doesn't seem like much, but do you really need a friend like your best mate Russell encouraging you to break God's laws and get in trouble with the police? A person who is always there to remind you how ugly you are because you're fat, or how worthless you are because your work pay or your school grades are not perfect is probably not someone you want in your life.

Keep these people at a distance, and be sure to pray that they change for the better. It's sad to say, but family members can be just as bad. It could be that the very first time you stood with your older brother at the shop corner, he fiddled with his knife and talked about "dealing with" another guy who made him angry at school. It could be that your husband or wife is encouraging you to try some seemingly harmless tax evasion techniques, but your Christian heart is telling you no. We only get one family, but sometimes the ones we love the most hurt us the most. If a member of your family is doing such damage to your life that it is affecting your state of being, try to open up a dialogue with that member. Try everything within your power to communicate what you are feeling and encourage the seeking of God's help together. A home with happy supportive members will be a more peaceful home.

For some people, there will come a time when things are so bad that you have to eliminate some people from your life in order to grow. Sometimes you as a teenager may need to move out of your parents' house at the closest appropriate age because it is an unhealthy environment. Some of you will need to leave abusive relationships or avoid certain contacts. Always consult with the Lord through prayer about what to do in such circumstances, and get advice from other people that you know and trust. Do everything in your power to help those around you, but also to maintain and nourish yourself.

Certainly, with all these tips and with this advice, you should be able to make more time for God in your life and find more peace of mind.

Sources: The New English Bible and The King James Bible