5 Simple Ways to Spend Time with God When You’re Busy
The coffee is hot, the house is quiet, you open your Bible and the words just seem to speak right to what’s going on in your life. You pray and sing and connect with God on a deep level, uninterrupted. Those moments of spending time with God are beautiful—but they don’t always happen that way. In busy seasons, spending time with God takes practice, intentionality, and a whole lot of grace. Let’s talk about how to make it possible, even when life feels full.
How do you start spending time with God?
First off, how do you even begin to spend time with God? Check out this post filled with quiet time and devotions examples but these three simple steps always work for me.
- Get your Bible.
- Get alone.
- Respond to God.
Truly do not make it more complicated than it needs to be.
You may not always get all three of these things–I definitely spend time with God without my Bible sometimes and with my kids around (thank you screen time!), but make an effort to establish your quiet time with God using these three steps.
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How to Make Spending Time with God a Daily Habit
You KNOW going to the gym is good for you, but you still never make it. You KNOW date night would make you a better spouse, but it’s still a struggle to schedule it. You KNOW you should budget, but you rarely actually write it down.
Like any relationship in your life you need to make your time with God a priority. This is absolutely hard to do in certain seasons of life (definitely when my kids were all newborns/toddlers and I was barely sleeping… it was hard!). But God will honor and bless any effort do draw close to Him. These spiritual habits for busy moms can help get you started.
“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”
-James 4:8
1. Make it a rhythm
Begin to have your time with God at the same time everyday, whether that’s in the morning or right before bed or some other time during the day. Much like any other habit, spending time with God can become a life-giving rhythm that is as second nature as brushing your teeth.
2. Allow it to be imperfect.
Here’s the thing: if you expect that “perfect quiet time” every time–you will probably be disappointed or feel guilty that you are doing something “wrong”. You’re not. Allow your daily quiet time with God to be imperfect. Allow it to include your children. Allow it to be short.
Release your expectations of how God may speak to you and you’ll begin to hear and see Him moving in fresh ways all day long.
“If you’re looking for more ways to spend time with God, check out my post on 5 BIBLE DEVOTIONS EXAMPLES FROM REAL WOMEN
3. Attach something pleasurable alongside it.
This is a tip I gained from the book Atomic Habits, and is perfect for those who don’t enjoy reading their Bible and feel a bit disconnected– attach something pleasurable alongside your time with God.
For me, it’s a cup of coffee. It could be a relaxing playlist or a cozy blanket for you. Let the joy of the little thing come alongside and add extra pleasure to your time with God.
5 Ways to Spend Time with God During Busy Seasons
Some days you just won’t be able to have a set aside time with God. These tips and practices are perfect for connecting with God all day long on those days.
I also find I can sometimes treat my time with God like an item on my checklist. I just want to cross it off, give myself a pat on the back, and move on with my day.
But that’s not a relationship.
If I want a vibrant relationship with Jesus, a faith that fuels every SECOND of my life–I can’t stop connecting with God when my “devotions” are over. I do this by embracing these 5 practices all day long.
1. Be Constant in Prayer.
I cry out to God all day long. I don’t wait for my prayer time–when I see a friend asking for prayer on social media: I pray right away for them. When I feel impatience taking over, I stop and pray aloud asking God to help me. When I feel worried I pray Scripture over myself right in the moment.
Want to go deeper in prayer? Read this next: HOW TO PRAY: 4 STEPS TO GROW YOUR PRAYER LIFE
2. Play Worship Music.
I love worshipping God! Whether your playlist is full of old hymns or the latest praise and worship song–music is an incredible way to worship and connect with God all day long. Here’s my mega-long Worship Playlist filled with songs I love.
3. Place Scripture Around You.
Now this doesn’t have to look like Hobby Lobby threw up on your house. But place God’s Word where you can see it often. Take a Bible verse you’ve written out on a note card and place it by your desk or kitchen sink or above your dryer. Make a challenging Bible verse or one you want to meditate on the photo on your phone’s lock screen. Fill your eyes with God’s Word.
Ready to unlock the next level of your Bible study? Read 7 WAYS TO UNDERSTAND BIBLE CONTEXT.
4. Notice God in His creation.
Connecting with God in nature is one of my favorite things to do. When I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, a quiet walk with my Father is often exactly what I need. In nature I see God’s beauty, order, creativity and design and I worship Him.
I also notice God in His creation of people. I see and name when I see God’s traits in others–from my kids to my spouse to a fellow Jesus follower to a Walmart cashier–people reflect God!
5. Practice thanksgiving.
Finally, I practice being thankful and writing down my daily things I am thankful for. This helps me notices God’s goodness and work He is doing all around me.
One of my favorite songs right now is Million Little Miracles by Maverick City Music, the words go like this:
It’s not coincidence and it’s not luck
I know it comes from above
I’ve got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all.
Counting God’s grace to me is such a life-giving habit and helps me connect all day long.
Connecting with God isn’t just a one-time act we do on Sundays or even confined to a certain time of day, but something we embrace as a life-long, all-day-long, every moment holy pursuit of knowing our great and gracious God.
FAQs About Spending Time with God
How do you connect with God in busy seasons of life?
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