Grow in God

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6, ESV)

It’s January, the beginning of a fresh new year. For many, it’s a time to reflect and reset. Some make resolutions while others set spiritual goals. Many start a new Bible reading chart, ready to check off the passages read each day. While some do carry through in their determination to “read more, pray more, and do more,” others grow overwhelmed by the fast pace of everyday life and falter in their goals.

I think all of us desire to draw closer to God and to spend more time in His presence. But the busyness of our lives finds us constantly trying to play catch-up. Our resolve to do more for the Lord is sincere, but then something unforeseen upends our schedule. While we frantically try to fit everything in, sometimes what gets left out is our time with the Lord.

And then we feel guilty.

It’s only January, and some of us may have already fallen behind in our Bible reading, prayer, or other spiritual disciplines. What is the answer? How can we get back on track?

First, let me remind you that we are all in a different season of life. The mom of toddlers and younger children may need to be more creative in ways to carve out time alone with the Lord. Her schedule will be different than that of a retired person or the mom of grown children. The college student who’s trying to study and work has her own challenges, as does the working woman, the caregiver, or the grandmother. Whatever your season, give yourself a little grace. God sees your desire to grow closer to Him, and He will help you.

Here are just a few simple thoughts that may help us grow in our relationship with the Lord.

Start small. I recently read a statement that said, “Five minutes with God is better than zero.” Start where you can and go from there. If you have been spending just a few minutes daily in prayer and the Word, gradually increase this devotional time. Change takes time as we seek to grow in our walk with the Lord.

Be realistic. Find a time that works with the flow of your household schedule. When do you and/or your husband leave for work? Do you make a school drop-off or pick-up at a certain time? If you have young children, when do they nap? Are you a caregiver for someone? How can you best accommodate these responsibilities with your devotional time?

Adapt as needed. Changes will come, and what works now may not work later. How can you adjust to still have quality devotional time?

Become accountable. Accountability helps us maintain our growth. You may have a spiritual mentor or a friend from church that you can ask to be your accountability partner and to encourage you.

Watch for time-stealers. Are there things in your life that have become time-stealers? Even good activities often consume more time than we realize. Can you shorten or delete the time spent on things like social media, entertainment, or hobbies?

Ask for God’s help. Don’t try to operate within your own strength. The Lord will help you as you make time with Him a priority. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10, ESV).

We spend time with God not to show what a super-Christian we have become but to deepen our relationship with Him and grow in our knowledge of Him. (See Matthew 6:1.) He loves spending time with us. Time with God should be the best part of our day. Enjoy getting to know Him better this year. That precious time together will refresh your soul.

Thank You, Lord, for the many blessings I enjoyed in the past year. Let the months ahead be filled with joy and anticipation as our relationship grows deeper and I discover more from Your Word. My heart overflows with appreciation for all that You have done in my life.