I know it can be tough to make time for a relationship with someone when you’re really busy. You may have lots of schoolwork to do at home. You may have a part-time job or chores commitments that take up time. Maybe you know that spending time with God is important, but you’re just struggling with finding that time for Him. All these things are totally understandable and valid. It’s also a fact that spending time with God is one of the very most important things we can do in a day.
If we want to grow in faith and get closer to Christ, we must spend lots of time reading and studying God’s Word, the Bible (Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 2:2). We must learn about His love, His justice, His mercy, and His plan so we can make sense of our relationship with Him. We should regularly ask Him to reveal Himself to us and change us. The Bible promises that if we seek God, we will find Him (Matthew 7:7). And if we allow Him to, He will transform us into new people who recognize His will (Romans 12:2).
We must be willing to die to our old selves, letting go of the pride and selfishness that keeps us from Him. As God changes us, we will develop the spiritual fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit, who dwells in all Christians (Galatians 5:22-23; John 14:17). As we walk in the Spirit, allowing Him to control our lives, we will begin to trust in Him. “Have your roots in him. Build yourselves up in him. Grow strong in what you believe, just as you were taught. Be more thankful than ever before” (Colossians 2:7).
But yeah… Life can get busy—especially if you’re a student with lots of homework, a job, or other obligations. Sometimes we need to get creative to find ways to keep our minds on God and His word.
A few ideas to help make God a part of your day:
- Over the weekend, find some key Bible verses for the week and write them on sticky notes. Put them in your school notebook or textbooks so you’ll see them throughout the day at school. When you see them, read the verse, then say a quick prayer that relates to it. For example, you could write Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” When you see it, you can pray something like, “God, thanks that I can trust in You and that You promise to give me peace when I do.”
- Start your day at home by listening to Christian music while you get ready for school and/or listening to an audio version of the Bible. This will fill your mind with positive, Christ-honoring thoughts that you can carry with you throughout the day. You can also start the day by praying and asking God to help you keep Him in mind throughout the day. Ask Him for wisdom for any situation the day may bring. You don’t have to stop and kneel to pray either. You can pray while doing your hair, eating breakfast, or on the way to school!
- Challenge yourself to read through a psalm every evening before bed. Most of them are short and won’t take long to read. This can be a great way to get God’s Word into your mind as you fall asleep.
I hope these ideas are helpful to you. These are just a few things that have worked for me. What works for you? Share some ideas in the comments below!
Remember, this is a season, and you won’t always be as busy as you are right now. Life never completely slows down as we move forward in life, so it’s good to develop these habits NOW. Then you can use similar techniques that work for you throughout your life to keep your mind on God and His truth daily!
—Sarah B.
