3 Ways to Prioritize God in Your Busy Life
Social Media. Packed Google calendars. Fear-Of-Missing-Out.
In a culture where so much vies for our attention, it’s no wonder that so many women struggle with putting God first while also wrestling with how to be more productive with their time and schedules.
Martha of Bethany understood this all too well. In Luke 10, Martha graciously opens her home to Jesus and His disciples. However, instead of gleaning from Jesus’ presence, Martha was distracted by her list of tangible to-dos and ultimately sacrificed her time in the presence of Jesus, possibly missing out on a tender moment with heaven.
Maybe you can relate.
Is there a to-do list or text messages pinging on your phone every morning, demanding the first fruits of your day?
Are you struggling with the comparison of doing just as much as your Instagram followers, a co-worker, or friend?
Have you lost sight of what matters most in your current state of perpetual busyness? If so, I want to stress to you that being in the presence of God is the most significant choice you can make in your life. Because my friend, when the going gets tough, and it will, Jesus will see you through.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
I hope you’ll join me as we spend time exploring ways to draw closer to God and the benefits we will receive by prioritizing time alone with God.
1. Seek God’s Word First
Do you find yourself subconsciously opening the Instagram app as soon as you hit snooze?
If so, you are in good company. Many of us begin our morning and end our day by scrolling through social media instead of spending time in the transformational power of God’s Word. Unfortunately, this practice not only impacts our spiritual growth but also influences the rest of our day – that’s why they are called social media influencers. Scrolling is also a distraction that diminishes our understanding of who we are in Christ.
My challenge for you is to set aside the first ten minutes of your day to give thanks to God and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Seek God and His Word. As you spend time in God’s Word, spend time in reflection and meditation. As you start out, begin with one verse, one chapter of a book in the Bible, or a daily devotional. As you begin this daily practice of starting your day with God, you’ll find yourself gradually increasing your time alone with God, and you’ll look forward to spending your morning in this quiet time of prayer and reflection. And as you seek His kingdom first, He will provide for your needs as shared in Matthew 6:33.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NIV
2. Listen to God’s Word
Whether you work from home, have a daily commute, or simply run errands, there’s always an opportunity to plug into God’s Word as you go about your day.
Podcasts and Audible are great go-to’s for listening to scripture or a faith-based podcast. There’s also the Bible in a Year podcast that offers the option of listening to the Bible! Listening to podcasts or books is a great way to water the seeds of faith by renewing your mind through hearing the Word of God as shared in Romans 12:2. What’s more encouraging than you actively engaging with the Word of God throughout your day? And, more importantly, less screen time!
“Do not conform 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 NIV
3. Find An Accountability Partner
God is the creator of community. God exists in the Holy Trinity. From the very beginning, He designed man’s heart with a desire and a need to live among others.
Regardless of schedules and workloads, we, too, need people to come alongside us to lift us up when we can’t seem to continue, encourage us in the valley, and speak the truth when we are discouraged. An accountability partner who is strong in faith and illustrates attributes of the fruit of the spirit, someone we trust.
Who is that for you? Is it your best friend? A sister-in-Christ? Perhaps it’s your neighbor. And if no one comes to mind, ask God to show you the person you can extend an invitation to in your friend circle or who you can invite into this space as a faith accountability partner. As we know from Proverbs 27:17, God encourages His people to support, encourage, and equip one another and to sharpen one another in their faith walk.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV
Prioritizing What Matters Most
Have you ever been asked to take a look at your calendar because your calendar will illustrate what you value most in life? Your schedule will offer a glimpse of where and what you spend your time doing. What would one see if they took a look at your planner?
One of the exercises I walk through with my coaching clients is a Life Audit. This assessment can be rather revealing to a client who is seeking a life-work balance, just as our calendars can reveal what matters most to us.
Life can certainly be hectic and filled to the brim, so give yourself grace. We all experience times when our tasks and to-dos are overflowing with little time for rest and renewal. However, should we prioritize what matters most and place God first, the benefits we will receive from spending time alone with God are innumerable.
And in this season, might I encourage you to ask our good and gracious Father for rest and renewal? Seek Him in all that do you. He sees you, He knows your heart, and He is near to you in every circumstance – all you need to do is call His name.
Shalom.
