Veronica Neffinger
1. Don’t overcomplicate it.
Oftentimes, we put so much pressure on ourselves and set the stakes so high that it becomes a self-defeating cycle when we are not able to live up to the hour of daily quiet time or the weekly 6:30am prayer meeting. When intentionally seeking the Lord, it’s important to remember that, “he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust,” (Psalm 103:14), and he has ample grace for that. If you need to start intentionally connecting with God or need to renew this habit in this current season, it’s okay to start simply. You don’t need to wonder if that whispered Scripture verse before your feet hit the floor in the morning or the few seconds you took to read the encouragement taped to the bathroom mirror “count. A faithful believer who attends my church once said that often, the only time during the day her thoughts are turned toward the Lord is when she’s in the car with her kids and they are listening to “Slugs and Bugs,” which are faith-focused songs made for children. Sometimes, Slugs and Bugs is all you need to seek God.
2. Know that He is present in the mundane as much as the overtly spiritual.
As Christians, we know that God is with us always, wherever we are, in whatever circumstances. However, we still often succumb to the temptation to believe that he is more present at church, during a Bible study, a prayer meeting, or when we are doing something innately “spiritual.” The encouraging truth is that, when we have faith in Christ, all of life is sacred and God can be sought and found just as well while we are folding laundry, raking leaves in the yard, or comforting a crying baby as he can be at church or during our mid-week small group.
God created the world and is intimately familiar with it, including the minutiae of what we do each day. Seeking him while you are engaged in everyday tasks may just be the perfect time to connect with your heavenly father.
3. Seek out a friend or mentor who can keep you accountable.
If you struggle with managing your time and desire a connection with God that you keep putting off, perhaps God may be encouraging you to rely on a trusted friend or mentor. We all need support from the Body of Christ, and having a friend or mentor in your life who can be honest with you but also encourage you in your walk with the Lord can be crucial to your spiritual growth.
4. Start small.
The good news is that God is always eager to hear from his children. He always welcomes us with open arms, no matter what time of day or night we are seeking him, in whatever season of life, in whatever circumstance or corner of the globe. Since we can be assured of this, we can feel free to seek him first thing in the morning while we have our morning coffee, in the few moments while we’re preparing lunch for our children, on a work break, or even while we are taking out the trash. Is there a time of day when you have a few moments of quiet where you can turn your thoughts to the Lord and to Scripture? Could you talk to him in prayer, even if just for a sentence or two, whether silently or out loud?
