Be Intentional
One thing that has changed about my life in the past year is my relationship with God. I always believed in God and prayed sometimes, but I didn’t necessarily have a close or active relationship with Him. That was until I felt the strong pull to find a church, read my bible, pray and strengthen my relationship with God. Recently, I have grown closer to God.
I have created a list of a few of my daily/weekly habits that help me to strengthen my relationship with God. I integrated these habits and practices so they are a part of my day or week that I look forward to. All of these habits have brought me closer to God.
1. Start The Day By Reading The Bible
If I start my day by getting into the word – I feel a greater sense of peace and set myself up for a better and more intentional day overall. I will either read my daily devotional and/or follow a bible study. At the very least, my daily devotional book gets me reading a few verses, diving into the meaning and applying it to my life. For bible studies, I will follow a book I purchased, online programs or even a reading plan in a specific book in the Bible.
Your morning reading habits do not have to match everyone else’s. Find what works for you! I will do different bible studies or reading plans based on what areas I want to focus on/what is currently going on in my life.
2. A Daily Prayer Journal
I love to pray this way! Every morning either before or after I read the Bible, I journal. This allows me to get all my thoughts and feelings on paper. I’ll write about things I am thankful for, my blessings, things I am struggling with and things I long for or need help with from God. Sharing these things with Him, will only bring you closer to God.
I find the journal to be a really helpful habit. It gets my thoughts out there and allows me to see them – which deepens my understanding and conversation with God. I like how I can look back at my journal over time and reflect on the ways God has worked in my life. Sometimes my journal is written out in sentences and sometimes it’s bullet points. Sometimes I have more written and sometimes I have less. No matter what it looks like, this is a great way to have a conversation with God.
3. Pray During A Specific Activity Every Day
I like to pick a “mindless” activity to intentionally pray during every day. This ensures I get some set aside time with God. My favorite way is to pray during walks, especially outside. It feels great to get movement and fresh air in while intentionally praying to God. I feel so refreshed and at peace after this.
Another way to do this is during your shower, a drive/ride, or while doing a craft like coloring or painting. This is similar to the idea of habit stacking. People will say it can be hard to get intentional praying every day. It is something so important to make time for every day. It is easier to make time for prayer if you add it into another activity you do every day!
4. Listen to Worship Music
When I started listening to worship music every day, this changed my heart and my relationship with God even more. There are all different types of worship music in all different genres. It should be easy to find something you like. I find my peace, energy levels and mental clarity all improve after listening to some worship music. It can be fun to make a new playlist and find new artists you enjoy listening to.
The media/music that you take in every day does have a big impact on the brain. So it is important, even if it’s not specifically worship music – to be intentional with what you’re listening to every day! Bonus – if you listen to worship music more, you are likely to be more familiar with the music played at Sunday service.
5. Join a Group/Participate in Fellowship
I never realized how essential this would be in developing my relationship with God. It is so important to surround yourself with people who also have a relationship with God. If you only surround yourself with people who have different values, it will be even harder for you to stay disciplined.
Start by looking at your church’s list of groups. Depending on your church, there should be groups for all different types of people with different interests or places in life. If your church does not have one that will work for you – see if you can join one at another church nearby. Maybe even consider starting your own! I am a part of two different groups – one at my church and one at a nearby church. You don’t have to be super outgoing to make it work either. I consider myself to be a little more shy, but I prayed for God to open my heart to fellowship and connecting with others. And of course, it worked!
6. Attend a Weekly Service
It is so important to find a weekly service you enjoy attending. Today, there are usually so many churches in any given area and often online options if you can’t attend in person. It is so beneficial to have a weekly service with worship music and a meaningful message. If you don’t already have one, look for churches in your area. Don’t be afraid to try different ones if the first one you go to isn’t the right fit. You should feel welcomed and safe at the church you attend
It is so powerful to be surrounded by other followers of God at least once a week. Ensuring that you set that time apart every week to worship God, will make a difference and set you up for a good week ahead.
I hope this list is helpful and inspirational. Ideally, these habits will be realistic to integrate into your life. Building on your relationship and growing closer to God is such a blessing!
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