One of the greatest challenges in our spiritual journey is staying consistent. Life is busy, distractions are endless, and it’s easy to let our time with God slip away. But if we want to grow in our relationship with Jesus, we must be intentional about incorporating spiritual disciplines into our daily lives.
Jesus modeled this for us. Mark 1:35 (NIV) says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” If Jesus, the Son of God, made time for these disciplines, how much more should we?
Here are four disciplines you can incorporate into your daily routine to grow in your relationship with Jesus:
1. Begin Your Day in Worship
Starting your day in worship shifts your focus from the worries of life to the greatness of God. Worship reminds us of His power, His faithfulness, and His love. Whether through music, singing, or simply reflecting on His goodness, worship sets the tone for the day. A simple way to do this is by playing worship music in the morning as you get ready or during your commute.
2. Spend Time in God’s Word
The Bible is our daily bread, and without it, we become spiritually weak. A practical way to stay consistent in reading Scripture is to follow a structured Bible reading plan. If you’re looking for a plan that takes you through the entire Bible in a year while offering daily devotionals, check out The One Year Bible Reading Plan provided by my church.
Another great option, especially if you’re always on the go, is the Daily Audio Bible (DAB). This allows you to listen to Scripture during your commute, workout, or even while cooking.
3. Set Aside Time to Pray
Many people struggle with prayer, but having a structured plan can help. My church offers an incredible free app called Pray First, which provides guided prayer plans and helpful tools to deepen your prayer life. Download it today or explore additional resources on our church website: 21 Days of Prayer Resources.
Prayer is our direct line to God, a powerful way to align our hearts with His will and find peace amid life’s challenges. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or unsure of how to pray, I encourage you to check out my previous post on how prayer can take you from chaos to clarity. It provides practical steps to help you develop a meaningful and consistent prayer life.
4. Reflect and Journal
Writing down your thoughts, prayers, and reflections helps you remember God’s faithfulness. Journaling is a powerful way to see spiritual growth over time. It allows you to look back and be reminded of answered prayers and how God has moved in your life. Take five minutes each night to write down what God has spoken to you that day.
A Strategy to Stay Consistent
Start small and build momentum to make these disciplines part of your life. Choose a time and place to spend time with God without distractions. Consider setting a reminder on your phone, placing your Bible in a visible spot, or pairing your time with God with something you already do daily—like having coffee or driving to work.
A simple yet effective strategy for staying consistent is the 5-5-5 Plan:
- Five minutes of worship
- Five minutes in the Word
- Five minutes of prayer
This simple yet powerful method helps you develop a consistent daily habit without feeling overwhelmed.
Get Your Free Prayer Manual I believe so strongly in the power of prayer that I want to offer you a free prayer manual. If you’d like one, enter your name and email below, and I will personally mail it to you at no cost. This is my way of equipping you with resources to deepen your prayer life.
Closing Encouragement
My heart is for everyone to grow in their relationship with Jesus. I truly believe that the key to living an abundant life is putting God first in every area. My pastor, Pastor Chris Hodges, always says, “This will be the best year of your life if it is the best year of your life spiritually.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I encourage you to take a step today—start your morning in worship, read His Word, pray, and reflect. God is faithful, and as you seek Him, He will meet you where you are.
Enter your name and email below to receive your Free Prayer Guide. Let’s grow together in our faith journey!
Live Abundantly,
Bill
