Morning Grace: Why Daily Time With God Matters

Do we really need to add anything else to our schedule? As women, we never quite get through our to-do lists. There's always something more - more dirty dishes, another load of laundry, errands to run. Our hearts and minds are pulled in so many different directions. Some days we feel like Elastagirl from The Incredibles, stretching until we think we're about to snap.

Life has been incredibly stressful for me lately. It's hard to focus. My heart and mind are preoccupied by my job search, worry about the future, planning, and more. I'm working, handing out resumes, writing, editing, planning children's ministry lessons and events, knitting and crocheting and planning to (maybe) open an Etsy shop - there's no room for more. Every day leaves me falling asleep on the couch after dinner, so exhausted that it's a struggle just to take my contacts out and crawl into bed. Can adding one more thing really make life better?

It can make all the difference if it's the right thing.

Spending time with God every day matters. It won't look the same for everyone. When and how I have my time with God has changed with each stage of my life. What hasn't changed is my desperate need for one-on-one time with my Savior. I need Him.

Why does daily time with God matter? He gives us three important things when we spend time with Him:

1. Priority

As Christians, our number one priority is God - but unless we spend with Him, we're not giving him first place. Exodus 33:13 says "...let me know Your ways that I may know You..." Time with God lets us know Him. It teaches us His ways and brings us into a closer relationship with Him. It's a tangible way to put Him in first place by giving Him our time and our attention.

2. Focus

Spending time with God changes our focus. I can't tell you how many times I woke up stressed or upset about something, but during my Bible study, God drew my focus to what really mattered.

3. Peace

There is no way I could have made it through the past few weeks without God's peace. I'm not going to pretend to be super-spiritual. I've been freaking out over my job situation. If you want a picture of peace and trust, you'll have to look somewhere else. Through all the worry and fear, though, God has been there, whispering peace to my frantic heart. Over and over, He's reminded me that He's walking this road with me. He whispers His promises - "I have a plan. You're going to be fine."

John 16:33 keeps coming up in everything I read lately: "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." Time with Him reminds us that He brings peace, regardless of our circumstances.

Over the next few weeks, we're going to walk through every aspect of your time with God - how to set up a Selah space, how to structure your quiet time, types of journals and Bible studies, and more. I'm so excited! I hope you'll join me on this journey. (And if you sign up for my newsletter in the box to the left, you'll get bonus content in my monthly newsletter.)