It’s hard to believe it, but summer is officially coming to an end. This weekend is Labor Day weekend, the weekend where we reluctantly say goodbye to summer as if saying farewell to an old friend. We know that we will meet again, yet parting is bittersweet. The next meeting seems so far off in the distance. The month of September brings the start up of rehearsals, practices and meetings. It means the start of a new school year as well. Life just went from carefree summer days to balancing busy schedules on a calendar full to the max. In one sense, this time of year can bring dread. I can dread having to juggle all of my family’s different activities while somehow still finding time for myself. On the other hand, I look forward to seeing friends I haven’t seen all summer and getting back into a more regular routine. 

Sometimes I feel as though our faith can follow that same pattern. At times, we can get into a nice routine of praying, doing devotions or reading the Bible. It becomes a regular habit, and we feel our faith growing stronger. Then there are times when life gets busy. We fall out of routine and find it difficult to find time to read the Bible or do our devotions. During these times we may not completely lose our faith, but it can definitely lose some of its strength. That doesn’t mean that we are bad Christians, it just shows how easy it is for us to lose our way and turn our attention to worldly wants and desires.

I will be the first to admit that my faith has been through many seasons! There have been times when my faith has been very strong, and I have focused a lot of my attention on God. There have also been times where I have let life get in the way of my relationship with God. Unfortunately, there have probably been more of the latter times than the first. This is a constant struggle that Christians have to go through. Sometimes it is easy to take a “summer vacation” from our faith. We get caught up in life and forget to leave time for the most important part, God. So, how do we keep focus and stay on track?

Romans 8:5 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” And Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

When we get too caught up in life and earthly desires, we forget about the most important part of our life which is our relationship with God. We must focus and prioritize our lives so that we make room for God in our busy schedules. If we do not put God first and set our minds on what God wants for us, we will easily fall into the trap of being in a spiritual vacation mode. We need to value our time with God and make it part of our routine. When we make an effort to include God in our daily routine, we will see that many other aspects of our life will become easier.

Of course everybody has a different schedule and routine that works best for them, so I cannot logically tell you what schedule will work best for you. I can, however, give you some ideas.

If you are an early riser (of which I am not!), you might consider waking early before anyone else is up and spending time with God to start your day. This may be reading a devotional or studying a Bible passage. It could also mean time in prayer. Again, everyone is unique, and therefore, their relationship with God will also be unique. 

If you are a night owl like me, you might consider taking time out at the end of your day to reflect on the day’s events and unwind before bed. For me, this often means time spent in prayer and reflection. I try to thank God and reflect on the day’s blessings. Sometimes, I might also find a good devotional to read.

If you find it hard to find time at the beginning or end of your day, consider taking a break during the middle of your day for God. Perhaps on a lunch break you could take a few minutes to read a quick devotional or find a quiet place to pray.

Whatever routine works best for you, it’s important to try to stay consistent. I know that in reality there will be days where we miss our normal routine. That’s just life! The important thing is that we are trying to make an effort to include God in our everyday routine. The more we try, the more it will become a habit, and know that there is no right or wrong way to do it!

One of the things I love about homeschooling my daughter is that I get to study the Bible with her and help her grow in her faith. The beginning of each one of our school days starts out with Bible study. It always helps to start the day off on the right foot. I enjoy it just as much as she does. I have learned so much more about the history and understanding of the Bible just by leading her in the Bible lessons. This has become part of my God routine that I miss during the summer.

Paul wrote in his instructions to the early Christians, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24. We are meant to praise and serve the Lord, not human masters. If we can make it more of a habit to serve the Lord in all we do and to make sure that He is included in our lives every day, we will be greatly rewarded.

Listen to these words from Psalm 37: 3-5. “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”

When we trust in the Lord and commit our lives to him, we will begin to see His many blessings displayed throughout our lives. So, as we enter into this new season, we must remember to make room for God in our busy schedules. Take time out every day, whether that be in prayer or devotion to thank and praise God, and you will be greatly rewarded!

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Can I pray for you? Send me a message at molly@savedbygrace.blog