Part 1 Written By: Tamika Mahomes As one year ends and another begins, we often find ourselves in a state of reflection over our lives. I am not sure about you, but over the past year I realized my relationship with God fell by the wayside. I know addmitting that trust is hard, but for me, it was my reality. I prioritized other things, people, and activities above God. As I began to prepare for 2023, I started to understand that I did not want to start 2023 in the same place, spiritually, as I was when 2022 ended. Whether you find yourself where I was or if you are in a place where you feel your faith grew exponentially, we ought never forget that growth is always a part of our journey. As believers in Christ we never reach a place where we stop learning, sharing, and growing. James 4:8 (a) says: "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (CSB) James reminds us the importance of drawing closer to God. It is when we draw near to God that he draws near to use. In those moments when we read the word and connect with the Father, we allow him to teach, lead and guide us. When we are intentional about prioritizing our relationship with God, growth happens. How To Get Closer To God:1. Make Daily Devotion A Priority"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you" Matthew 6:33 (CSB) When we wake up for the day, it's easy to get started on our never ending list of tasks. But what if we let God be with us even in the midst of the chaos and busy. It is easy to feel guilty if we have no more than 5 minutes to devote to God, but the truth is not about time, its about intention. We devote our time to our jobs, our families, our hobbies, our demands, and even our distractions. But what if we took that same devotion and intention and put it into our relationship with God? In order for us to be good spouses, friends, parents, anything, we must learn to be good servants of God. And servanthood, requires us to devote time to the one we serve. How Do I Make Daily Devotion A Priority?In order to make daily devotion a priority, here are two important things I want you to know: 1. It should work for YOU! 2. It does not have to be what you consider as ideal! What does this mean? While starting the day with God can help set the tone for the day, sometimes that is not possible, and that is okay, find a time that works for you! If you can only read later in the day, do it! If you only have time in the morning to say a quite prayer, great! If you only have time to read one scripture, perfect! Showing up for God has to work for you. Devotion with God should not feel like a duty but rather an honor. If you honor God, even in your little, he will greatly honor that! Here Are 5 Ways To Show Up When Busy:1. Read the Verse of the Day On YouVersion 2. Say a prayer while you are getting ready (more on this later) 3. Listen to an audio bible. *If you are looking for an upbeat version, try Streetlights. 4. Read it with your kids 5. Read/Listen during your lunch break or in the evening before bed As we close, I want to leave you with this, show up for God, no matter how that looks for you! Life is busy and chaotic, but in the midst of it all I want to encourage you to find those pockets of time at the feet of the Father. Whether you can devote 5 mins or 5 hours, God sees and knows your heart. Lets be intentional on showing up in our walk with God this year, because it is when we show up that growth happens. Join us back here next week for part 2!
2 Comments
Linda Rutherford
1/8/2023 02:25:49 pm
Thanks for sharing excellent ways to start the New Year off right!
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Belle
1/12/2023 06:51:16 am
Amen! It’s not about doing what’s ideal for others, but glorifying God based on what YOU have to give to him. I love this message.
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