It is so important to keep your focus on God. From starting your day off well to pushing through a tough season in life, reminding yourself of His power and glory puts worldly cares in their place.
While spending time in your Bible every day is a fundamental way to do this, there are many means to focus on what’s essential.
Practical Steps
Put your Bible on your pillow. For those with really busy schedules who hit the ground running every morning, this simple act can be a powerful reminder to spend time with your Father before you lay your head down to sleep. Exercise your discipline! Do not lower your eyes before you lower your heart.
Kneel when reading your Bible. The physical posture can help realign your heart with an attitude of humble dependence on God, be more attentive to His Word, and more sensitive to His leading. Pray for God to strengthen and sustain a desire for a relationship with Him. Continually ask God to speak to you through His word and He will.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
-Hebrews 4:16
Summarize the passage you are reading. Separate it by paragraphs. Ask “what is this passage saying” and “how is it displaying God’s character and attributes?” When you look back later, this process with help you retain what you read.
Listen to Scripture or worship music in the car. This is something I’ve personally found very beneficial. I’m one to immediately start out with the day’s checklist, so realigning my heart with biblical truths helps settle my mind. By re-grounding myself in truths that bring comfort like an old friend, I start my day off in peace which leads to a better time than I would have had otherwise.
Resources
Podcasts
“Gospel In Life” — Classic sermons by Tim Keller, a pastor in New York City and NY Times best-selling author of “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.”
“Live Over Coffee” — This is my dad’s podcast where he talks about anything and everything to do with life and Godliness.
“The Girl Defined Show” — Long-form conversations for Christian girls everywhere, offering a God-centered view of beauty, femininity, identity, and worth.
Devotionals
Dwell — An audio Bible that cultivates a habit of listening to the Bible by keeping Scripture on your ears and on your heart.
YouVersion — A Bible app that creates biblically-centered, culturally relevant experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God throughout each day. It’s through these experiences we create opportunities fit for anyone’s daily routine, ultimately helping them form a spiritually-rich rhythm of seeking God intimately.
Our Daily Bread — Devotional content hoping to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all.
Abide — A Bible and sleep meditation app full of biblical meditations to help release stress and sleep better.
Music
The “Austin Stone Worship” or my “Holy Spirit Vibes” Spotify playlists are collections of instrumental worship that work great with homework or study sessions. When I play them quietly in the background, I find the familiar but silenced lyrics coming to mind. This not only motivates me to stay focused on the task at hand but helps me maintain a positive outlook.
There are many ways to connect with God on a daily basis. No matter your schedule. Whether you’re an early bird or night owl. Regardless of your learning style. All that’s left is for you to identify what works best for you and apply.
Joy is easier to embody and waves are easier to look over when your mind is saturated in Who God is and what He is doing, so focus on what’s essential by refocussing your gaze on Him.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.