Spiritual Consistency Isn't One-Size-Fits-All

 There isn't one right way to spend time with God.

Sometimes conversations about spiritual consistency can unintentionally leave us feeling like God is standing over us with a checklist, keeping track of whether we read our Bible today, prayed long enough, or completed another devotional.

But that's not how I see our relationship with Him.

God doesn't invite us to spend time with Him because He needs our attention. He invites us because we need His presence.

Time in His Word isn't about earning His approval. Through Christ, we are already loved and welcomed into relationship with Him. It's about drawing closer to the One who gives us wisdom, peace, direction, correction, and hope.

I've found that spending time with God doesn't add another obligation to my day, it helps me approach the rest of my day differently.

Some seasons, you'll have an hour.

Other seasons, you may have fifteen minutes before the kids wake up.

Some people connect most deeply through:

• studying Scripture
• prayer
• worship
• journaling
• listening to sermons
• Bible studies
• serving
• family devotions

The goal isn't to copy someone else's rhythm.

The goal is to cultivate your own.

Your season matters.

When my children were younger, life was full. There was always something that needed my attention. But I discovered early on that if I started my day with God, even if it meant getting up a little earlier, it centered me.

It didn't make every day easier.

It didn't eliminate the demands of motherhood.

But it reminded me that I wasn't walking into those responsibilities alone.

Looking back, those quiet moments weren't another task on my schedule. They became one of the things that helped sustain me through that season.

Faith isn't only about private devotion.

Sometimes our spiritual life includes...

• individual quiet time
• Bible study
• praying with our spouse
• praying over our children
• attending church
• serving
• conversations around the dinner table

It's all part of building a Christ-centered life.

For some women, that may mean opening their Bible first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee.

For someone else, it may be listening to Scripture on the way to work.

It may look like praying while folding laundry, joining a weekly Bible study, spending time in worship, or gathering your family to pray before bed.

The goal isn't to recreate someone else's routine.

The goal is to intentionally make room for God in the season you're living.

What I'm Learning in This Season

Spiritual consistency isn't about proving your devotion to God; it's about consistently placing yourself where your relationship with Him can grow. That's one of the reasons I'm participating in the 31-Day Prayer Challenge this month. This challenge has helped me to be more intentional in bringing my family into my prayer life in a way that I haven't done in some time. I love how God will bring us to exactly what we need when we need it.

Reflection Questions

• What has made spiritual consistency difficult in this season?
• Have I been pursuing a routine or a relationship?
• Where is God inviting me to meet Him today?
• What's one small step I can take this week?

If you are just staring out, or looking for a more structured way of building consistency, check out my Faith & Personal Growth Planner.  It's designed to help build intention and momentum for building consistency in the most important areas of everyday life.