When I was younger, I thought being a Christian was something you did on Sundays. It rocked my world when I realized that faith is something that leaks into every aspect of your life, like the flavor and color of a tea bag. You can’t dip a tea bag into hot water without making the water taste different, and likewise you can’t dedicate your life to Christ yet remain unchanged.
When I started my life in California, I was very aware of how I could invite God into my daily life. Here are some of the practices I added.
How to add any spiritual practice into your life
Identify times: Any times of the day when your mind is tempted to wander or there is empty space // Good times of the day are while driving, showering, taking a walk.
Identify the practice: What would best fit in this time? Understand the limits of this moment. When you’re driving, for example, the practice needs to be something light that doesn’t impede your hands or eyes. // See the following sections for ideas on practices.
01/ Start right.
- Listen to a podcast or sermon while you get ready for the day.
- Pray during your commute.
- Sing along to uplifting Christian tunes as you look out your window and thank God for another beautiful day.
02/ Use the hours of the day.
- Write down the hours of the day that you’re awake on an index card. Assign a prayer request or praise to each hour of the day. Set a timer or be aware of the time throughout the day, stopping during each hour for a couple minutes to pray.
- (I used to do the following exercise when I was mopping floors at my old Chick-Fil-A job. The work was very menial and especially at night could be pretty mind-numbing, so I distracted myself with this practice.) Go through the letters of the alphabet, thinking of a characteristic or work of God for each attribute. Then talk to Him about it and thank Him for His character. A could be that He’s awe-inspiring or He promised Abraham that he would be the father of a nation.
03/ Journal.
- When something AMAZING happens to you (even if it’s small) and you’re just reminded of God’s love and presence in your life, write it down! I’ve created a Miracle Journal, which is just a repurposed book. I write my Miracle Moments in the margins.
- If you’re having trouble focusing while praying, it helps to write your prayers down. Start a prayer journal! You’ll be amazed at how long you can write for.
04/ Decorate your space.
- At work, use a mug with a Bible verse for your morning coffee.
- Put up artwork or post-it notes in your house with Bible verses to remind you to meditate on His word.
- Frame a copy of Philippians 4:8 for your office desk.
05/ Edify fellow believers.
- Put a post-it note with a Bible verse on your neighbor’s door, or car windows at school/grocery stores.
- Make a commitment to text a Bible verse to someone every day.
- Ask in your IG stories for prayer requests. Write them on a white board and put the white board by the sink so you can pray while doing dishes.
Which one of these will you start tomorrow?
