What do you do when spending time with God starts to feel like a chore? A few years ago, I found myself longing to go deeper in my faith but utterly bored with my routines.
Reading the Bible felt dry, prayer was exhausting, and going to church was more of a robotic routine than a meaningful ritual. I knew how important it was to spend time with God, but I just couldn’t muster up any genuine enthusiasm.
One day, a friend of mine opened my eyes to the missing ingredient: variety. She explained how just as friends or couples switch up what they do together, we’re allowed do the same when it comes to connecting with Jesus.
I think many of us struggle with spending quality time with Jesus because we don’t feel that we have the freedom to get creative. Perhaps you, like me, became a Christian and was shown a quiet time routine that you’ve modeled ever since.
At first that might’ve been enjoyable and fruitful, but maybe right now you’re looking to change things up a bit. So this year, why not try a new activity with Jesus?
Here’s a few ideas to get you started.
1. Take a prayer walk or hike
Nature silently shouts of God’s glory in unassuming and unparalleled ways. As one psalmist exclaimed, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” (Psa 19:1) In our noisy, busy culture, taking a daily pause to be outside acts as a counterbalance and shifts our hearts and minds back towards our Creator.
Prayer walks can be invitations into praise, gratitude and conversation with Jesus. I’ve recently gotten into the habit of taking evening walks around my neighborhood to reset after staring at a screen for all day. Jesus always finds a means of getting my attention, whether through a cute bird, a unique flower or a breathtaking sunset.
If you find it difficult to sit still and focus in prayer, prayer walks may be a great practice to incorporate into your day. Using your whole body and all of your senses makes prayer much more engaging and immersive. It allows you to connect with what’s happening in our spirit, instead of getting stuck in our racing thoughts.
2. View or create some artwork
Creativity is at the core of God’s nature, and he’s placed this gift into each of us. Art is likely the first thing that comes to mind when you think of creativity. However, there are so many ways this innate desire to build and express manifests, from designing rooms and apps, to constructing experiments and lesson plans, and so much more.
As a painter and writer, God’s taught me over the years to invite him into my creative acts. It’s been so life-giving to offer the emotions that fuel my art to God and welcome him into the process. Whether you consider yourself artistic or not, it can be such a fun and freeing experience to draw, paint, sculpt or photograph what’s on your heart.
Creating grounds you in the present, which allows you to become more aware of God’s presence. When you’re engrossed in a creative project, you can detach a bit from the outer world and just be in the here and now. Those mental loops you were stuck in may disappear, and suddenly, there’s space to process deeper thoughts and feelings, or to find clarity for a difficult problem or situation.
3. Incorporate dance into worship
Worship is a powerful way to connect with God, to show him our gratitude and remind ourselves of truth. Music has the ability to deeply touch our hearts and beautifully capture our thoughts like no other. Though worship is often present in church services, it doesn’t always translated into personal routines.
Lately, I’ve tried to infuse worship into my daily life, whether while driving, working out or washing dishes. It turns out nothing can get me out of a funk like a good worship song. The most impactful shift for me has been incorporating dance into worship, letting my whole body express love and praise to God.
Depending on our personality types and backgrounds, dancing can feel uncomfortable and embarrassing. As an introvert, I can totally understand. Reading about the way King David danced before the Lord (2 Sam 6:14) inspired me, though, and reminded me that some feelings just can’t be contained by words. You may feel a little silly at first, but if you keep going you may find new joy and freedom in worship through dance.
4. Document your faith journey
Sometimes it’s difficult to pinpoint where God is at currently in our lives. Though we can’t always perceive his mysterious plans, that doesn’t mean he’s absent or uncaring about what we’re going through. In those moments when God feels far away, it’s so important to remember how he’s been there for us in the past.
Last year, I was feeling discouraged and confused about my life and where God was leading me. He nudged me to look back at past seasons and recognize the many times he answered my prayers. By reading through my old journals, I could clearly trace God’s hand in my life. When I took a step back to admire the tapestry of grace God’s weaving through my life, I instantly felt closer to him.
One way to practically keep God’s faithfulness at the forefront of your mind is to document your faith journey. You can start by writing down all of the gifts he’s blessed you with, the miracles you’ve witnessed, and the encouraging words he’s spoken to you through friends. It can be so helpful to have these powerful moments and small victories at arms reach to turn to when God feels far away or your faith seems small.
Finding a consistent rhythm of connecting with God is essential to growing a deep friendship and rich faith. Sometimes we can get stuck in the same routines, and it’s time to shake things up.
As you explore new spiritual habits and activities, don’t be afraid to think outside the box a bit. God is so eager to engage with us in fresh ways that open us up to encounter more of his loving presence.
Photo by Jota . on Unsplash
