It’s so helpful to start with not feeling guilt that we can’t escape the busy world we are in, and the Heavenly Father knows it. <3

Sports will happen, jobs need to be attended, school attendance, assignments with deadlines etc.
Most of us have a full plate. There can be the tendency for us to fall into shame about how little time they spend with God. I know I have circled around many times in my life! Saying things life, “I should pray more, I should read my bible more…I should….”.

When the reality is, God wants time with us anywhere anytime actually connecting with him it can free up that shame feeling. AND it helps us spend more time with him because we no longer feel bad about it…

I want to share a quick reminder that has been helping me lately found in:  Romans 8:1-11

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be [b]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the [c]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [d]through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Our right standing with God is an act of faith. We get to believe that we are forgiven, beloved, righteous before God because of the blood of Jesus.

(The whole book of Romans is SO powerful in realizing the righteousness we have been given through faith alone and not works— though we aren’t trying to sin- we are now living as beloved KIDS which then helps us walk in the spirit- where we won’t have tendency to sin. Check out Romans if you haven’t yet.)

The goodness and peace that comes from time with God is incomparable. When I get alone with God his love blinds me. His peace fills me. His grace  a constant tone. This Heavenly Father knows us and calls us his beloved - through any mistake made or shorter devo time…he wants us to be with him no matter.

There’s so much more for us if we continue in relationship with God.

This can look like waking up knowing we are in right standing, it looks like praising him the first thing we do. In your words and in your way. It looks like praying through laundry, praying as we drive, thanking God for our family members, praising him for what HE sees in us and in others.

It looks like a tuning our minds to his radio station during our day. Meaning - anywhere anytime we can connect. <3

Does reading the Bible and meeting with other believers help this connection? For sure. It encourages us, brings to mind his truth. His word is sharp and powerful to remind us the only truths that matter.❤️ Keep at this, but not at the sake of not meeting with God on your own.

The continual dance of a healthy relationship looks like connection throughout a day - and a lifetime, not just a knowledge of everything about a person. But actual time spent connecting with them closely.

If we get rigid in pursuing God it starts to become religious works rather than relationship. The shame of I should be doing more pushes us away from connecting to him fully. Suddenly we are falling short and feeling shame.

Remember he delights in us, and when we remember that in his presence is the fullness of Joy- it can help remind us to turn to him throughout our days. Tune into his voice. Praise him throughout the day. LOVE God, LOVE others. That is our aim and focus. Not grading ourselves on devo time length. <3

As his child, it is clear that our heavenly father cherishes spending time with us, his children, all the while making sure we are aware of the depth of his love for us.

Big Hugs,

Sarah