4 Tips to Make Time with God a Gift, Not a Chore

For as long as I can remember, spending time alone with God has been part of my day. After my family gathered for our prayer and Bible study in the morning, we would each go off and have our personal time with God. When I was younger, I loved this time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading my devotional and working on memory scriptures.

Then, I got older… and busier.

School intensified. I joined a writing community that became a big part of my life. I started a blog, began running cross-country, and along with normal life things like hanging out with friends, keeping up with chores, and spending time with family, my life was crazy.

I still spent time with God –at youth group, during family Bible study, and whenever I was supposed to, but it wasn’t my top priority anymore. It wasn’t something I loved and enjoyed like before. It became something I’d rush through, just to check it off my to-do list.

And then I joined a girls’ Bible study. We discussed why we should have a quiet time with God every single day. That’s when it hit me: why don’t we devote as much time to God as we devote to our other hobbies?

If we’re honest, maybe it’s because we enjoy our hobbies more than we enjoy spending time with God. But, if God is the One who gave us those other interests and good sources of enjoyment, shouldn’t spending time with Him be even more enjoyable?

We should want to devote as much or more time to God as we do to sports, writing, or any of our other hobbies.

This doesn’t mean we have to spend two hours every day just sitting and reading God’s Word. But it does mean that we should take it with us throughout our day. It should be our top priority. It should be our delight.

The righteous man described in Psalm 1:2 both delighted and prioritized God’s Word, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”

So how do we do this? Here are four tips for enjoying time with God and making it a priority in your life.

1. Reach for Your Bible Before Your Phone

This is why I recommend using a real, paper Bible. Digital Bibles are great. They make it easy to look up a verse on the go or to read Scripture for five minutes here and there. But they’re also a great way to get distracted.

“Oh, I’m just going to check this notification real quick!”

“I’ve got to respond to that text right now!”

And by the time you have finished checking and responding and scrolling, you’ve wasted your time. You’ve got to get ready for school, work, or wherever you’re going that day.

Turn off your phone, put it in another room, and read your Bible first.

2. Find a Way You Enjoy Studying God’s Word

I used to think of reading my Bible as a chore—something I had to get done. But now? I love it. And part of the reason is that I’ve found a way I enjoy studying. I got a Bible journal, and each day, I write my favorite chapter from that day’s reading in a pretty font. The creative aspect keeps me motivated, engaged, and excited to study God’s Word.

Maybe for you, it’s a specific setting that sparks enjoyment like sitting on your front porch in the early morning or snuggled in your bed with a lamp on. Or maybe it’s getting a Bible journal and being artsy while also enjoying your time with God.

Whatever it is, find a way to enjoy your time with God every morning. And with time, it won’t be something you do just to check it off your to-do list. You’ll actually take pleasure in it.

3. Make it the First Thing You Do

If you put it off until later, it’s likely that it’s not going to happen. So do it right away. My time with Jesus is at six in the morning, right when I’ve just woken up. That way I ensure it happens.

Doing it first thing also sets you up to have a better day. If you read your Bible, pray, listen to praise and worship music, and get all your worries and burdens off your mind to start the day, you’re probably going to have a much better day.

Do it first.

4. Remember It’s a Gift

Being able to freely open your Bible whenever you want is a gift. Being able to lift your voice to a God who listens is truly a blessing.

Why do we treat it like it’s something we have to do? It’s something that we get to do. When we remind ourselves that the ability to seek God through His Word and in prayer is a gift, we will be more inclined to treasure our time with Him.

Take a few moments at the beginning of your quiet time to thank God for the opportunity to seek Him in His Word. Practicing gratitude produces delight.

Work that’s Worth the Effort

Prioritizing and enjoying your time with God takes work, but it is worth the effort. Set aside your phone and seek God first thing each day. Experiment with where and how you fellowship with God to foster joy and be thankful that you get to read your Bible whenever you want.

Right now, I challenge you to take a break from whatever you’re doing and go spend fifteen minutes with God. Don’t approach it like it’s a chore. Instead, ask God to teach you how to enjoy your time with Him. Pray for a heart that delights in His Word and His presence. That is a prayer He will gladly answer.