Dearly Beloved,
Grace and peace to you, Van Meter UMC Family! Last month I wrote about how quickly our summer schedules fill up with activities that seem to pull us in multiple directions at once, and how life begins to feel like a chaotic sprint from one thing to the next. Amid all that activity and busyness, it is easy to feel disconnected from God. It is easy for our spiritual rhythms and practices to get buried under all the other things in our busy schedules.
Here's the good news: Even when you feel like you absolutely can't squeeze one more anything into your over scheduled life, God knows you're not perfect and doesn't expect you to be. Even five minutes can be enough time to connect with God.
Last month I shared a few spiritual micro habits we can all try to stay close to God, and maybe even grow in our faith. Start small and keep it simple. If one micro habit doesn't work for you the first time, try it at a different time of day, try it again the next day, or try a different micro habit. Here are a few more to try:
Transform ordinary moments into sacred spaces. Here's a game-changer: God isn't confined to church buildings or designated prayer times. The Holy Spirit is with you in the grocery store line, during your commute, and yes, even in the chaos of family dinner. Some of my most meaningful conversations with God happen while I'm doing dishes or stuck in traffic. There's something about inviting him into the mundane that makes ordinary moments feel sacred. Try these simple ways to invite God into your everyday:
* Turn your commute into Prayer time (traffic jams become opportunities!)
* Ask for patience before walking into challenging situations
* Thank God for small blessings while doing household tasks
* Practice gratitude while waiting in lines or at appointments
The apostle Paul reminds us: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31). When you are aware of God's presence, folding laundry becomes an act of service, and your daily tasks transform into opportunities for worship.
Try replacing mindless scrolling with soul feeding. We all have those little pockets of time — waiting for appointments, standing in line, or those few minutes before falling asleep. What if we used just some of that time to feed our souls instead of endlessly scrolling? I'm not saying delete social media (though that's between you and God!), but what if we became more intentional about what we consume during those in-between moments? Here are easy swaps to try:
* Keep a Bible app easily accessible on your phone
* Choose one verse each week to memorize and review during idle moments
* Follow a Bible reading plan that fits your current season
* Listen to worship music or Christian podcasts during downtime
As the Psalmist wrote, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path" (Psalm 119:105). God's Word provides direction and clarity, especially when life feels like it's moving at warp speed.
Next month, I'll share more spiritual micro habits that might help you stay close to God even when your schedule is maxed out. God only asks that you bring your authentic self — tired, stressed out, grateful, and everything in between.
Remember that staying close to God isn't about adding more to your already full schedule. It is about recognizing God's presence in everything you're doing and inviting God to be part of the conversation of your life.
In Christ's gracious love,
Pastor Cathy