Time With God
Establishing a Habit of Connecting with God
“The best way to be intentional and consistent in connecting with God is to have a time, a place, and a plan.”
— Andy Stanley
One of the most important rhythms we can develop is simply spending time with God.
Like any relationship, our relationship with God grows when we spend time together—when we're present, when we listen, and when we make space to connect. But in the middle of busy schedules, distractions, and everything competing for our attention, that usually requires some intentionality.
The good news is, spending time with God doesn't have to be complicated.
A helpful way to begin is to choose a time, a place, and a plan.
Choose a time.
Find a consistent time that works for you. Morning, lunchtime, before bed—it doesn't matter nearly as much as finding a rhythm you can return to.
Choose a place.
Find somewhere you can slow down and minimize distractions. Over time, it can become a place where your mind and heart recognize, “This is where I connect with God.”
Choose a plan.
You don't need to wonder what to do once you get there. Start simply. In the next section, you'll discover some plans that might help.
Whether you have five minutes or thirty, the goal isn't to check a box. It's to create space to connect with God.
A Method for Reading the Bible
S – Scripture O – Observation A – Application P – Prayer
S — SCRIPTURE
Read a passage slowly and thoughtfully. Take your time and reflect on what you've just read. Not sure where to start? Try a reading plan.
What does the passage actually say? Is there a verse or phrase you want to read again?
O — OBSERVATION
Pay attention to what stands out. Notice repeated words, people, actions, events, promises, questions, or anything that catches your attention.
What do I notice? What does this passage show me about God, people, or how God wants us to live?
A — APPLICATION
Consider how what you've read connects to your own life.
What can I learn from this? Is there something I need to remember, believe, change, or put into practice?
P — PRAYER
Talk with God about what you've read. Ask him to help you understand it and live out what you're learning.
“God, thank you for what you've shown me through this passage. Help me remember it and put it into practice today.”
An Outline for Prayer
A – Adoration C – Confession T – Thanksgiving S – Supplication
A — ADORATION
Praise God for who he is.
“God, you are good, loving, and faithful. There is no one like you. Thank you for your grace and for always being present with me.”
C — CONFESSION
Honestly acknowledge where you've fallen short.
“God, forgive me for the ways I've fallen short today—in my thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions. Help me recognize where I need to change and become more like you.”
T — THANKSGIVING
Express gratitude for God's goodness and the ways he has cared for you.
“God, thank you for the ways you've provided for me and cared for me. Thank you for the people in my life and for the good things I sometimes take for granted.”
S — SUPPLICATION
Ask God for help, wisdom, guidance, or peace for yourself and others.
“God, I need your wisdom and guidance. Help me with the things I'm facing, give me peace in the things I can't control, and help me trust you with what comes next.”
Choose a Reading Plan
Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God
5 Day Reading Plan
God speaks to His children today just as He did in Bible times—through Scripture, dreams, people, desires, pain. How do we discern what He is saying? How do we quiet our lives enough to hear the divine whispers that draw us closer to Him? I pray this five-day devotional will inspire you to hear God’s voice of love in a new, life-changing way…as the whisper of a God who wants to hold you close.
Like: A Journey Through Psalm 23
6 Day Reading Plan
We live in a world that's fascinated with celebrities. Magazines and the paparazzi have built an entire industry around helping us answer the question, "What is he or she like?” In this devotional from Athens Church, we’ll ask that question about a particular "celebrity" and ask, "What is God like?”, and we’ll focus on one of the most famous Bible passages, Psalm 23, to help us answer it. In doing so, we'll discover that when it comes to God, there is a lot to like!
Free
6 Day Reading Plan
We all want to do what’s right and avoid doing what’s wrong, but sometimes we end up doing what we don’t want to do. If we can’t even live by our own standards, how are we supposed to live by God’s? In this 6-day plan, Andy Stanley explores what the apostle Paul wrote about God’s grace and Jesus’s power over sin in our lives.
Cultivating a Heart of Mercy
6 Day Reading Plan
Through a series of inspiring devotionals, Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King shows the relationship between justice and mercy, reveals the source of our power to forgive, and shares how we can redeem our own suffering to serve others.
Winning the War in Your Mind
7 Day Reading Plan
Most of life’s battles are won or lost in the mind. So how do we start winning more of those battles? In this 7-day Bible Plan from Life.Church Pastor Craig Groeschel’s book, we’ll discover how to fight toxic thoughts, overcome out-of-control thinking, and start winning the war in our minds using God’s truth as our battle plan.
Unconvinced: Exploring Faith As A Skeptic
7 Day Reading Plan
If you’re skeptical of the Old Testament stories that sound like fairy tales or are stuck on the rules that come with being religious, here’s some good news: following Jesus requires faith, but not faith in a book, a list or rules, or even a particular religious system. This plan presents a starting point for faith that may finally be something—or more specifically someone—you can believe in.
Time Well Spent
21 Day Reading Plan
We all want to be intentional. We all want our lives to matter. One simple thing we can do is to change how we start our day, and the best way to start our day is to hear what Jesus has to say. When we start there, it will change how we see things and how we live our lives.
Better Together
24 Day Reading Plan
There’s no way you can be all God wants you to be and fulfill the purposes that you were put on this planet to fulfill without any help. We need each other, and we belong to each other in the Body of Christ! In this series, Pastor Rick explains how to do life in relationship to other people.
Finding God in the Wilderness
7 Day Reading Plan
Why do people end up in the wilderness? The answer isn’t as simple as you might think. In this reading plan, we invite you to consider the biblical theme of the wilderness—a barren wasteland that becomes a place of testing, preparation, and restoration.
Spiritual Pathways Asssement
Spiritual pathways help us identify the ways we most naturally connect with God.
Connect With God
Connect with God gives your small group resources to help you take practical next steps to connect with God.
