You want to spend time with God. But your quiet time keeps turning into a to-do list. You read a chapter, say a quick prayer, check the box, and feel nothing. Or you miss a few days and then feel too guilty to come back.
Here's the short answer. Time with God isn't a duty you perform to keep Him happy. It's time with a Father who already loves you and looks forward to being with you. Start small, and keep showing up.
Only one thing is needed
Jesus once stopped at the home of two sisters. Martha "welcomed Him into her house" and got to work. Her sister Mary "sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word" (Luke 10:38–39).
Martha was serving Jesus. But she "was distracted with much serving" (Luke 10:40), and finally she'd had enough. "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
Jesus answered her gently. "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41–42).
Most of us are Martha. We love Jesus, we're busy for Him, and we're tired. Jesus didn't scold her for serving. He invited her to sit down. At Dwelling House we keep coming back to this story, because it's the heart of everything. Before anything we do for Jesus, there's being with Him.
You're invited, not assigned
Time with God starts with Him. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). David heard that invitation and answered it: "When You said, 'Seek My face,' My heart said to You, 'Your face, LORD, I will seek'" (Psalm 27:8).
Look at what David wanted most: "One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD" (Psalm 27:4). Not more answers. Not a better routine. Him.
And here's what changes everything. You aren't earning God's love by showing up. Jesus settled that at the cross. You're spending time with Someone who delights in you. "He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).
Think about the thing you look forward to every day, like that first cup of coffee. You are that for God. You're His daily delight.
Jesus made time with His Father
Crowds followed Jesus everywhere. Still, "in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35).
It wasn't a one-time thing. As word about Him spread and great crowds came to be healed, "He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed" (Luke 5:15–16). The more people needed Jesus, the more He made room to be alone with His Father. If He needed that, so do we.
Abide, don't strive
Jesus put it this way: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4). A branch doesn't strain to grow grapes. It stays connected, and the life of the vine does the work.
Time with God isn't a performance. It's staying connected. "For without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
A simple daily rhythm
You don't need a perfect plan. You need a simple one you'll actually keep.
- A place. A chair, the kitchen table, your car before work. Jesus talked about going into your room and shutting the door to pray (Matthew 6:6). Leave your phone in another room if you can.
- A time. Morning works for many people, but pick a time you can keep, the same time each day.
- Read a passage. One chapter is plenty. Our whole church reads the same New Testament chapter each day, so you can read today's chapter with us and know you're not reading alone.
- Worship. Thank Him for who He is. Put on a worship song, or read a psalm out loud. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise" (Psalm 100:4).
- Pray. Tell Him what's really going on. Pray for the people you love. For ideas, read how to pray with purpose.
- Listen. Sit quietly for a minute or two and ask, "Lord, is there anything You want to say to me?" Here's more on how to hear God's voice.
- Write. Jot down the verse that stood out and one thing you sense He's saying. The Bible reading page has a short video on how to journal.
Start with ten or fifteen minutes. That isn't a rule. It's a doorway. Some days you'll stay longer because you won't want to leave.
What to do on dry days
Some days you'll read and pray and feel nothing. That doesn't mean God left. David wrote one of his most passionate prayers in the wilderness of Judah: "O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1). Dry days are still days you can seek Him.
On those days, keep it simple. Tell Him the truth: "Lord, I don't feel much today, but I'm here." Thank Him for three specific things. Worship anyway. Very often the sense of His nearness comes back while you're showing up, not before.
And if you miss a day, or a month, don't wait until you feel worthy to come back. His compassions "are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22–23). The door is open. It always was.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should my time with God be?
There's no required length. Ten minutes with your whole heart is better than an hour of guilt. Start where you are and let it grow.
What if I'm in a really busy season?
Be honest about your season. A parent of a newborn might get five minutes in the car or a psalm during a 2am feeding. That counts. You can also talk with God all through the day, while you drive or fold laundry.
Do I have to do this alone?
Your personal time with God matters, and so does time with His people. The first believers "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). A small group is a great place to pray together, talk about what you're reading, and keep each other going.
Martha's kitchen will always be busy. Jesus is still inviting you to sit at His feet. If you'd like to do that with a church family, come worship with us on a Sunday at 10am at 3102 Prairie Rd in Madison. Plan your visit here. And if you feel far from God right now, let us pray with you. You don't have to find your way back alone.