Remembering to prioritize quiet time with God is probably one of the hardest parts of creating a work-life balance. There have been so many times where I've had an elaborate plan in my head of exactly what passage I'm going to study and how long I'm going to spend in prayer, but when the morning comes, it often ends in a snoozed alarm and rushing out the door. If you've had similar experiences, don't worry! You're not alone! Let me give you my three biggest tips for learning how to set aside time in your day to spend time with the Father!
Disclaimer: I'm still not perfect at it! I still have mornings where I choose 5 more minutes of sleep, but the goal is progress, never perfection.
TIP #1: Remember that the morning is not the only time you can read the bible
One of the biggest pieces of advice I received in high school was to remember that the morning is not the only time that you can read the Bible! It seems so simple, but growing up, I had begun to believe that if I didn't spend the first hour of my morning with Jesus, then I had just missed my chance for the day. Of course, we should be aiming to posture our hearts and minds on Jesus first thing in the morning, but there are so many ways to do that, including listening to worship music or an audio recording of the Bible. Try finding a little pocket of time in your day that could serve as a time for you to spend time with the Father. Maybe it's your lunch break, a break between classes, or even right before you go to bed. Whenever it is, block out that time, and make it a goal to read your Bible during it this week!
tip #2: hAVE A PLAN
One of the biggest roadblocks for me when I try to read my Bible is being overwhelmed by not knowing what to read. The Bible App makes finding a Bible-reading plan so easy and accessible! Choose a topic or book of the Bible that you're genuinely interested in reading, and allow the plan to guide you through! Remember to not use it as your primary form of reading, but as a helping hand as you work your way through the Bible. When you have an actionable goal, you are way more likely to complete the steps to achieve that goal.
TIP #3: attach your quiet time to an existing habit
The easiest way to begin to create a habit of spending time with Jesus daily is to tack it onto an existing habit. You could read the verse of the day while you're making your morning coffee. You could take a prayer walk around your college campus during the break between your classes. You can listen to worship music while you're getting ready in the morning. Remember that time with God does not just have to look like sitting and reading the Bible! While that is so important and should be a regular part of our spiritual diet, you can also spend time with the Father through so many other avenues. Find what works best for you and what helps you feel closest to Jesus!
At the end of the day, your quiet time doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. It’s not about how long you spend or how structured it looks—it’s about choosing to meet with God in the middle of your everyday life. Even in the busiest seasons, He’s still there, ready to meet you in the small, quiet moments. Start simple, stay consistent, and trust that it matters more than you think!