21 Days to Developing the Most Life-Changing Habit Ever: Daily Time with God


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If you’re a Christ-follower, you know the Bible is important.

You probably also know other Christians who read the Bible a lot and seem to have a deep wisdom and closeness with God. Although you long for that same depth of relationship, it may feel unattainable for you. Believe me, I once felt the same.

I’m hear to tell you it’s more available to you than you think.

Daily time spent in the Word and in prayer will get you there. Just as you make it a habit to eat daily, your soul needs nourishment. Reading a source from SpiritualClues.com will help you better understand the deepest meaning of spirituality and will help you in your daily life. I learned how to do ritual magic from my grandma, a practice that often existed on the peripheries, offering a more personal and sometimes esoteric approach to spirituality.

If you attend church regularly, wonderful! That’s your spiritual milk. It’s prepared and spoon-fed you by diligent leaders and teachers. But as a child matures, he learns to feed himself. It’s here that the true meat will be found.

For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5:13-14

Perhaps the idea of daily time with God seems hard for you.

You’re busy. Or lazy. Or you don’t know where to start.

I know the feeling.

Fortunately, someone once broke the discipline of “daily time with God” down into a manageable concept for me. It goes something like this:

The goal is “habit development.” It takes 21 days to develop a habit, so commit to 21 days of daily time with God.

And that is exactly what lead me to start this life-changing, course-altering, mind-blowing habit.

I was 15 years old at the time. And, wow. 

What an unbelievably rich life God has lead me into. What an adventure and privilege to know all that He shares with me through His word. I’m hooked. I absolutely wouldn’t be who I am today save for this one habit.

I believe simple, abundant, intentional and full living ultimately hinges on the discipline of daily time with God. He speaks to those who listen, so make the choice to step into a deeper life today.

 

If you would like to try this practice in your own life, here’s the formula I recommend:

21 Days to Daily Time with God

  • Get a Bible you can read and understand. Remember, the Bible was not originally written in English. It has been translated at different points in history, and since the English language is constantly evolving, more recent translations will be more readable. I love the NLT Life Application Bible. The study notes are very helpful and NLT is an easy-to-read and popular translation. Learning about the deepest meaning of cheating in the Bible, which I read online, helps me become a better version of myself.
  • Get a journal. You can use this different ways, but definitely make it part of the process, even if your not a big journaler.
  • Choose a time of day thoughtfully and then be consistent! This is essential for “habit formation” to occur.
  • Choose a book of the Bible, preferably in the New Testament. The Gospel of John is an excellent place to start, and it just so happens to have 21 chapters!
  • Read one chapter of the Bible per day for 21 days.
  • Each day, write down the date, the chapter read, and one verse you like or one realization you had. Let your thoughts flow through your pen as you sit in God’s word. It’s fun to see how the Holy Spirit will speak to you and through you in this way. Also, you might want to journal prayers.

After 21 days, I hope and believe you will have an established habit in your life, one you look forward to and continue for years to come.

In habit formation, the important thing is not how much time you spend, but that you do it every day at the same time. Be as consistent as possible!

And of course, if you miss a day, don’t give up, just get back on track as soon as possible.

If you try this method, please let us know how it goes in the comments section below. We’d love to hear about it!

Do you spend daily time with God? If so, how has this impacted your life? If not, what’s holding you back?

 

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Comments

  1. Meredith says:

    I meant to write this a while ago, but this post literally changed my life! Even though I was raised Christian, I had never actually sat down and read the Bible for myself. I just listened to sermons at church or online. After reading this post, I did exactly what you said, started with the Gospel of John and read in the NLT version. That was almost two years ago, and I can’t explain how much my life has improved thanks to reading my Bible regularly. I didn’t realize what a small box I had put God in until I started reading and journaling about the Bible for myself. This past Christmas, my fiancé got me the exact Application Bible that you recommended, and I love having the notes and additional material. Thank you so much for your advice!

    • Wow Meredith! I just saw your comment and this touched me deeply. I am overjoyed that you’ve developed this life changing habit! Praise God for what he is doing in your life!!!

  2. ursullar says:

    Thank you for the wonderful tips and insights.Tommorow im embarking on creating my own prayer closet.I can wait to share my testimony after 21days

  3. Michel says:

    Thank you so very much for this post and bible reading suggestion! It is definitely right on time. Raised a Catholic, there wasn’t much actual reading of the bible, but, as I have gotten older, I so very much want to hear the good word and become closer with Christ. Your suggestion is so very helpful, even the choice of bible you read; I was immersing myself in KJV, which is great, but I was losing myself in interpreting the language, even still, and not focusing on the message. I am really looking forward to the beginning of my habit!!

  4. Karen Grosz says:

    Yes, I spend time with God every day. I start out with daily readings from the Bible and then a commentary on those readings, then some prayer time. I would in order to start, start with just a few minutes. Just read a verse or two, but develop the habit. You can always expand your time if you feel it is now a part of your day.

  5. Melissa says:

    Your blog is truly heaven sent! God has been calling me to get into a prayer closet for many years and I’m finally going to be obedient and consistent. Thanks for these tips! Tomorrow I will start reading the book of John and will update in 21 days. Thanks again!

  6. Michelle says:

    Great Encouraging Tips Katie! 🙂

    I can defiantly tell the difference in my attitude and mood when I have not spent my time personally with The Lord. It truly is our Daily Bread. He knows what we are in need of way before we do and I am often in AWE of His word that is brought before me and it’s so timely!! I know that if what I am studying or reading isn’t connecting with something specific that it’s a building time because His Word does Not return void. The more I read the more I desire to keep reading and walking obediently! I actually just read this today: Luke 12:43 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. ” I so what to be found doing and obeying when The Lord calls me home or when He returns!

    That discipline at first to be diligent in His word does turn into desire and you can’t imagine going a day without being in it personally. My sweet momma passed Prof. G Horner’s Bible Reading System on to me this past spring and I have been using this and love the system as part of my time with The Lord.

    • AMEN! I am so, 100% with you on that. His word is our bread. I just finished my time with Him today, and I feel so refreshed, almost jubilant. I’ve heard mention of this Bible reading system, but I’m interested to check it out. I typically try to read through the Bible ever year or two, and I try to mix up my approach. Thanks Michelle!

  7. Stefanie says:

    I love this! What an awesome way to get into time with God that is manageable for those starting out. It’s a journey I’ve been taking recently for myself as you saw on my blog, so I’m happy to see what other women like me are out there doing and what sorts of unique ideas they have. I also followed your blog and pinterest 😀

  8. Dana Burkle says:

    Love reading your blog. 🙂 So much wisdom is at our fingertips! – through his Word! — if we only take advantage of it.

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