I love watching the variety of birds that come to eat from the birdfeeder hanging just outside my back window. Their different colors, sizes, and sounds remind me of the complexity of our God.
Most of the birds are small in size, but there is one exception. The majestic blue jay that lives nearby. This frequent visitor is huge compared to the others! When he shows up, the strangest thing happens. As he sits proudly on top of the pole guarding the prized food, all the other birds wait on branches a safe distance away, just watching.
It’s as if that blue jay stands between them and what they want most. And they won’t attempt to get closer until he leaves.
Sometimes I can be like those birds in my spiritual life.
I long to draw closer to God, but I let obstacles of this world stand in my way. When things come up that demand my attention, I forget all about my desire to deepen my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I let those obstacles bully me into submitting to their needs. I let them block me from getting what I want most.
If you have the desire to deepen your relationship with God too, then maybe you’ve felt the same way. Below are three things I’ve discovered that show up when I want more time with God. By identifying these obstacles in our lives, we won’t be surprised or intimidated when they arrive. Instead, we can move forward in seeking more time in God’s presence.
Distractions Can Keep Us from Finding More Time with God
Minute by minute updates on all the happenings in the world. Notification sounds. An ever growing to-do list. Distractions come in many forms, but they all have one thing in common. They pull us away from the life-giving nourishment we get from God.
We know God is always with us. His Word says so. But distractions can make us feel like we’re far from him. They can keep our focus elsewhere, and if we don’t turn our focus toward God and acknowledge his presence all throughout the day, we will end each day feeling spent instead of satisfied.
Distractions are time suckers. I can tell myself that I’m going to do a quick glance at Instagram, and an hour later I wonder where the time has gone. Becoming more aware of our daily distractions is a much-needed step when we want to spend more time with God, enjoying his loving presence.
An Over-Full Calendar Can Keep Us from Having More Time with God
I love spending time with people. I enjoy helping, serving, and staying busy. Even though staying busy brings me joy, I can often fall into the trap of filling my schedule too full and leaving no margin to sit and be present with the Lord. Busyness keeps me from experiencing more of God.
Lately, I’ve been reading and learning all I can about what it means to abide in Christ. One thing I’ve learned is that the more I practice abiding, the more I long to abide.
Practicing abiding means making time for him. And that special time with just me and Jesus increases my awareness of his presence in my everyday life. It helps me walk in love, no matter the circumstances, and sense the Holy Spirit guiding my steps.
When we’re intentional about leaving space to spend time with God and abide in Jesus, we will experience more of him in and through every aspect of our daily lives. Including all those things scheduled on our calendars. (For more about busyness, check out this post.)
Too Many “Yeses” Can Keep Us from Experiencing More Time with God
Certain seasons of life will ask more of us than others. Maybe it’s homeschooling our kids or caregiving for a loved one. Maybe we’re called to take in a family member who needs help or step into a leadership role at church. We know from 2 Corinthians 9:7, God loves a cheerful giver. “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” So if God wants us to give of ourselves, when is it okay to say no? Is there any such thing as too much giving?
I struggle with saying “no.” Always have. Even today, I write down in my monthly planner those things I’m saying “yes” to and those things that require a firm “no.” Making those decisions is never easy, but so necessary. I’ve learned in my own faith walk how too many yeses can lead to physical, emotional, and spiritual depletion.
Truth be told, I’ve tried different strategies for making sure my yeses don’t take over my time with God. Some strategies work for me, and some don’t. But if I set a specific time on my calendar at the beginning of the week to simply abide with God, I gain clarity that helps me manage the rest of my week well.
Early Monday mornings, I grab a cup of coffee, open my YouTube app on my phone and click on my “Abiding Time” playlist. I have several videos of piano worship saved there. (Piano worship happens to be my favorite.) When my mind starts to wander to all the things pulling at my attention, I refocus on God. An hour of time with God at the beginning of my week brings peace, clarity, and awareness of his holy presence in my life.
Distractions, our calendars, and even our yeses may try to stand in the way of our closeness with our Almighty God, but I have good news for us today. Whatever obstacle comes between us, we can refuse to be intimidated. When we draw closer to God, He will draw closer to us. James 4:8 declares it, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Let’s remember this promise as we break past obstacles and seek more time with God.
