For those with further questions or who wish to delve deeper into the topics discussed, you can readily engage with the AI assistant (Sarah). Click on the chat icon located in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. Whether you seek to expand your understanding of faith-based religions or explore any other subject, the ChatGPT-powered AI assistant in the right-hand corner is equipped to provide information, answer questions, and facilitate your research.

Hey there, and welcome back to Olive Branch Readings! We’re continuing our Blog, “Finding Strength and Guidance in Our Spiritual Journey.”  

Today, we’re diving into Part Two of “Ten Ways to Find Time to be with the Lord on a Daily Basis.” In Part One, we talked about the first five ways, and now we’re going to explore the final five. I hope that I can offer you some helpful tips and encouragement to really boost your spiritual journey through prayer, Bible study, and connecting with our community.  

So, let’s get started with Part Two! Just like you and I discussed in Part One, we all face challenges in our daily lives as we try to serve and understand the Lord better. It’s so easy to get caught up in distractions, the constant noise around us, and those never-ending to-do lists. Before we know it, our spiritual practices can end up taking a backseat.  

You know, I often remind myself, and I want to share with you too, the importance of seeking God first, being patient, and really focusing on the Lord’s presence. That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about today: how you and I can navigate those challenges of keeping a consistent and meaningful relationship with God, even when life gets super busy.  

In Part One, if you remember, we focused on these topics.  

One: Finding Time in a Busy Schedule. It’s tough. With work, family, and all our other responsibilities, finding that quiet time for reflection with God can be a real struggle.  

Two: Fighting Distractions. Oh, those phones, social media, and constant interruptions! They can easily steal our focus when we’re trying to pray or study the Bible.  

Three: Lack of Motivation or Spiritual Dryness. Sometimes, you know, reading the Bible or praying can start to feel like just a routine instead of that meaningful connection with God we’re really craving.  

Four: Not Knowing Where to Start. The Bible is huge, and it’s easy to feel lost, not knowing what to read or how to study it in a way that really makes sense.  

Five: Feeling Like God Is Silent. It can be discouraging when we’re praying consistently but don’t seem to be getting those immediate answers we’re hoping for.  

Now, in Part Two of our discussion today, we’re going to focus on the final five ways to make time with the Lord.  

Six: Struggling with Understanding Scripture. Let’s be honest; some passages are just hard to understand, and that can make it difficult to stay engaged or see how to apply them to our lives.  

Seven: Guilt Over Missed Days. Ugh, that feeling of guilt when we skip our devotional time! It can lead us to avoid it even more instead of finding our way back.  

Eight: Making Prayer a One-Way Conversation. It’s easy to fall into the trap of just talking to God, but then we don’t take the time to listen for His voice.  

Nine: Letting Emotions Dictate Devotional Time. It’s so common only to seek God when we’re feeling desperate, instead of making it a daily habit, through thick and thin.  

Ten: Lack of Accountability or Community Support. Without that encouragement from others, it’s much easier to drift away from spending consistent time with God.  

Just like we did in Part One, we’ll explore some really practical ways to prioritize our time with God. Things like setting a daily alarm for prayer and Bible reading, making the most of those little moments we have throughout the day, and even doing a little prep the night before.  

We’ll also talk about how important community and accountability are. Sharing our struggles and celebrating our victories with our fellow believers can really strengthen us and remind us that we’re all in this together.  

And in Part Two, we’ll also dig into why it’s so important to listen to God’s voice in prayer, how to overcome those feelings of spiritual dryness, and how to find that peace that He offers, even when our daily lives feel chaotic.  

My goal is that each of our discussions will offer you some helpful insights, encouragement, and practical tips to help you stay grounded in your faith. I want you to experience that deep spiritual growth that comes from connecting with God’s heart.  

So, come along with me on this journey as we prioritize our relationship with God, embrace His grace, and find the strength and guidance we need in His Word. Together, we can navigate all the ups and downs of our spiritual journey and discover that joy and peace that comes from a life focused on Him.  

STRUGGLING WITH UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE

Let’s start by looking at Second Timothy three sixteen and seventeen: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  

Spiritual Insight

You know, it’s something we all go through. We’ve all come across those difficult passages in Scripture. But instead of getting discouraged, let’s try to see these moments as opportunities for us to grow and gain a deeper understanding. God’s Word is so rich and has so many layers, and sometimes it just takes some patience, prayer, and a willingness to seek wisdom to unlock its meaning for us.  

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to be our guide because He promises to show us the truths we’re searching for. I truly believe that when we engage with those challenging texts, it can lead to incredible spiritual growth and a much stronger connection with God.  

Those difficult passages aren’t there to scare us off but rather to encourage us to dig deeper. They’re an invitation to really explore the historical, cultural, and literary context of the text, which can give us some seriously valuable insights. It’s also super helpful to seek wisdom from trusted commentaries, study Bibles, and mentors who can offer guidance and support.  

The Holy Spirit has such an important role in helping us through these complexities, bringing clarity and revelation as we study. When we engage with challenging texts, it also helps us develop humility and rely more on God. It reminds us that we don’t have all the answers ourselves and that we truly need His guidance to understand His Word fully. And you know what? That process can lead to a more intimate relationship with God as we depend on Him to reveal His truths to us. Plus, discussing these passages with our fellow believers can bring in different perspectives and deepen our understanding together.  

So, all in all, encountering difficult passages in Scripture is a really valuable part of our spiritual journey. It teaches us to be patient, to pray for insight, and to seek wisdom from all sorts of sources. And as we stick with it, we can experience amazing spiritual growth and a stronger connection with God.  

Heart-Searching Questions

• One: What specific passages am I finding difficult, and what is it about them that’s confusing me?  
• Two: Am I approaching Scripture with a humble and open heart, ready to learn, or am I coming in with my preconceived ideas?  
• Three: What resources can I use to help me understand better, like commentaries, studies, or mentors?  

Faith Practices

• One: Pray for Illumination: Start your study time with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you and show you the meaning of the text.  
• Two: Context is Key: Do some research into the historical, cultural, and literary context of the passage. Think about who wrote it, who they were writing to, and what the purpose of the book is.  
• Three: Use Study Tools: Check out reliable Bible commentaries, study Bibles, and online resources to get different perspectives.  
• Four: Engage in Community: Talk about those challenging passages with believers you trust, or join a Bible study group.  
• Five: Reflect and Meditate: Take some time to really think deeply about the passage, allowing God to speak to you personally. Meditate on those key verses and think about how they apply to your own life.  
• Six: Don’t rush: It’s totally okay to take your time. Some passages can take years to understand fully, and that’s alright.  
• Seven: Look for Consistent Themes: Try to identify how the passage connects with other parts of Scripture.  

Prayer

Lord, please open my mind and my heart to understand Your Word. Give me patience and wisdom as I seek to know You through Scripture. Help me to apply Your truths to my life and use me to share Your wisdom with others.  

GUILT OVER MISSED DAYS

Let’s turn to Lamentations 22:23, “The Lord’s mercies are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  

Spiritual Insight

It’s so easy to get caught in that cycle of guilt when we miss our devotional time. But dwelling on those past failures can really hold us back from growing spiritually. God’s grace is so abundant, and He gives us fresh mercies every single day. So, instead of focusing on those missed opportunities, let’s embrace this present moment and come back to Him with a humble heart. He wants our presence, not our perfection. Always remember that His love is constant, and He welcomes us back with open arms, ready to renew our spirit.  

Guilt can be a really powerful emotion, but it shouldn’t be what drives our relationship with God. Instead, let’s focus on His grace and the new start He offers us each day. By letting go of those past failures and embracing the present, we can come back to God with a humble heart, knowing that He values our presence more than any perfection. His love never wavers, and He’s always there to welcome us back, eager to renew our spirit and strengthen our faith.  

Practically speaking, this means acknowledging those times we’ve missed our devotional time but not letting them define who we are. We can start small, maybe with a quick prayer or a short scripture reading, and then gradually build our routine over time. It’s so important to remember that God’s mercies are new every morning, and each day is a fresh opportunity to draw closer to Him. By focusing on His grace and love, we can break free from that cycle of guilt and really deepen our spiritual journey.  

Heart-Searching Questions

• One: Why do I feel guilty about missing devotional time? Is it coming from a place of fear, obligation, or a genuine desire to connect with God?  
• Two: How can I shift my focus away from those feelings of guilt and instead focus on God’s grace and forgiveness?  
• Three: What are some practical steps I can take to get back into a consistent devotional routine without feeling overwhelmed by those past lapses?  

Faith Practices

• One: Embrace Grace, Not Guilt: Acknowledge that you’ve slipped up, but don’t beat yourself up about it. Remember, God’s love is unconditional, and His mercies are brand new every morning.  
• Two: Start Small: If you’ve missed several days, don’t feel like you have to make up for all that lost time. Just begin with a short prayer or a quick Scripture reading.  
• Three: Plan for Flexibility: Life happens, and our schedules change. Build some flexibility into your devotional time so it can adapt to your daily rhythms.  
• Four: Focus on Connection, Not Perfection: Keep in mind that devotional time is about connecting with God, not about having a perfect record.  
• Five: Set Realistic Expectations: Try to avoid setting goals that are so unrealistic that they’ll only lead to more disappointment. Be kind to yourself, and celebrate those small wins.  
• Six: Find an Accountability Partner: Sharing your goals with someone can really help you stay on track, and they can offer encouragement when you’re feeling guilty.  
• Seven: Redirect Your Focus: When you start to feel guilty, try to shift your thoughts to verses about God’s grace and forgiveness.  

Prayer

Lord, please forgive me for those times I’ve allowed guilt to create a distance between You and me. Help me to embrace Your grace and start fresh each day with a renewed heart. Guide me as I establish a consistent devotional practice that honors You and strengthens my faith.  

MAKING PRAYER A ONE-WAY CONVERSATION

Let’s read Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Spiritual Insight

Prayer, at its heart, is meant to be a dialogue, a two-way conversation with God. So often, though, we tend to focus on just presenting our requests and concerns, and we kind of neglect that crucial part of actually listening to His voice. True connection with God involves creating space for Him to speak to us, whether it’s through a still, small voice, a gentle prompting, or a deep sense of peace within us. Learning to listen takes patience, stillness, and a heart that’s truly open to receiving His guidance.

Prayer isn’t just about us talking to God; it’s equally about listening and being receptive to what He has to say. A lot of times, we approach prayer with a mental list of things we need and worry about, but real communion with God means we need to create that space for Him to communicate with us. This can happen in so many different ways, like through that still, small voice, a gentle nudge, or that profound sense of peace that settles over us. To truly hear God’s voice, we’ve got to cultivate patience, stillness, and a heart that’s ready to listen.

Listening to God is such a key part of prayer, and it’s often something we overlook. It involves quieting our minds, being still in His presence, and allowing Him to communicate with us in His unique way. I know it can be challenging, especially with all the distractions in the world around us, but it’s so important for deepening our relationship with God. When we dedicate that time to listening, we open ourselves up to receive His guidance, His wisdom, and His comfort.

There are many different ways we can create that space for God to speak to us. Setting aside specific times for silent prayer, meditating on Scripture, and journaling our thoughts and impressions can really help us become more attuned to His voice. It’s also about being attentive to those promptings of the Holy Spirit throughout our day, which can lead to those moments of divine insight and direction.

Ultimately, learning to listen to God requires a commitment to stillness and patience. It’s about being open to His guidance and trusting that He will speak to us in His perfect timing. As we practice listening, we can experience a much deeper sense of communion with God and a more profound understanding of His will for our lives.

Heart-Searching Questions

• One: When you think about your prayer time, how much of it is spent listening compared to how much is spent speaking?
• Two: What are some of the distractions that keep you from hearing God’s voice, and what steps can you take to minimize those?
• Three: Are you truly open to receiving God’s response, even if it’s not what you were expecting?

Faith Practices

• One: Practice Stillness: Find a quiet place and set aside some time to sit in silence, allowing God to speak to your heart.
• Two: Listen Actively: After you’ve presented your requests, take a moment to be still and listen for God’s response.
• Three: Journal Your Thoughts: Write down any thoughts, impressions, or verses that come to mind during your quiet time.
• Four: Reflect on Scripture: Read and meditate on Scripture, allowing God to speak to you through His Word.
• Five: Pay Attention to Promptings: Be aware of those gentle promptings from the Holy Spirit throughout your day.
• Six: Seek Confirmation: If you feel a strong impression, it’s always a good idea to seek confirmation through Scripture, wise counsel, and prayer.
• Seven: Practice contemplative prayer: Spend time in prayer that is focused on being in God’s presence rather than asking for things.
• Eight: Be patient: Listening to God takes practice, and it can take time to learn how he communicates with you.

Prayer

Lord, teach me how to listen to Your voice truly. Help me to quiet all the noise in my thoughts and create that space for You to speak. Open my ears and my heart to receive Your guidance and Your wisdom. May my prayer life become a real dialogue with You.

LET EMOTIONS DICTATE DEVOTIONAL TIME

Let’s look at Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

Spiritual Insight

Emotions are incredibly powerful; there’s no doubt about that, but they shouldn’t be what controls our spiritual discipline. If we only seek God when we “feel like it,” our relationship with Him is going to be inconsistent, right? True faith means pursuing God even when our emotions are all over the place.

Our emotions can have a huge influence on us, often dictating our actions and decisions. But when it comes to our spiritual discipline, relying solely on how we feel can lead to a really unstable and inconsistent relationship with God. True faith isn’t about seeking God only when we’re feeling spiritually high or motivated; it’s about pursuing Him even when our emotions are low or when we’re facing challenges. Faith is a commitment that goes beyond those fluctuating feelings.

It involves setting up a routine for prayer and Bible study, regardless of how we’re feeling at any given moment. That consistency helps us build a much stronger foundation in our relationship with God. And by reminding ourselves of God’s unchanging truth and promises, we can stay grounded in our faith, even when our emotions are turbulent. Worship, having accountability partners, and speaking truth over our feelings are all practical steps that can really help us maintain that consistency.

Heart-Searching Questions

• Do I tend to pray or read my Bible only when I’m in a good mood or feeling particularly spiritual?
• How can I better remind myself that spending time with God is about faith, not about feelings?
• What are some practical steps I can take to stay consistent, regardless of what my emotions are doing?

Faith Practices

• One: Set a Routine: Commit to prayer and Bible study at the same time every day, no matter how you’re feeling.
• Two: Remind Yourself of God’s Unchanging Truth. Write out some key scriptures that encourage faithfulness.
• Three: Worship Before Study: Listening to worship music can really help shift your emotions and focus them toward God.
• Four: Accountability Partner: Find a friend who can check in with you and encourage you in your consistency.
• Five: Speak Truth Over Feelings: Declare God’s promises, even when your emotions are telling you something different.

Prayer

Lord, help me to seek You faithfully, not based on my emotions but based on my love for You.

LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY OR COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Spiritual Insight

Our spiritual journey was never meant to be a solitary thing. God designed us for community, and having accountability and support from our fellow believers is essential for staying grounded in our faith. Without that encouragement, it’s easy to get discouraged and drift away from spending consistent time with God. Sharing our struggles, our victories, and our prayer requests with others creates this incredible network of support that strengthens us and reminds us that we’re not alone in this.

God created us to live in community, recognizing that we really thrive when we have the support and encouragement of others. In our spiritual journey, this means that having accountability partners and being part of a faith community can significantly improve our ability to stay consistent in our relationship with God. When we’re facing challenges or feeling spiritually dry, the encouragement and prayers of our fellow believers can lift us and keep us focused on our spiritual disciplines.

And sharing our experiences, both the struggles and the victories, helps us build a sense of camaraderie and mutual support. When we’re open about our challenges, we allow others to pray for us and offer guidance, which can be incredibly strengthening. And celebrating our victories together reinforces the joy of our faith and reminds us of God’s faithfulness.

Being part of a community also brings some really practical benefits. For example, regular meetings with an accountability partner can help us stay on track with our prayer and Bible study routines. Group Bible studies and prayer meetings provide opportunities for deeper learning and collective worship, which really enriches our spiritual lives. In essence, the community acts like a safety net, catching us when we fall and helping us get back up with renewed strength and determination.

Heart-Searching Questions

• One: Do you have a trusted friend, mentor, or small group that can hold you accountable in your spiritual walk?
• Two: How can you actively seek out and build meaningful connections with other believers?
• Three: Are you willing to be vulnerable and share your struggles with others, allowing them to offer you support?

Faith Practices

• One: Join a Small Group or Bible Study: Participate in a community where you can learn, grow, and pray with others.
• Two: Find an Accountability Partner: Seek out a friend or mentor who can encourage you and hold you accountable for your devotional goals.
• Three: Share Your Prayer Requests: Don’t hesitate to share your needs and challenges with your community, allowing them to lift you in prayer.
• Four: Offer Encouragement: Be a source of support and encouragement to others in your community, sharing your own experiences and insights.
• Five: Attend Church Regularly: Make going to church a priority, as it provides opportunities for fellowship and spiritual growth.
• Six: Be intentional: Reach out to others and create space for community. Don’t wait for others to reach out to you.
• Seven: Pray for community: Ask God to provide you with meaningful relationships that will strengthen your faith.

Let’s close our time together with the same closing prayer we used in Part One.

Lord, thank You for today. Please help me to build meaningful connections with other believers who can support and encourage me in my spiritual journey. Please guide me to be a source of encouragement to others, and help me to be vulnerable and open to receiving their support.

Thank you today for letting Olive Branch Publishing offer you insights that can help you grow as a new Christian in today’s world.

God Bless – Olive Branch Readings