In today's hectic world we often feel like there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that we would desire. And while we will often make a profession that God is important in our lives we too often do not make Him a priority or cut out a chunk of our time for Him to strengthen that relationship with our heavenly father. Then as our lives begin to fall apart, we succumb to stress, have trouble with sin, and see difficulty in our most intimate of relationships. It is no wonder that we then we tend to drift even further from the path that God would have us to take. And what happens when we stray from that path?

The further away that we get from God, the less of a priority He and His ways become. This leaves us vulnerable for the attacks and influences of a fallen world. How many times have we seen people who fall in with the “wrong crowd” and begin to mimic those behaviors instead of sticking to the call of their heart? The sinful nature of man will inevitably find room to grow in the great void in our lives where God should be. And so often, the further away that we drift, the harder it is for us to return. We can not grow in faith if we do not nurture our relationships with God and make him a priority in our lives.

On the other hand, when we make time for God and devote time to studying His word and going to Him in prayer, our relationship grows, as do we. Spending time with God and His word helps us to focus on what is important and to remind ourselves of what God expects from us.

The closer that we draw towards God, the harder it is for sin to creep into our lives and take hold. So if you have found yourself getting lost in the hustle and bustle of the day, keep these simple suggestions in mind for finding ways to make time for God and to nurture your relationship with him.

Start the Day Off Right: Before you get out of bed or while you are brushing your teeth in the morning, take time to reflect on God. Think of what God expects of you and how you will plan your day accordingly. Take a moment to go to him in prayer to thank him for the blessing of a new day and to seek His guidance for whatever challenges may lay ahead of you. If you begin your day with God in mind, it will make it easier for you to keep Him involved in your day.

Replace Other Entertainment with the Word of God: If you have very little time these days, think of all of the time in the day when you are watching television, listening to music, or reading a magazine. Even if it is only a few minutes here or there, taking some of that time to immerse yourself in the word of God will help you to draw closer to Him and to enrich your daily life. Keep copies of the Bible in audio format for listening to in your car during your commute or carry a Bible with you to read during your coffee break or at lunch. You do not have to spend hours at a time devoted to Bible study to draw closer to God every day. By simply reading a couple of verses here and there throughout the day you will be surprised at how much you end up covering by the end of the week. And this constant reminder can be very inspirational and uplifting as your day drags on.

Give Thanks: If you are like many people today, a lot of your meals may be informal and often rushed, so it is all too easy for us to forget the importance of giving thanks for our food and for all the tiny blessings that God bestows upon us in life. So as you are sitting down for that quick bite, take just a moment to say “thank you” that God has given you a chance to nourish your body, especially in a world where there are many who may not be so lucky at times.

Put God on Your Schedule: We make time in our date books for meetings and friends and the spa or a round of golf, but how many times do you actually write God into your schedule? This can be a very important way of making time for God because not only does it give you a visual reference to see where you have placed your time for connecting with Him so that you can keep your schedule clear during that sacred time with your creator, but it also helps you to make priorities in your life. So when you are sitting down and planning your week, actually write in your time with God and make it a real part of your day. Whether it is a half hour Bible study session a couple of times a week, or even just 5-10 minutes of prayer time through out the day, God wants to have that time with you to speak to your heart, to help you grow in faith, and to be a real part of your life.

Implementing these small and simple changes in your life can help you to find even more ways to make time for God in your life. And when you make Him a priority you will find that all of those things you thought were so important that you could not do without may not be quite as necessary and that you have renewed energy and strength to get through the things that really are.