In the fast pace of everyday life, spiritual disciplines can sometimes feel like one more thing on the list—a devotional to read, a prayer to say, a worship playlist to turn on. And while those things are good, the heart behind them matters deeply.
Spending time with God is not about checking boxes or proving our devotion. It’s about building a relationship with a living Savior who desires closeness with us. It’s about connection, not performance. Presence, not pressure.
When we approach time with God as a relational invitation rather than a religious expectation, it shifts everything—from our hearts to our habits to the way we show up in the world.
God Wants Relationship, Not Religion
One of the most beautiful truths of the gospel is that Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. He came to reconcile us to God (2 Corinthians 5:18). He came to restore the kind of intimacy that was lost in the Garden of Eden—a daily, personal, face-to-face relationship with our Creator.
We see this in Jesus’ own life. He consistently withdrew to spend time with the Father—not because He had to, but because He wanted to. It was His source of strength, clarity, and peace. If the Son of God needed time alone with the Father, how much more do we?
The invitation is not, “Come perform for Me.” It’s, “Come sit with Me.” Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
This is not the voice of a taskmaster. It’s the voice of a Father. A Friend. A Savior.
Why Time With God Matters
So what happens when we consistently choose to spend time with God—not out of duty, but desire?
We learn to hear His voice. In a world full of noise and competing opinions, learning to recognize the still, small voice of God is priceless. When we spend time in Scripture and prayer, we become more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and more anchored in truth.
We become rooted in our identity. Time with God reminds us of who we are—not what the world says, not what our past says, but what God says. In His presence, shame is replaced with grace. Fear gives way to faith. We’re reminded that we are deeply loved, fully known, and never alone.
We’re transformed from the inside out. Real change doesn’t happen just through willpower; it happens through relationship. As we abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit works in us to produce fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities aren’t something we manufacture; they’re evidence of time spent in God’s presence.
Relationship Shapes Our Daily Life
When our relationship with God is nurtured regularly, it naturally overflows into the rest of our lives:
In our relationships: We become more patient, more forgiving, and more compassionate because we’ve received those things from God firsthand.
In our work: We carry a sense of purpose, integrity, and peace that influences how we handle challenges and treat others.
In our mental health: God’s presence becomes a source of comfort, clarity, and resilience in seasons of stress or discouragement.
In our decision-making: His wisdom guides us. We’re less reactive and more grounded, more able to discern the difference between fear and faith.
This isn’t about trying harder—it’s about staying connected.
Jesus put it simply: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Building Relationship in Everyday Moments
Spending time with God doesn’t have to look like a perfectly quiet morning with a journal and coffee (though that’s nice when it happens!). Relationship with God is built in the ordinary moments:
Talking to Him while doing dishes or driving
Listening to worship music as you walk or work
Reading one verse and meditating on it throughout the day
Being still in His presence without needing to say a word
It’s not about the length of time—it’s about the posture of your heart.
A Living Relationship That Sustains You
Think about the most meaningful relationships in your life. They didn’t grow through occasional check-ins or guilt-driven communication. They deepened through consistency, honesty, and shared presence.
The same is true with God.
He wants to walk with you in your joys and your struggles, your triumphs and your tears. He’s not just your Savior—He’s your Shepherd, your Friend, your Comforter.
And the beautiful thing is: the more time you spend with Him, the more you want to. His peace becomes addictive. His voice becomes familiar. His presence becomes the place you run to, not out of guilt—but because there’s nowhere else you’d rather be.
So let’s stop striving. Let’s stop treating time with God like a spiritual chore. Instead, let’s begin seeing it for what it truly is: An invitation. A relationship. A lifeline. A love story that grows stronger with every moment we say yes to His presence.