3 Strategies for finding time to talk to God.

Spring. At least here in Alabama the rush of the farming season is coming quickly upon us. I have been trying to prepare for it since the end of last season but it seems like I am never quite ready when it gets here. Beds to prep, seeds to start, irrigation to put in, marketing emails to send. In all the rush of preparation it is easy for me to neglect the most important aspect of preparing for the season. Prayer. But how do we find time to pray during busy seasons like these?

Since I have been a follower of Jesus I have tried to spend time each day talking to God. If I want to have a relationship with him we’ve got to communicate right? I used to talk to God briefly when I got up and when I went to bed. But more and more I realize my need for more prayer. One of my mentors told me that the people he knows who were used by God to impact others all spent no less than an hour each day in prayer. Wow! I need that.

So it is nice if we can have an hour in the morning to pray, but what about when life seems so busy that we miss our hour? When we can’t seem to find time to get away and hear from God?

I have found it really helpful to not only just find time to set aside with God (which is important) but also to incorporate prayer into my life throughout the day.

Like so many things in life we can normally find ways to do things if we really want to. Here are four strategies for finding time to talk to God.

4 Strategies for finding time to talk to God.

1. Find ways to prioritize Prayer

Often I don’t make time to pray when I am busy because I don’t realize how important it is. Prayer is a way to express our faith in and dependence on God. And often He is just waiting to step if and help with the very things we feel like keep us from time with him. There is a famous story of George Washington. While he was a general during the American War for Independence it is said he prayed for one hour daily. Except when things were busy. Then he prayed two hours! I don’t know his tip for finding that time, but I would imagine it was enough of a priority for him that he was willing to lose some sleep to talk to the one who alone could help him. When I am ‘too busy’ to pray it is probably a sign that I am relying too much on my own devices and need to prioritize stepping back and hearing from God.

2. Find undiscovered opportunities for prayer

So there are many times during the day that I could pray, and just don’t. I think there is a serious spiritual resistance to us praying, so it is hard! But I have found that driving in the car, weeding, even bathroom breaks can all be great times to acknowledge God, reflect, and ask for his help. We just need to be willing to pray even in times we are not able to be in our prayer closet.

3. Find things to sacrifice to make time for prayer

Since we need Jesus as our daily spiritual food, we should be willing to even sacrifice things to make time for him. This could be a meal, entertainment, time on our phones, or anything that we honestly could do without. I try to make it a practice to not look at anything on my phone until I have had my time with God in the morning. I know another friend that if he skips his time with Jesus in the morning he also skips breakfast. I mean . . . it really is that important.

4. Join a prayer group for accountability

Following Jesus is not a solo sport. We need others to walk alongside of. And we need to pray for each other. At times in the past I have failed to pray for people because I always put it off until I have a dedicated time to sit down and pray. But now I try to just pray a short prayer immediately. I really think we need to pray for each other more as Christian farmers. We need the support. I have started the Redeeming the Dirt Farmers Prayer Group on Facebook to try to provide a place we can share requests. If you feel led you could join the group to help prompt you to pray and ask for prayer more.

Recommended Resources

As farmers and followers of Jesus prayer needs to become a way of life for us. We need to learn to weave it into our everyday lives. If you would like some more tips on how to do this you can get my free Lifestyle Prayer Guide for Farmer and Gardeners below. You can also read Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. May God help us to fight the battle against the enemy that wants to keep us from talking to our gracious commander.

So how are you going find time today to talk with the Author of Creation and Lover of your Soul? Please share in the comments. What are you waiting for?