Creative Ways to Spend Time With God

We can all agree that spending time with God should be a high priority. And yet, we often have a set image of what a devotional life is and what it looks like. In our minds, having quiet time with God looks like waking up early to sit somewhere, read the Bible, and pray without interruptions. This is one way a devotional time can look, but today I want to explore creative ways of spending time with God that carry meaning while being outside of the box.

Writing Letters to God

Think about this as becoming pen pals with God. One of my favorite ways to pray is to write out what’s going on in my heart as a letter to God. I pour out my heart to Him, tell Him about my day and my life, and lay it all at His feet through my words. Sometimes it’s poetic, other times it’s messy. But the key here is learning to pour out your heart to God.

Besides writing letters to God, you can also write letters of encouragement for yourself. Take time to write down words of encouragement based on specific Bible verses or passages for your future self. You can write letters for when you feel hopeless, anxious, sad, discouraged, bitter, etc. Write what the Bible says or the truth that God speaks about those situations. Then, in the future, whenever you need a word of encouragement you will have a letter filled with God’s truth to build you up and strengthen yourself in the Lord.

Coffee Dates With God

Turns out that having coffee by yourself can be a great idea. Pack up your Bible, pen, and journal and go to a coffee shop to spend time with God. While there, you can read the Bible, journal, pray, and commune with God. Spend this time to hear God’s heart and to share your thoughts, journal prayers, or simply process life with the Lord. What better way to spend time with Jesus than with a good cup of coffee at hand?

Picnics With God

Similar to a coffee date, a picnic with God is another great way to spend time with Him. You can treat it like a coffee date, or if you find yourself in a quieter place you can take time to worship, play music, and enjoy His presence. If you play an instrument that’s portable, you can take time to worship God while out and about. Just make sure it’s a good place to do so. A trumpet is portable but it might not be the most appropriate for public picnic spots.

Sitting With God in Silence

One of the most neglected practices, in my opinion, is sitting with God in silence. We are so used to filling up the empty spaces in our lives with noise—whether it be music, podcasts, social media, etc.—that we rarely take time to sit and be fully still before the Lord. Being still in the presence of God was a skill that David cultivated in his own life, and we can learn a lot from him. So take a moment to sit before God, and rather than try to completely empty your mind, focus on filling it with Him, His thoughts, words, and presence. Don’t use this time to talk (not even in your head!) but to listen to God and let Him decide what to fill your mind with. You might be surprised! He can use the silence to speak and bring about clarity and answers regarding different things you’ve brought before Him.

Walk With God

Many call this a prayer walk. I find that when I need to concentrate, walking and moving my body helps me engage my spirit and mind with God. You can use a prayer walk to talk to God, present something before Him, hear His voice, pray for your neighborhood, city, etc. Walking can even turn into a declarative and prophetic act.

Take a Hobby and Do It With God

The key to spending time with God is doing life with Him. God isn’t relegated to a drawer where we take Him out whenever we have time and put Him back away when we have to go on with life. He is present everywhere and all the time. This is why much of what we do can be turned into an opportunity to commune with God. Take your hobbies and invite God into them. Bake with God. Sew with God. Paint with God. Take your talents and ask God for His thoughts. Collaborate with Him to create something. God is very creative and He can speak to you while you are making something with Him.

Make a Song

If you are musically inclined, you can make a song with God and for God. You can worship Him with an instrument or your voice. You can even play music and dance to it as an offering to God. And if you’re not musically inclined, you can still make songs for God and sing them out. He isn’t picky about the tune; He cares far more about the heart. God loves music, song, and dance! These can all be used to connect with Him, spend time in His presence, and commune with Him.

How Do You Know Your Devotional Time is Actually Devotional?

There are some key ingredients that go into spending time with God. While a devotional can look varied and creative, these are the things that turn the ordinary into extraordinary and the simple into a genuine encounter with the Creator of the Universe.

The basic ingredients of a devotional life are reading the Bible and meditating on it, praying, and worshipping. Also, remember that prayer goes both ways. It means speaking as much as it means staying silent.

When we ensure that these three main ingredients are present in one or more ways, we can be confident that our devotional time is truly devotional. But above all, remember that intentionality is what transforms the mundane into an encounter with God.

What are some creative ways you spend time with Him?

Thanks for reading!
Anna

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Photo by Olha Vilkha 🇺🇦 on Unsplash