As life fills up with responsibilities and commitments, finding time to spend with Jesus can feel challenging. It is easy for us to fill up our days with tasks that keep us busy and leave little wiggle room. I am a full-time student and work two jobs that leave me feeling like I am constantly running around and never get a chance to breathe. Sometimes it can feel hard for me to set aside a time each day to spend with Jesus. Scripture reminds us of the importance of putting God first, even in our hectic seasons.

Matthew 6:33 tells us that when we put God first in our lives, everything else will fall into place. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that we will gain an extra 5 hours each day or that we will magically be able to live off 2 hours of sleep every night. It does, however, promise that when we put God first, there will be a shift in how we handle our daily responsibilities, and we will see how things fall into place. You may find that a friend calls to tell you she already handled a task for you that you had been dreading and had been unable to find time for. Or maybe all of your errands happen so smoothly and quickly that you have plenty of time to have lunch with that friend you haven’t seen in weeks. Take a moment to reflect on times when you had your priorities in line and the rest of your day seemed to move unbelievably smoothly.

It’s also important to remember that no one is “too holy” for the need to spend time in prayer and scripture reading. Even Jesus, who was part God Himself, who was constantly being sought after for his teaching, healing, and miracles, spent time with His Father. The Gospels are full of stories of Jesus retreating to spend time with God to re-energize and refresh His Spirit. We all need this dedicated time if we want to continue to grow closer to Him.

How can you take steps to balance a busy schedule with spiritual growth? You start small. Slowly incorporating intentional time with Jesus into your schedule will lead to a habit. This may look like waking up 30 minutes earlier to have quiet time before you start your day or skipping Facebook scrolling while lying in bed before you fall asleep. Something I have started doing that doesn’t interfere with my day-to-day schedule is praying on the way to class and while I drive. Time that I already spend walking and driving now can be used in a beneficial way. Turning on worship music instead of secular music on the radio while you drive can also be a way to incorporate worship into your routine.

Amid the chaos of life, it is easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed. When we choose to take time out of our day to read the Bible, pray, and worship, we remind ourselves of His constant presence. We are able to get through the day relying on His strength, rather than our own.