For me, and I teach this a lot, a relationship with God isn’t just certain times of the day. I’m actively inviting the Lord into my day. So there is this little ongoing conversation with the Lord that I am having all the time.

Holy Spirit, please remind me to make time for You

When I get really busy and it gets quiet, I’ll ask the Holy Spirit to remind me to be inviting the Lord. Little prayers and conversations like the following can provide an opportunity to make time for God. If I know we’re going into a meeting, I’ll be like, “Lord, I have no idea what’s going to come up in this meeting. So I just ask that You keep my opinions at bay and let wisdom come forth.” Or, “Lord, if there’s something that rises up in me that is not of You, Lord, I just want to be sensitive to You.” Or, “Lord. Hey, I’m getting ready to present this idea that I feel is from you. Lord, I just hand this to You. Please help my attitude today.”

Make time for God during parenting

I’m just constantly asking the Lord for help, and there’ll be times, you know, like the kids are busy on the computer even after you’ve told them to get off, so what do you do? I’m asking the Lord, “Is there another way? Like, what do I do? Do I throw away all the technology? Show me how to lead the kids at this time.” Or when I’m yelling at the kids, I’m asking the Lord, “Lord, give me patience”

So I think this is something that it’s not just like taking pauses to invite Him in, but you’re inviting Him in all the time. The way you get to that point is you have to first develop some pauses. You have to develop some time in the morning. You set your order for the day and say, “Lord, I give you my day. And Lord, I’m inviting you into all parts of my day. And so, Lord, if I start doing this on my own strength, could you remind me?”

So you how do you make time for God during busy schedules? First, you have to start building in some things to create that discipline. Then I believe once you do, it becomes a natural lifestyle of intimacy in a relationship with God.