You wake up with good intentions.
“Today, I’ll pray. I’ll read my Bible. I’ll spend time with God.”
But then life happens. You get urgent emails to respond to, which leads to more work for the day. You realize you need to restock the groceries in the house.
Before you know it, the day is over, and that quiet time you planned with God never happened.
And then comes the guilt.
You love God. You want to grow spiritually. But your schedule feels too full.
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone.
Each time I planned to spend more time with God, one thing or the other always intruded.
But here’s the truth: The issue isn’t that you don’t have time. It’s that you haven’t yet learned how to make time for what matters most. The moment I set my priorities right, things began to change and I started scheduling time to spend with God.
And the good news? You don’t need hours. You just need to be intentional. Below are ways you can spend time with God.
1. Shift Your Mindset: God Is Not an “Extra” Task
One of the biggest reasons we struggle to spend time with God is because we treat Him like an optional activity.
Something we’ll do if we have time left and you’re not too tired. Sometimes, I plan to spend time in prayers in the evenings – say from 7pm to 10pm. But it doesn’t work for me all the time. Sometimes, I get too tired to pray. At other times, I just want to lie down on the couch and bing-watch my favorite shows on the TV.
But think about it, do you treat food that way? Sleep? Brushing your teeth?
No. Because they are considered essential.
In the same way, your time with God is not an extra, it’s your spiritual lifeline. Something you need to do on a continuous basis to stay connected with God and grow spiritually.
It’s what fuels your strength, guides your decisions, and keeps you aligned with purpose.
When you shift your mindset from “I’ll fit God into my day” to “God is the center of my day,” everything changes.
2. Start Small but Stay Consistent
Many people avoid spending time with God because they feel they need a long, perfect quiet time. That is setting yourself up to fail. Like I said earlier, I sometimes planned to spend like 3 hours in the evening after working hours. But most times that I successfully prayed, I don’t stay more than more one hour thirty minutes.
The truth is: A consistent 20 minutes with God is more powerful than a random 2-hour session once a week.
Start small by reading just one scripture, reflecting on what it means and praying thereafter.
It’s as simple as that. All you need is to build consistency, and consistency builds discipline. Discipline builds intimacy.
Over time, those 20 minutes will naturally grow into something deeper.
3. Use “Hidden Time” in Your Day
You may feel like your schedule is packed, but if you look closely, there are hidden pockets of time such as while getting ready for work in the morning. Let me tell you a secret here. I pray each time I am taking a bath. I discovered that most times, I spend about 10 -15 minutes in the bathroom. So, I either sing a worship song and pray in tongues thereafter, or just pray generally.
Spending time with God during your commute is another powerful time. I heard the testimony of a Pastor that built himself up spiritually praying while commuting. He lived (at the time) in a very busy urban city. He spends close to 8 hours commuting to and from work everyday. Instead of allowing his mind to wander here and there, he turned it into a prayer time. Today, God is using him mightily across the nations of the world.
Another great time to connect with God is while cooking or doing laundry. I don’t waste the time at all, especially while cooking. Sometimes, I pray, at other times, I listen to worship songs as I cook. In fact, I hear God more while cooking during the day than at other times of the day. I guess its because God gets my attention at such times.
Are you in a shopping mall, in banking halls or at a place where you have to wait in line for your turn? Turn it into a prayer time and spend time with God right there before it gets to your turn.
Instead of scrolling on your phone, you can listen to a Bible audio, play a short devotional or pray quietly in your heart.
These small shifts turn ordinary moments into sacred ones.
You don’t always need extra time—you need intentional time.
4. Create a Simple Daily God Routine
One of the reasons people struggle with consistency is confusion.
“What should I read today?”
“How do I pray?”
“Where do I even start?”
That’s why having a simple structure helps. Most times when I find myself in such a situation, I just tune my heart to the Holyspirit. I ask him – “Holyspirit, should I pray in tongues or listen to worship music?” I wait for an impression in my heart and move accordingly. Alternatively, below are easy 3-step routine you can follow:
1. Scripture (Read)
Choose a verse or short passage.
2. Reflection (Think)
Ask: What is God saying here? How does this apply to my life?
3. Prayer (Respond)
Talk to God about what you just read.
This doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the simpler it is, the more likely you are to stick with it.
5. Remove Distractions That Compete with God
Let’s be honest, sometimes the issue isn’t that we’re too busy. It’s that we’re too distracted by so many things around us. Sometimes, when I plan to pray and I sit in the living room where the TV is on, and it’s showing my favorite program, I get distracted from praying even though I am still praying. It gets to a point where the prayer fades and my attention shifts to the show.
Social media is another thing that can take hours of our day without us noticing. You find yourself Scrolling. Watching. Refreshing and enjoying the entertainment instead of praying.
Now imagine if you took just 15 minutes from that time and gave it to God. Your spiritual life would look completely different.
You don’t have to eliminate everything. Just start with small swaps:
- 15 minutes less scrolling
- 15 minutes more with God
Those small decisions add up.
6. Make Your Space an “Altar”
Environment matters more than you think. When you create a specific place for your quiet time, even if it’s just a corner of your room, you train your mind to focus. What I do is that I have a special seat I use in the living room each time I want to pray. So, whenever I sit on the chair, my brain associates it with prayer making it easier for me to pray.
The space doesn’t have to be fancy. It can be a chair. A notebook. Your Bible. You can even use the dinning area.
That space becomes your “altar”… a place where you meet with God daily.
Even your work desk can become sacred when you invite God into it.
Consistency becomes easier when your environment supports your habits.
7. Invite God Into Your Daily Activities
One great thing about God is that you can talk to Him all day long as you work or do your chores. Spending time with God isn’t limited to a quiet corner in the morning, afternoon or evening. You can walk with God all day.
Talk to Him while you work.
Whisper prayers while you cook. I do this often and I hear Him talk back to me.
Ask for wisdom before making decisions.
Thank Him in the middle of your tasks.
God doesn’t just want a moment, He wants your life.
When you start including Him in your everyday activities, your relationship with Him becomes natural, not forced.
8. Use Devotionals to Stay Guided
Sometimes, the hardest part of spending time with God is not knowing where to start.
That’s where devotionals come in.
They give you:
- Structure
- Direction
- A clear focus for each day
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you simply follow along.
This is especially helpful if you have a busy schedule and need something simple but impactful.
A good devotional helps you stay consistent, even on your busiest days, because it removes the pressure of figuring everything out on your own.
Conclusion: Start Where You Are
You don’t need a perfect schedule to spend time with God.
You don’t need hours of free time.
You don’t need everything to be “just right.”
You just need a willing heart.
Start with 5 minutes.
Be consistent.
Make small adjustments.
And most importantly—show up.
Because God is not waiting for your perfection.
He’s waiting for your presence.
Ready to stay consistent with your time with God—even with a busy schedule?
Start with a simple, guided devotional that helps you focus, reflect, and grow daily.
Because the truth is: When you make time for God, He makes everything else in your life align.