As back-to-school displays begin to empty, sunsets start to get earlier, and coffee shops advertise pumpkin spice drinks, it is difficult to ignore that summer is coming to an end. When preparing for the upcoming school year and anticipating the early mornings, open houses, sports practices, and inevitable math problem that will have your child – or you - in tears, have you also prioritized your relationship with God? 

If you feel like your relationship with God has taken a back seat this summer, please know that it is never too late to return to Him. The Creator of the Universe wants to have a relationship with you, so much so that He was willing to sacrifice His one and only son in order to restore this relationship. Fall is the perfect time to reestablish routines and examine priorities, so there is no better time than today to make a positive change. Here are three reasons why you should make time for God in your life. 

1. Jesus Made Time for God 

About six months ago, I became a mom for the first time. Our baby brings us so much joy, from his belly laughs to his sleepy cuddles, and we are so grateful for this amazing blessing. Prior to being a mom, I knew caring for babies required a lot of time, but I guess I didn’t quite understand what that looked like in reality. Some days I am astonished by how little I accomplished because caring for our sweet babe took so much time. It is easy to get caught up in the “I’m just too busy to read the Bible today” mindset. But busyness is not an excuse for avoiding God. 

Jesus, the Son of God, was busy doing ministry work but still set aside time to seek God. In Matthew 14:13-21 we read about how Jesus was able to feed over five thousand people. After hearing about the beheading of his cousin, John the Baptist, Jesus sought solitude. But, the people were eager to hear more from him, so they followed him. 

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” – Matthew 14:14 

Then, as evening approached, Jesus told the disciples to feed the crowd that had gathered. He performed a miracle and at least five thousand people were fed, not including women and children. After this miracle, Jesus went up the mountainside by himself to pray. 

“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.” – Matthew 14:23a 

Jesus had a very full day of grief, healing, and compassion, but still made time for God. 

This wasn’t the last time the Bible notes Jesus’ intentional time with God. In Mark 1, we learn about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. As Jesus taught at the synagogue in Capernaum, he was interrupted by a man with an impure spirit. Jesus cast out the impure spirit and then went to the home of Simon and Andrew. There, he healed Simon’s mother-in-law, and then well into the evening, he healed many more people having various diseases and demons. There is no doubt that Jesus had a lot going on that day. Still, this did not keep him from seeking God. 

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” – Mark 1:35 

Instead of sleeping in, Jesus intentionally made time to prioritize his relationship with God. 

2. Seeking God Restores Your Relationship 

Have you seen those memes that joke about the difficulties of scheduling time with adult friends? They feature relatable statements about trying to align two very different schedules in the hopes of finding overlapping free time. Many memes end in the realization that adult friends won’t see each other until years in the future. 

Fortunately, our relationship with God was designed to be the opposite of those popular memes. God is accessible every second of every day. You don’t need to wait for a Google Calendar invite response to spend time with Him. The Creator of the Universe is always there and wants to have a relationship with you. 

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” – James 4:7-8a 

Our relationship with God strengthens as we seek Him. By spending time in His Word, we better understand His story, His wisdom, and His love for us. We are changed by Him to grow more in Him. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:4-7 

3. God Commands Us to Seek Him

After the Israelites fled from slavery in Old Testament Egypt, God gave them rules to keep them safe because He knows what is best. The very first of these rules was to not have any other gods before Him. (Exodus 20:3)

When we get consumed with the elements of our life and fail to prioritize our relationship with God, we are breaking the first commandment. It is all too easy to turn good things such as work, family time, or time with friends into “gods” and seek them instead of the true, living God. When we turn these good things into gods, it becomes permissible to stop attending church, neglect our time in the Word, and ignore our personal faith development all for the sake of doing things that are “important.”

“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” – 1 John 2:3-6

“In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” – Psalm 10:4

God commands us to seek Him. This was so important to Him that He made it the first commandment. Do you have room in your thoughts for God?

Whether you had a busy summer hopping from one vacation to the next or you spent your weeks enjoying relaxing pool days, it is not too late to develop a new routine that prioritizes God. Starting new routines can be hard, but fight the good fight and set your focus and attention on the God who loves you.