Just about every year, I make the same New Year’s Resolution. It might look a little bit different each year, but it’s basically the same thing: I want to find more time for God.

2013-Spend time with the Lord every day.
2014- Read my Bible each day.
2015 – Spend more time with God daily.
2016- Read and pray every morning.

My guess is, I’m not the only one whose New Year’s Resolutions look like this.

Year after year, we commit to spend more time with God…only to realize at the end of the year that we still aren’t in the Word daily. If you’re anything like me, you usually do great for a few months.

But then March hits…and you start to fall behind. First you miss a day. Then a couple of days. And then you’re so far behind it feels impossible to catch up.

If this is you, please know you are not alone. We have all been there at some point or another. Here are a few tips to help you start the new year strong.

How to Find Time for God In the New Year:

1. Stop seeking the “perfect” time.

Before I had children, I had beautiful quiet times with God. I read. I studied. I prayed. I listened.

Then I had kids.

Quiet time for me now…well, it’s not really quiet. I have to squeeze it in where I can. Sometimes, that’s in the morning. Other times, it’s at night. Sometimes it’s with my kids playing in the background or as I dry my hair. My system isn’t “perfect” anymore.

But you know…that’s okay.

Learn to find God in the midst of the craziness.

Stop waiting until the moment is perfect to commune with God.

2. Use a Bible reading plan.

BibleGateway has some wonderful Bible reading plans at their website. Some of the Bible reading plans include:

If you’re a list-maker (as I am), you’ll probably really love going through a Bible reading plan.

3. Get rid of time-wasters.

If we have time for Pinterest, we have time for God.

If we have time for Facebook, we have time for God.

If we have time for TV, we have time for God.

The question is not whether we have time for God but whether we are willing to spend it with him. 

4. Get up early or stay up late.

Find a time that works well for you, and then make a commitment to spend time with the Lord at this time on a regular basis.

Don’t believe the lie that you have to spend time with God first thing in the morning. You don’t. If you’re a night owl, it might be better for you to spend time with God at night, rather than forcing yourself to get up early.

What matters most is not when you spend time with God but that you do it.

5. Involve your children in your Bible study.

If getting up early or staying up late doesn’t work for your life stage (i.e. you have an infant and your nights and days run together already), then involve your kids in your times with God.

Read the Bible to them each day. Pray with them each night. Who says our families can be included in our communion with God?

6. Don’t Give Up

If only one thing from this post sticks in your mind, please let it be this.

Don’t give up. If you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up about it. If you miss a month, don’t beat yourself up about it.

God isn’t waiting for you to mess up. He’s not watching to pounce the first time you forget. Give yourself some grace, because believe me…God is.

Let’s talk: What other tips would you add to this list?