Drawing Closer to God: Why We Should Prioritize Spiritual Disciplines

I wish I could take back the ‘Martha’ season of my life, when I reveled in being hyper-busy.

Martha is the woman who gave her time and attention to everything but the most important thing.

When she approached Jesus in the kind of frazzled state I often found myself in, He told her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary” (Luke 10:41-42).

Like Martha, eventually I discovered all the busyness in my life kept me from the one thing I wanted most―drawing closer to God. Today I realize if my busyness makes me neglect spiritual disciplines, I’m simply too busy. Period.

My heart is prone to wander, so I need regular Bible study and prayer to keep it anchored. I also need the kind of encouragement and support that comes from worshiping and serving with other believers.

On my own, I’m distracted and unruly. But when I foster spiritual disciplines in my life, I grow in love, faith, and obedience. Spiritual disciplines can include Scripture reading, Bible study, prayer, worship, and ministry. They’re not a checklist to follow, but a lifestyle to practice.

When David experienced a season of intimacy with God, he said, “I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me” (Psalm 131:2).

Building spiritual disciplines into our lives is like carving time to climb into our Heavenly Father’s lap so we can yield to His unfailing love. That’s what Jesus was trying to get Martha to realize. He wanted her to give up some good things to get the best thing―time with Him.

For many of us, whether or not we make time for spiritual disciplines will determine whether we move farther from God or draw closer to Him. The choice is ours to make.