I hope your summer is off to a good start! Mine has been filled with finishing up work projects before our baby is born in August and getting house projects completed as well. Summer is always a season of being outside of my routine, but this year that’s been especially true. And truthfully, it’s been challenging to stay consistently in the Word and prayer with God.
I think it’s pretty common for most of us to feel that challenge. Many churches have different summer programming, college women are away from student ministry groups, moms have kids home from school, many of us have more weekend or vacation plans… Whatever season of life you’re in, our normal rhythm of life typically changes in these warmer months. That can tempt us to pull away from God and leave us spiritually dry. So, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about how we can avoid spiritual “dehydration” this summer!
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If Anyone Thirsts
First, something I’m learning is that it’s okay for our quiet times to look different when our schedules are different. There is a difference between me not making Jesus a daily priority vs. seeking Him, but needing to rest in His grace as I navigate a less consistent schedule. For example, there is a difference between literally not drinking water—whether by choice or just plain old forgetfulness—and keeping my water bottle with me, but realizing that not all circumstances allow for me to take a drink.
Jesus says in John 7:37 that, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” Similarly to how we need to stay physically hydrated, we also need to remain spiritually hydrated. So, let’s start by asking ourselves these questions:
Am I currently being a good steward of my time?
In what ways can I prioritize Jesus and remain spiritually hydrated this summer?
Do I need to surrender my idea of a perfect quiet time routine and rest in God’s grace for this season? What might that look like in my life?
I encourage you to take some time to reflect on those questions with God. Ask Him to show you where He wants to grow you—especially if you’re unsure. As you pray, here are some ideas of how we can stay spiritually hydrated this summer:
How We Can Stay Spiritually Hydrated This Summer
Be In the Word Daily
What this can look like: Commit to reading a book of the Bible over the course of the summer, take the time to do a Bible study, commit to memorizing some of your favorite Bible passages, start Bible marking, pray the Word, etc. (2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12)
Be In Prayer Daily
What this can look like: Keep a prayer journal, go on prayer walks, pray Scripture, find a quiet place you can talk out loud to God (Sitting alone in my parked car is one of my favorite spots for this), pray with your spouse, kids, roommate, etc., and pray throughout the day while doing things. Continually praying silently to God as we go about our days is important (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 12:12), but we also must remember that even Jesus Himself would often slip away to a solitary place to pray. (Luke 5:16)
Stay/Get Involved Within a Church
This can be a challenge, especially if you travel a lot in the summer, but it’s so important! Try not to rely too heavily on church services online. This is helpful to receive teaching when we’re away, but we miss out on worshipping and serving in community! (Hebrews 10:24-25)
I hope this list equips you for a summer of staying spiritually hydrated! I shared quite a few ideas, but to simplify even further, I’ll ask one last question:
How will you seek Jesus this summer in the Word, prayer, and within your local church?
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