15 Things You Can Do To Spiritually Engage (Aside From Reading the Bible)
The bible is an incredibly important resource for us Christians to use to engage with God–– but it’s not the only way. Oftentimes as Christians, we are made to feel bad about ourselves if we don’t read the bible every single day… but if we’re to be 100% honest with ourselves, that’s not always realistic. Instead of shaming one another, it’s important to note that God is everywhere, and we can access him and learn more about Him in many different ways. I hope this list is helpful in showing you just that.
1. LISTEN TO A FAITH-BASED PODCAST
I’d highly suggest listening to Rick Warren’s Daily Hope. Pastor Rick Warren is the author of the popular best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life (a personal favorite of mine). Everyday, he posts a new podcast episode that’s pulled from his sermons preaching at Saddleback Church. His teachings are easy to understand, humorous, and thought-provoking. I always suggest this particular podcast to those who want to deepen their everyday faith walk because it has impacted my life so much. Get ready to learn!!
2. READ A CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE
One of my favorites, and the most accessible one from this list is Christianity Today. You can find it in your public library or local bookstore. I would also suggest the following indie magazines: Solomon, Magnify, and Relevant Magazine. For most of these, you’ll have to go to their individual websites and order online. One thing I like to do is have a pad of sticky notes and a pen nearby, so I can take notes on any references I want to look up later. Christian magazines can be a great source of inspiration and the articles usually lead you to other spiritual resources.
3. DISCOVER A NEW WORSHIP PLAYLIST OR LISTEN TO AN EXISTING ONE
If you’re anything like me and 75% of the millennial population, you listen to music everyday (and at an average of 4.5 hours daily, at that). Why not change up your tune? I’ve found that listening to worship music on my commute to and from work, at work, and everywhere in between has a way of lifting my spirits and keeping my focus on Him. What we consume has an affect on us whether we realize it or not. Here’s the thing: there’s Christian music in every genre. I know some people get turned off by the thought of switching from their favorite pop or hiphop artists, but if you do a little digging you’ll find Christian music you can turn up to or croon to like it’s an R&B hit. I started a Spotify playlist called “My Fav Jesus Music” a couple of years ago and have been adding to it ever since. There’s a great mix of genres on there. Feel free to save what you like and create your own version.
4. JOURNAL YOUR PRAYERS
We often ask God for things, but how often do we keep track of answered prayers? I’ve found that writing mine down helps me to remember to thank God for answering them. When we show him gratitude he just wants to give us more (Hebrews 11:6). Plus, it’s nice to be able to look back at what you were going through/the thoughts that consumed your mind in a certain time period. I’d suggest grabbing a fresh notebook and dedicating it to jotting down your conversations with God.
5. WATCH A CHRISTIAN MOVIE OR TV SERIES
I am a visual learner. So, sometimes I have trouble understanding or picturing what I am reading in the bible. When I discovered The Bible Series on Netflix, I was able to see the scriptures come to life through the actors in the TV Series. There are other resources such as The Bible Project on youtube, which show you an audio/animation of some of the bible stories. In terms of movies, I’d highly suggest starting with The Heart of Man. It’s a moving documentary about God’s grace— specifically around the topic of freedom from sexual sin. Jackie Hill Perry makes an appearance. You can also use this secret Netflix code to find all kinds of Faith & Spirituality videos.
6. YOUTUBE A SERMON
John Gray, Michael Todd, and Steven Furtick are some of my favorites to look at. Perhaps type in a topic you’d like to get perspective on and see what pops up. Or, if your church archives its sermons you can go back and look at those. I go to a church called CityGate located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here are a few that I would suggest watching: [The Raven & The Dove] [The Exchange] [Great Expectations]. If you don’t already have a notebook where you track sermon notes, I’d recommend starting that practice. Make sure you leave room to reflect on what you’ve learned and notate how you can apply it to your life.
7. READ ONE OF THE SUGGESTED BOOKS BELOW
Similarly, to my suggestion for #2 on this list, you may want to grab your sticky notes and a pen and take notes!
8. GRAB A GROUP OF FRIENDS FOR FELLOWSHIP
Being amongst people is a huge part of the Christian faith (Proverbs 27:17). One thing I like to ask my friends when we get together is “How has your faith walk been lately?” You’ll quickly find that, just like you, it’s very difficult for others to be “on fire for God” 24/7. As Christians we go through highs and lows in our relationship with Christ. We all have doubts some days and feel on overflow others. That’s why it’s so important to have a community of believers who will pray for you, encourage you, and pick you up when you’re down, and for you to be that person for them when they need it. This is truly what BINO is all about. Although it’s important to be able to have these conversations in person—face to face.
9. RECOGNIZE FAVOR
Thank God out loud for 10 things He’s done in the last week or so that could be recognized as favor (The favor of God can be described as “tangible evidence that a person has the approval of the Lord”). This could be as simple as getting a good parking spot or as miraculous as healing an illness. It’s important take time to pause and be cognizant of how God is moving in our lives. Otherwise we can easily take things for granted, or become prideful in thinking we are the reason for our success— when really that recognition belongs to God.
10. MAKE A PLAN TO TITHE REGULARLY
Be intentional about tithing. What I like to do is keep track of how much I am making throughout the week. You may have a steady job in which you receive income, but what about birthday money, or a check from a side hustle like babysitting? When Sunday comes you should already know what 10% of everything you earned throughout the week is so you’re ready to give God what is really His to begin with. Where our treasure is our heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-24).
11. SERVE OTHERS
Serving others could mean asking what you can do for your friend, roommate, boyfriend, or mom to help out or be of service. Or, it could look like choosing to volunteer for a local charity or cause you’re passionate about. Another way that I enjoy serving is by getting involved at my church. Every Sunday I am in the nursery looking after the babies. Ask about how you can go from just attending church, to truly being a part of how it runs. When we put others above ourselves, we are becoming more like Jesus.
12. PRAY FOR OTHERS
Make a list of people/institutions who could use prayer: your city, friends, enemies, strangers, coworkers, people no longer in your life, etc. Make a prayer request jar and instill a habit of praying over the slips of paper daily. If you don’t know what to pray for, reach out and ask! Something I like to do every now and then is post on my social media this question: “What can I pray over for you?” I always get at least one response… and usually from someone I don’t know that well. You never know the difference you could make in someone’s life just by doing this simple act.
13. YOUTUBE TESTIMONIES
Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded about the miraculous power of Jesus and what he is doing in other people’s lives at the same time that he is working in yours. You know those chills you get when you hear someone’s testimony? I definitely feel them when a story is shared at church for example, but I don’t often seek out a testimony. That’s why You-tubing it can be such a great idea— spiritual refreshment right at your fingertips! Use this as a way to remind yourself that your God moves and is very active and present in people’s lives. This is a particularly good exercise when you’re feeling those inevitable doubts about what you believe in.
14. GET OUT IN NATURE
Take a walk and admire God’s creation. A lot of people I’ve talked to agree that we feel God’s presence most when we’re in nature. I think it’s because there’s so much beauty in the natural that we just don’t see in the manmade. When we’re in nature we can’t help but be in awe of its vastness and its complexities. It’s in those moments when we can’t quite understand the how that we conclude something much bigger had to be at work to create such intricacy than mere man ever could.
15. FAST
Do you find yourself saying you’re too busy for God, or you’re struggling to fit Him into your daily routine? Examine what’s keeping you from spending time with God. For me, I sometimes choose catching up on a TV series before bed rather than spending some time in the Word. When I find myself distracted by things like Netflix, and put those before God, I know that I should probably take a break and eliminate that thing for a while so I can prioritize Him. Maybe for you it’s scrolling through Instagram for an hour. When we fast we show God that we take our relationship with Him seriously. Just like any other relationship, you have to put in the work and make time for God in order for it to thrive.
What’s your favorite suggestion on this list? I’d love to know! Leave a comment below.
