Part 3 of the 3 week series: ‘Making Room for God‘
focus verses:
Mark 1:35 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.
Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Matthew 11:28–30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
From Good Intentions to a Sustainable Habit
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about the importance of intentionally making room for God—choosing to give Him our days rather than letting Him slip into the margins of busy lives.
And yet, even with sincere desire, the simple intention to give God the first of our day can feel surprisingly hard.
Have you ever sat down with the intention to start your day in conversation with God, letting Him read His Word to you, engaging in a Scripture-led conversation… only to look up thirty minutes later and realize you’re answering emails, writing a to-do or grocery list, or planning a new project instead?
Or maybe you tell yourself, “I’ll just do this one thing first,” only to never actually take that seat at the table with God.
I know that struggle personally.
A year or so after writing my book Conversations at a Table for Two, where I share my journey of learning to let God feed my soul through His Word instead of striving to prove my value to Him—I found myself right back in the struggle of inconsistency.
What I learned surprised me.
- It wasn’t my intentions that were broken.
- It was my lack of structure.
Every day felt like starting from scratch.
We had moved into a new home, and I never carved out a quiet, consistent place to begin my day. If the spot I used yesterday was noisy or occupied today, I had to find a new one.
I hadn’t started a new study in the chaos of moving, so each morning I wrestled with what to read, where to start, and how to begin.
And because I brought with me the chaos of ‘starting fresh’, even when I did sit down, the loudness of urgency followed me, pushing its way into the space I had intended to hold for God.
Most of us don’t struggle because we don’t want to make room for God.
We want conversation.
We want closeness.
We are created for intimacy and fellowship with Him (1 Corinthians 1:9).
Even so, life gets loud, and urgency has a way of crowding out intention. Distractions grab our attention early. Said another way, the room we intended to hold for God slowly gets overtaken by urgency and noise.
And when time with God feels like starting from scratch every day, even the best intentions get lost in the rush.
Scripture shows us this isn’t new, or sinful. It’s human. Even Jesus lived within the tension of constant demand. And yet, He consistently chose space for conversation with the Father:
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
Jesus, fully God and fully man, intentionally chose time and space for prayer, as a way of protecting relationship and as an example for us to follow.
That leads many of us to quietly ask a question we don’t always say out loud:
“Okay… but how do I actually do this consistently?”
Structure Doesn’t Replace Relationship—It Protects It
There’s a quiet misconception many of us carry: that structure somehow diminishes intimacy.
But Scripture tells a different story.
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
~ Luke 5:16
The word often matters here. Habit sustained relationship with the Father.
We structure what matters:
- Sleep, because rest matters
- Meals, because nourishment matters
- Appointments, because relationships matter
Conversation with God is no different. A daily rhythm doesn’t turn relationship into routine—it removes the obstacles that keep us from showing up at all.
➡️Relationship becomes routine only when we show up for the task instead of the connection.
A Framework, Not a Formula
What you need isn’t another spiritual checklist. You need a framework; a rhythm that supports relationship instead of pressuring performance.
Not a rule or a formula, but a way to remove chaos, distraction, and rush so conversation with God becomes natural again.
This is exactly the invitation Jesus extends to us:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
~ Matthew 11:28–30
Life is ‘lifing’ all around us… all. the. time. That’s what brings the weariness. That’s why a simple framework creates space for daily conversation with God to take root and grow.
The 5 Simple Steps of Creating a Daily Conversation Habit
Once I realized that structure was what I needed to return to a consistent rhythm of conversation with God, I asked Him to show me what that structure should look like.
[Here’s a link to my Habit Cheat Sheet with printable Bookmark]
1. Conversation Time
Schedule the appointment.
Repetition is the foundation of consistency.
Choose a consistent time of day when you can be present. Morning, afternoon, or evening—it’s less about when and more about deciding once instead of every day.
There have been seasons when mornings simply didn’t work. What I learned is this: the appointment doesn’t get canceled—it gets moved to the first available time. Then you show up.
Treat it with the same respect you would a doctor’s appointment.
2. Conversation Location
Choose a place where you can sit comfortably and be uninterrupted.
Consistency grows where decisions are already made.
It doesn’t need to be special—it just needs to be familiar. Over time, your body and mind begin to recognize this as a place where you meet with God.
3. Preparation
Prepare your space ahead of time.
Preparation is an act of intention.
Avoid creating chaos by hunting for supplies each time you sit down. Having your Bible, journal, and pen ready removes unnecessary resistance and keeps urgency from taking over.
If your space serves multiple purposes, create a small basket with everything you need and bring it with you to each appointment.
4. Scripture Conversation
Slow down and engage the Word relationally: praise → Scripture → reflection.
This isn’t about gathering information. It’s about listening for connection.
Begin with praise, using go-to Psalms or worship music to guide your heart toward God.
Then move into Scripture, whether through a devotional, study guide, or a specific passage.
Ask God what He wants you to hear.
Write portions of Scripture in more than one translation.
Personalize the words, journal them as a conversation with God or as words spoken directly to you.
5. Closing Reflection
End in agreement and gratitude.
Conversation doesn’t end when the journal closes, it carries forward.
Name what stood out.
Thank God for what He revealed.
Invite Him to walk with you through the day.
Keep It Simple
Steps 1–3 are one-time decisions. You don’t have to figure them out again each day.
Steps 4 and 5 are the daily flow you follow. The Scripture may change, but the rhythm of conversation remains the same.
And that’s how consistency is built, not through striving, but through structure that serves relationship.
Hair Fire Check
Where chaos sneaks in
Pause and reflect:
- Where does urgency most often pull me away from time with God?
- What options are within my abilities to implement and overcome this?
- Do I rely on motivation instead of having a rhythm?
- If yes, how would I find more rest if I didn’t wait until motivation (negative or positive) drove me into conversations with God?
- What friction or obstacle makes consistency feel difficult right now?
- What simple steps or changes can I implement to overcome this?
Sit in conversation with God. Journal what He reveals.
Heart Fire Moment
Where clarity and connection grow
A heart fire doesn’t require more effort, it needs oxygen.
When you intentionally create time, space, and flow for conversation with God:
- Peace replaces urgency
- Listening replaces striving
- Relationship replaces guilt
Sit with God on this question and see where He takes the conversation:
What might shift if conversation with God became the anchor of my day instead of an afterthought?.
Put It In Practice
Build the rhythm
This week, begin practicing the Daily Conversation Habit using the Daily Conversation Habit Cheat Sheet.
Focus on:
- Choosing a consistent time
- Creating a designated space
- Preparing ahead
- Following the conversation flow: praise → Scripture → reflection → gratitude
You don’t need to do this perfectly.
You just need something to follow. Consistency grows where friction is removed.
PRAYER STARTER [A CONVERSATION WITH GOD]
This prayer is meant to be experienced, not rushed.
Let God read to you the featured verses from today’s post and respond in a heartfelt conversation.
Where you see [_], insert your name.
Scripture references:
Mark 1:35
Luke 5:16
Matthew 11:28–30
[_], come sit with Me.
I see you. I see all of it.
Don’t wait until you’re exhausted or overwhelmed.
Come to Me today.
Come to Me tomorrow.
Come to Me in all the days ahead.
[_],
I see the weight you’ve been carrying on your shoulders.
Come sit with Me.
Let Me replace that burden with My instruction and wisdom, with My comfort and strength.
Sit with Me.
I’ve got you.
I have the strength, wisdom, and guidance you need.
[_],
Step away from the chaos, the noise, the distractions, and the demands, and sit with Me.
I will equip you to step back into all of it.
I never called you to carry the weight of this world alone.
Just as My Son walked this world in continual conversation with Me, I invite you to do the same.
So yes, [_], let Me read My Word to you today…
and tomorrow…
and all the days after.
Come sit with Me.
Come talk with Me
RESPOND…
Take a moment to respond to God as He speaks His Word to you.
Listen. Answer. Rest in the conversation.
Sit in conversation with Him and meditate on what He’s revealing about His pursuit of your heart.
Closing Thought:
Protecting what matters most
Making room for God isn’t about adding more to your schedule. It’s about protecting what matters most.
Jesus modeled it. Scripture affirms it. And your heart fire is sustained there. Not by striving, but by daily, intentional conversation with God.
Structure doesn’t replace relationship, it creates space for it.
Daily conversations to deepen your faith…
Conversations at a Table for Two: Feeding a Hungry Soul.
Find it on Amazon. [book details and video tutorial here]
Video