Keeping God in the Center

How much time do you give God daily? When I think about this question for myself, I realize that I usually give facebook, my boyfriend, and worrying about my schoolwork most of my time. I sometimes forget to stop and thank God for what he has done for me. I am in the process of changing myself, so that my life will exemplify God’s work and heart. The first step in doing this is to give God the time he deserves. God desires to have an intimate relationship with us; and that requires spending time with him. God deserves so much more time than we usually give him. Being nursing students, it is going to get even harder because we are so busy with schoolwork all the time. Here are some tips that I find very helpful and essential to maintaining a God-centered life.

1.     Pray continuously

·      Have conversations with God throughout your day and rely on him to strengthen you in times of stress!

·      “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NIV

2.     Talk with a friend about sermons or chapels that you listen to and apply them to your life.

·      This builds deeper friendships, and an accountability partner.

·      “As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.” -Proverbs 27: 17 NIV

3.     Take out time to read the Bible

·      Whether before bed or when you wake up in the morning, take out some time to spend getting to know God better and listening to him before your day starts.

·       “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” –Romans 10: 17 NIV

4.     Live a life of thanksgiving

·      When you take time to reflect on what God has done for you, it draws you closer to him and it helps you appreciate the things in life.

·      “I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.” –Psalm 69: 30 NIV

5.     Share your burdens with God

·      God knows the burdens that each one of us carries, and he desires to help us, and guide us if we let him.

·      “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 I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” –Matthew 11: 28-30 NIV

This Picture symbolizes us, and the fact that we need to "FaceTime" (pray) with God more, and get closer to him daily.

Source: Google

As nursing students, we have a long, tough road ahead of us. One thing I do know is that we need God’s strength and love to get us to the end!