It is the time of year when we are working to change our habits for the better. When we consider making health behavior changes, we typically try to make them based on our own limited willpower (we know how that usually turns out) and don’t even think to ask God for His help. However, when we rely on His unlimited power, anything can happen! Change is hard y’all – so just think how much more likely we are to succeed if we engage the Holy Spirit in helping us!

To tap into His power, we need to spend time with Him. Having a habit of quiet time with God each day is really important and can help enrich your life! If you aren’t currently spending time with Him, start by investing five to 10 minutes a day reading the Bible, meditating on what you’ve learned and praying about it.

My quiet time is certainly not perfect. I get ADHD but, even so, my life is so much better as a result. If you aren’t sure what to do or how to get started, here is a suggested strategy to consider. 

Practice the Six R’s (adapted from The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren)

1. Relax. Be quiet for a short while to put yourself in a reverent mood.
2. Request. Say a short opening prayer to ask God to cleanse your heart and guide you into the time together.
3. Read. Read a section of the Scripture. He speaks to you through His Word, and you speak with Him in prayer. Read it slowly and repeatedly until you start to picture it in your mind.
4. Reflect. Meditate on what you are reading and particularly on verses that really speak to you. Meditation is “seriously contemplating a thought over and over in your mind.”
5. Record. Write down what you have discovered. Recording what God has shown you is one way of applying what you see in the Scripture that pertains to your life
6. Request. After God has spoken to you through His Word, speak to Him in prayer.

Below are some Scriptures to inspire you as you think about making changes now and throughout the year:

Now, by his mighty power at work within us, God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes. ~ Eph 3:20

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:13

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~  Matthew 19:26

If spending time with God isn’t your thing, you can still practice quiet time and tap into the reenergizing power of solitude. You can do this by practicing deep breathing, meditating, reading or journaling, and using some of the same suggestions I shared above. This type of practice will help you to manage stress, feel calmer and better regulate yourself and your emotions.