Hit pause and give these a try…
If you want to stretch yourself spiritually this week, try these three practices. They go deeper than reading your Bible more or praying longer. They call for intentional awareness and honest self-examination.
First, choose one moment each day to stop right in the middle of whatever you’re doing and ask, “What is God doing in this moment, and how can I join Him?” That simple pause trains your heart to see God at work in ordinary places: long checkout lines, family tension, rushed schedules, or quiet drives. Let the moment slow you down so you can be present with Him. This is the discipline of awareness.
Second, pay closer attention to the needs around you. Find someone who’s hurting, overlooked, or carrying a heavy load, and do something for them that costs you time, money, or emotional energy with no expectation of anything in return. Help someone who cannot repay you. Jesus teaches this kind of generosity, and it cuts through the consumerism of this season. This isn’t a random act of kindness. It’s sacrificial love aimed at someone who’s usually forgotten.
Third, set aside something you rely on without thinking. It doesn’t have to be food. It might be energy drinks, your usual coffee routine, social media, entertainment, or the constant noise of podcasts. The point is to create space for quiet reflection where you can slow down enough to listen. Fasting exposes what your heart clings to and reveals the things you use to avoid stillness.
All three of these practices pull your heart back to what matters most. When you choose awareness, sacrificial love, and intentional fasting, you give God room to shape you in the middle of a season that’s often loud and rushed.
Have a good rest of the week!
Blessings,
Alex Mills