There is something we all love about summer.
The alarm clock isn't quite as urgent. School schedules disappear. Vacations fill the calendar. Ball games, camping trips, late-night bonfires, and weekends at the lake become the norm. We enjoy a slower pace and the freedom that comes with longer days.
These summer activities are a joy and we’ve waited all year to finally get to this, so we take full advantage of the summer freedom!
But there is a danger hidden inside that freedom.
While our schedules change for the better, sometimes our spiritual routines quietly disappear as well.
It often doesn't happen intentionally. We miss a few mornings in God's Word because we're traveling. We skip church while we're on vacation. Our prayer life becomes more sporadic. One week turns into another, and before long we realize that while we've enjoyed a wonderful summer, we've drifted farther from the Lord than we ever intended. In all our joy of summer, we’ve unintentionally let ourselves to slowly grow distant from God.
James reminds us, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
Notice that God hasn't moved. We have.
Our relationship with God isn't sustained by routine alone, but healthy spiritual habits help us stay connected to Him. Just as a healthy marriage is strengthened through regular conversation and intentional time together, our relationship with Christ grows through consistent prayer, Scripture reading, worship, and fellowship with other believers.
I’m not going to suggest that you can’t do these great summer activities or that you can’t take vacation… not at all! Summer doesn't have to interrupt those rhythms—it may simply require us to practice them differently.
Maybe your quiet time happens on a campground picnic table instead of your kitchen.
Maybe your prayers come during a family hike or while watching a sunset over the lake. Perhaps you stream a church service while traveling or visit a local congregation on vacation. The location may change, but your pursuit of Christ doesn't have to.
In fact, summer offers unique opportunities to experience God's presence. Creation points us to His greatness. Time with family allows us to model our faith for our children. Slower evenings provide opportunities for meaningful conversations and unhurried prayer.
As summer continues, take a moment to honestly evaluate your heart.
Are you as close to God today as you were when summer began?
If not, today is a wonderful day to return. God isn't waiting with disappointment; He's inviting you back into fellowship with Him.
Enjoy the vacations. Cheer at the ball games. Stay up late around the campfire. Make wonderful family memories.
Consider it an opportunity to grow in your relationship with God in ways that just aren’t possible during the rest of the year. Just don't let the change in your schedule become a distance in your relationship with the One who loves you most.
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." — James 4:8
Word in Faith is a collaboration of Wayne Association of Congregations and Ministers (WACAM), an organization partially funded by the Wayne Community Chest.
