Putting God First When Life Feels Busy

We all tend to say that God is number one. But does our calendar actually reflect that?

That is the question I want to sit with you in today, friend. Because there is a big difference between saying God is our priority and actually living like He is. And I think a lot of us need some practical help figuring out how to make that a reality, especially when life is full and busy and overwhelming.

This video is part of our ongoing capacity series, and today we are specifically talking about spiritual capacity. Our ability to stay connected to God, receive from Him, and follow His leading even when things get busy.

Before we dive in, let us anchor ourselves in today’s verse, found in James 4:7-8:

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come close to God and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

That last line is the one that hits me the hardest. Our loyalty is divided between God and the world. And I think that is true for so many of us, not because we do not love the Lord, but because we have not been intentional about keeping Him at the center.

Here are three practical steps to help you change that.

Step One: Create Intentional Space

If we want to make God number one, we have to actually put Him on our calendar. We have to build daily habits and rhythms around spending time with Him. Because if something is important enough to us, we make room for it. And if we are not making room for Him, that tells us something.

Here are a few practical ways to create that intentional space:

Start your day with the Lord. Even five or ten minutes before the rest of your household wakes up can set the tone for your entire day. I know it feels impossible when you have little ones, but I promise even a few quiet minutes make a difference.
Create transition prayers. The Lord wants to be a part of every moment of your day, not just your designated quiet time. So any time you are moving from one thing to the next, take 30 seconds to pray. Out loud if you can. Let your kids and your spouse hear you doing it.
Build in pockets of connection throughout the day. I love creating Spotify playlists for different seasons and feelings. A joy playlist, a surrender playlist, a contentment playlist. Music is such a powerful way to redirect your heart back to the Lord in the middle of a busy day.
Remove the distractions. Take the apps off your home screen that pull your attention away and replace them with things that point you back to Jesus. A Bible app, a sermon podcast, a YouTube channel that lifts you up. What we reach for out of habit matters more than we think.

Step Two: Surrender Every Area

This one is a progression, not a destination. We do not just arrive at full surrender one day and check it off the list. It is a daily decision, and it looks different in every season.

I want to be really honest with you here, because I think vulnerability is more helpful than a polished answer.

I have been working on surrendering my business to the Lord for a while now, and I feel like I have made real progress there. But recently I realized there were other areas of my life I had never actually surrendered. My marriage. My parenting. Even my relationship with food and my body.

I had been operating in those areas like it was all on me. Like God could not help me with the day-to-day hard stuff. And that is exactly what the enemy wants us to think.

Here is a question I want you to sit with: what feels heavy in your life right now?

Because typically, the things that feel the heaviest are the things we are holding onto the tightest. They are the areas we have not yet surrendered to the Lord. And friend, He wants all of it. Not just the big stuff. All of it.

Step Three: Stay Alert to the Enemy

This is the one I think does not get talked about enough in the Christian community. We are in a spiritual battle. And one of the enemy’s most effective strategies is to keep us distracted and busy so that we never make time for the Lord.

I want you to think about the moments in your day when you feel most distracted, most overwhelmed, most flustered. The enemy is not passive. He is working overtime to keep you from a deep, connected relationship with God. Not a surface level one. A deep one. Because that is where your strength comes from, and he knows it.

Staying alert does not mean living in fear. It means staying aware. It means recognizing when busyness and distraction are being used against you and choosing to redirect your attention back to the Lord.

Your Challenge This Week

For the next seven days, I want you to practice this simple five-step framework before you react, decide, or try to solve something:

Pause
Pray
Ask
Listen
Follow

Before you respond to a difficult email. Maybe it is a tough conversation with your spouse that has been weighing on you. Or perhaps your next big business decision is sitting in front of you right now.

The goal is not perfection. It is dependence.

And here is what I want to leave you with today. Maybe putting God first does not mean adding another thing to your already full life. Maybe it just means learning to live your already full life connected to Him.

Because that is what He wants most. Not for us to carve out a perfect quiet time every morning and check a box. But to stay connected. To keep coming back. To let Him be the air that we breathe.

A Note Before You Go

Friend, you are not meant to navigate this alone. And if you are a Christian female entrepreneur looking for a community of women who are doing life and business differently, I would love for you to come hang out with us in The Purpose Gathering. It is completely free and it is full of women who are asking the same questions you are.

And if you are ever looking for trusted support in your life or business, come check out Purpose Pages. It is a free online directory of vetted Christian coaches and service providers who share your values and will point you in the right direction.

Come hang out with us here every single week, and I cannot wait to see you in the next blog post.

Related Episodes:

Resources:

Purpose Pages Directory – A free, vetted online directory to help you find Christian coaches and service providers you can trust.
Follow Purpose Pages on Instagram – Find trusted Christian providers and connect with a community that gets you.
The Purpose Gathering Live (Waitlist) – A Spirit-led day to refocus, reconnect & recharge in Downtown Gilbert, AZ. Live worship, speaker sessions, guided reflection, and intentional connection with faith-driven women in business. Grab your ticket
Join the Faith-Fueled Fireside on August 13th at 10AM (AZ Time) – This virtual gathering is an opportunity to connect with like minded mamas who are ready to trade hustle for peace this season.
Join the Free Purpose Gathering Community – A welcoming space for Christian mompreneurs to connect, grow, and be encouraged in both life and business.
Ideal Week Blueprint — A mini course that walks you through how to create your ideal week, including personal templates and examples.
The Armor of God – Bible Study for Women with Video Access
Grace Over Grind: How Grace Will Take Your Business Where Grinding Can’t
Have a question for me? Or a specific struggle you’re dealing with? I’ll address your question on the podcast. Submit your ‘Ask Ashley’ question here.
Please connect with me on Instagram @thepurposegathering.