Making an Effort

Working a job that is in an office and where most of the work is done at a desk, it is pretty much impossible to reach 10,000 steps during the day just from being at work.  Even with the walks to the breakroom to fill up my water bottle, trips to the restroom, and walking to the printer, it just is not enough to get in the desired number of steps.  The only way to hit 10,000 steps a day during the work week is to choose to do some sort of physical activity, such as going on a walk during lunch and after work.  Whatever it is, it has to be intentional.  Getting enough exercise throughout the day is not just going to happen accidentally, especially when you spend the bulk of the day in the office.  It has to be something that is put into the schedule and planned sometime between waking up and going to sleep.  It is the same way when it comes to a relationship with Jesus.  It’s not just going to happen accidentally, especially when our days are filled with so many other commitments.  Unless we are intentional and plan to spend time with Jesus in prayer, we are never going to grow closer to Him.

There are so many directions we are pulled in throughout the day.  We go to work, attend meetings for different groups we are involved in, spend time with family and friends, work on other tasks that need to get done, and spend time checking social media or watching TV.  Where does Jesus fit into it all?  Is He just an afterthought?  Is He someone we just call on when we need something or when it’s convenient?

Spending time with Jesus must be a priority in our days.  Whether it is through reading scripture, journaling, reading spiritual material, going to eucharistic adoration, or mass, we must make time for Him in our schedules.  Developing a relationship with Jesus and coming to know who He is takes time, effort, dedication, and commitment.  And so often, we lack these traits and we choose other activities and other people first and above Him.
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Start with just five minutes.  Then five minutes will turn into 15, and then into 30 minutes, and so on.  Prayer is key to our days.  When we allow Jesus to walk with us throughout the day by entering into an intentional time of prayer, we will be able to better recognize Him throughout the day.  The only way we are going to reach the desired depth of faith and relationship with Christ is by putting in effort and choosing to spend time with Him.  What are you going to do to choose Jesus today?