Everyday Glory: Prioritizing God in Our Hectic Lives

By: Molly Kreikemeier

“31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

If you’re anything like me, your life is extremely busy and filled with constant chaos. Your brain is constantly computing what the next task is on your to-do list. You have marked down every hour of your day to fill with something productive, and by the time you get to rest, all you want to do is do a brainless task to wind down. For me, that is playing Blockblast while listening to an audiobook. Junior year has hit me like a rock, and I would be lying if I said that I have made God my number one priority for the past month. Between school, work, rehearsals, voice lessons, and volunteering, I have found very little time to spend time in prayer. And when I do, I am distracted by thoughts of my immense stress. But a few weeks ago, when I had the opportunity to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and sit in the chapel in prayer, I had a revelation. What if instead of being overwhelmed by my lack of time with God, I instead acted on it and incorporated God in aspects of my life?

I picked this Bible verse because it reminded me that all our actions should be done “for the glory of God.” Every decision we make should be made with the intention of growing our relationship with God. You aren’t just acting on your relationship with God when you pray or go to Mass; you are acting on your relationship with God in every small moment or aspect of your life. For instance, if you sin, you are distancing yourself from God. Or, if you act in love, you are growing your relationship with God. Whether we realize it or not, God is involved in every action.

But that begs the question, what does this mean for us? How can we act in a way that grows our relationship with God, especially when we're juggling a million things? The answer lies in intentionally weaving God into our daily lives. It's about transforming mundane and boring tasks into opportunities for spiritual growth and connection.

One of the most powerful ways to grow our relationship with God is to act in love, both towards God and towards our neighbors. This means extending kindness, compassion, and understanding to everyone we encounter, regardless of their background or beliefs. It means being patient with our family members, offering a helping hand to a stranger in need, and forgiving those who have wronged us. These small acts of love may seem insignificant, but they have the power to transform our hearts and draw us closer to God.

Another way to incorporate God into our busy lives is to practice gratitude. Take a few moments each day to reflect on the blessings in your life, both big and small. Thank God for the roof over your head, the food on your table, and the love of your family and friends. Gratitude helps us to keep a positive attitude and to appreciate the goodness that surrounds us, even in the midst of chaos.

Additionally, we can also grow our relationship with God by seeking out opportunities to grow our spirituality. This might mean attending church regularly, participating in a Bible study group, listening to Christian music or podcasts, or simply spending a few minutes each day in prayer. Even when we're short on time, we can still find ways to connect with God and to deepen our faith.

Growing our relationship with God in busy times is primarily about making a conscious choice to prioritize our spirituality. It's about recognizing that God is always present in our lives, even when we're feeling overwhelmed and stressed. By intentionally incorporating God into our daily routines, we can transform our lives into a manifestation of peace and joy that comes from knowing and loving God.