RestartChikamu

At the end of every week, we'll give you a challenge—something to try that might be outside your regular routine. Each challenge is designed to help you develop one important spiritual habit. This week, it's...

SPEND TIME WITH GOD

There's no formula or one right way to spend time with God. Whether you already know how you like to spend time with God, or you're still trying to understand how to hear God's voice, today's challenge is going to help you experiment with some new ways of connecting with God. Try it and see what you discover about God—and about yourself, too!

CHALLENGE

When some people think about spending time with God, they picture:

• Sitting still.
• Being silent.
• Closing their eyes.
• Being alone.
• Being really serious and focused.

But when was the last time you tried connecting with God a little differently? Today, try this...

1. READ OUT LOUD: Instead of reading today's Bible passage silently, read it out loud. Yell it, sing it, perform it in a dramatic voice, or just say it quietly to yourself if you don't want to scare anyone nearby.
2. GO SOMEWHERE NEW: Get out of your house! Walk down the street, jump on your bike, or head to a park or backyard. You could even walk around a store or your school hallways. Just go somewhere new.
3. MOVE YOUR BODY: Keep your body moving. Walk, bike, dance, jump, skip, hop, stretch, swim, swing—whatever. As you move around, talk to God about what you just read, what you've been learning all week, and whatever else you want.
4. PRAY OUT LOUD: For at least a few minutes, talk to God out loud (like you're speaking to a friend) and not just silently in your head.
5. WRITE THINGS DOWN: When you're done, jot down what you learned, noticed, or felt today. How did your time with God feel different? Did you learn anything new about God or yourself? Is it going to change the way you spend time with God in the future?