Rooted in the Everyday: What Living a Spiritual Life Actually Looks Like for Me

Let me start by saying that I am not perfect and I do not have a perfect spiritual life.

If you're struggling in your spiritual life, whatever your background, I want you to know I understand and relate to that experience.

Sometimes I feel that I am on fire for the Lord and have a desire to read my Bible and study spiritual things for hours each day, while on other days I find it hard to get through a chapter or pray.

Part of my spiritual growth is freeing myself from the pressure of perfection and the idea of what my spiritual life SHOULD look like and embracing the journey, however chaotic it may be.

I'm a Seventh-Day Adventist, and my belief system influences every aspect of my life.

My faith isn't just a Saturday thing. It influences the way that I think about my relationships, work, and physical health every day of the week.

Over the last two years, I've realized that spirituality isn't limited to a specific structure, ritual, or practice; it's woven into ordinary, everyday experiences.

That realization has changed everything.

What My Daily Spiritual Practice Looks Like

As I said previously, I don't have a perfect spiritual life.

Sometimes I get caught up in my to-do list for the day and forget to start the day with my alone time with God.

Sometimes I struggle to stay awake when I'm reading my Bible.

I used to berate myself for missing days or falling asleep, but I realized that my inner critic wasn't actually improving my spiritual growth.

It was keeping me stuck in the idea that I could somehow "work" my way into heaven.

Right now, I'm trying to be intentional about connecting with God sincerely and making space for that connection to flourish.

Instead of holding myself to a rigid routine, I've been trying to answer the question, "How can I pour into my relationship with God?

Some days, my time with God looks like reading my Bible, and supplementary reading, and writing in my prayer journal for 30-40 minutes first thing in the morning. Other days, it looks like reading a quick devotional on the YouVersion app, listening to Christian music on Spotify, or praying quick prayers throughout the day.

All of these count.

I've been wrestling with the idea that God requires perfection. He doesn't. He values authenticity, effort, and surrender.

And consistency in effort looks like "returning". Returning to the Word, returning to God-centered music, or returning to prayer.

Thankfully, God doesn't keep score the same way my inner critic does.

Finding God in the Ordinary, Every Day Experiences

God isn't only found in a church building, religious services, or structured, "spiritual" practices.

God can be found in the ordinary experiences, too.

In fact, finding God in everyday things helps me feel more spiritually connected and has contributed significantly to my spiritual growth and maturity.

The first step to seeing God in everything and everywhere is embracing mindfulness and rejecting mindlessness.

We often live life through shortcuts. Once a routine is established or our brain becomes familiar with a pattern, it creates shortcuts to reduce the energy it has to use in the future.

This can be helpful, but it can also be a hindrance because we often act mindlessly.

Have you ever driven from point A to Point B and then realized that you can’t remember what you saw along the way?

If that route is part of your routine and you drive it frequently, your brain can complete it with little thought.

To experience God in other areas of my life, I'm practicing mindfulness.

When I'm outside walking to another building, the gym, or my car, I am more intentional about engaging my senses to participate fully in the moment.

When I see a beautiful sunset or sunrise, I pause and take in the glorious colors and stand in awe of the beauty that God created for us to enjoy.

When I wake up, I thank God for another day of life and practice gratitude before coming to him with my many concerns and worries.

When I witness an act of kindness, I smile and thank God that there are still good people in the world who care about others.

When I think about my food choices, I remember that my body is special, taking care of it is my responsibility, and my spiritual and physical health are connected.

Sometimes when I watch movies, I see the gospel of Christ portrayed through the storyline (shoutout to The Chronicles of Narnia).

God can be found anywhere you search for him.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

Reflection question: Where is God in this?

What is the Role of Community in Spiritual Growth?

Humans are social creatures. We are not meant to go through life alone. That is especially important for spiritual growth.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

While your spiritual journey is deeply personal, engaging regularly with a community that shares similar beliefs can foster greater growth.

Community is important because it provides support as we navigate challenges, doubts, and setbacks on the faith journey.

Community provides helpful feedback that can shape our morality and the decisions we make.

Community makes us feel as though we're not alone. We're all in this together, although we might be walking at different paces.

Sabbath, my day of rest, is so meaningful to me not just because I don't have to go to work, complete any weekly tasks, or worry about what I need to do for next week. It's also the day I get the chance to fellowship with my friends, church family, and larger community.

Sabbath is built for connection. Connection with God and connection with others.

It can truly feel like a breath of fresh air after a long and busy week.

There's something about participating in a worship service with a group of friends, eating a delicious meal together in the comfort of someone's home, and spending quality time with those I care about that refreshes and nourishes the soul.

I would be remiss if I didn't say that community can be complicated to navigate.

Churches are composed of people, and people are imperfect. They may do or say things that feel painful. This can feel isolating, but it's important to find people you can trust and feel supportive of you.

Finding community isn't a passive experience. It's something that has to be cultivated and nurtured.

You don't have to join a formal group if that feels too daunting, but try to connect with at least one person in your larger community.

Where I am Right Now

I am still figuring it out.

My spiritual life looks a lot different than it looked five years ago or even two years ago.

I'm sure it will look different in another two years.

Perfect isn't the goal, realness is.

I know that I will still experience moments of doubt, periods in which I feel disconnected or far from God, and times when I don't want to read my Bible, but that's all part of the journey.

If your spiritual growth feels messy right now...you're in good company.

What does your spiritual life actually look like right now — not the ideal version, the real one? I'd love to hear in the comments.