Growing closer to God and strengthening your faith often happens in the quiet moments throughout your day. You can tailor your routine in assisted living to create more of those moments with God. Spending more time with God can help you with the transition to assisted living and other challenges you might face as you age. Try these tips to help.
Assisted living communities under the Bethesda Senior Living Communities umbrella offer faith-based living. Choosing one of these communities makes it easier to immerse yourself in your faith throughout the day. You can find a support group of other faithful seniors and have easy access to religious services and activities. These types of living options also help you feel comfortable embracing your faith and talking about God openly.
Many senior living communities offer spiritual and religious amenities that can support your walk with God. Visit the on-site chapel when you want to feel closer to God. Attend the religious services provided by the community. You can also look for religious-based resident groups to join.
Surrounding yourself with symbols of God can serve as a reminder to spend time with him. You might hang images in your home that inspire your faith. Keeping your Bible on display reminds you to read it regularly to spend time with God. You might set up a prayer or Bible study corner in your assisted living apartment to encourage yourself to do those activities regularly.
Making friends in assisted living helps you connect with other seniors who have a strong faith. Building relationships with those people can encourage you to dive deeper into your faith. Conversations about faith can help you feel closer to God. By sharing your experiences and knowledge, you're connecting to him in new ways. You might also find inspiration in the practices your assisted living neighbors use to spend time with God.
If you feel like time with God is missing from your day, schedule dedicated time into your routine. You can use this time to pray, read the Bible, do a devotional or take part in other practices. Spending this time with God as part of your routine makes it more of a habit. You might find yourself naturally talking to God at other times once you get used to these quiet moments.
Prayer is the perfect opportunity to spend quiet moments talking to God. Developing your prayer life can help you feel closer to God. It can also help you work through challenging situations. If you don't pray regularly yet, choose key times to talk to God throughout the day. If you already pray, incorporate more prayer into your day or find ways to enhance your routine. This might include praying with scripture or praying with others.
Your time with God doesn't need to be limited to prayer time or Bible study sessions. Look for ways to connect with God throughout the day. You might share your faith on social media platforms or share your stories in person with people you meet. You can talk to God in the quiet moments as you go about your routine to keep him close. Practicing gratitude and serving people in your community are other ways to incorporate God throughout your day.
Another way to feel closer to God is by reading the Bible regularly. You can read your favorite passages or verses that might fit a particular situation you're going through. If you want a more structured approach, look for a devotional that fits what you're going through right now or join a Bible study group. No matter how you interact with the Bible, keep it easily accessible. If you find it difficult to read the Bible, have an audio Bible easily accessible so you can listen to the scripture.
A journaling routine can help you get out your thoughts on your faith. Journals let you record your feelings, thoughts and experiences related to God. Writing in a journal is a very personal experience, so you can write whatever you want. You might direct your journal entries to God, document your daily experiences where your faith played a role or work through questions or feelings you have about your faith.
Many people Bible journal, which means they take notes and expand on their thoughts about the scripture they're reading. It can help engage you more in reading your Bible and help you fully understand the passages and how they relate to your life.
If you're looking for some background sound in your assisted living apartment, worship music can fill the quiet with sounds that bring you closer to God. Playing Christian music throughout the day keeps your faith in focus. You might find yourself singing along and praising God through your enjoyment of the music. The lyrics might speak to you and encourage your faith or get you through a difficult time. Create a faith-filled playlist to turn on whenever you feel the urge to listen to music.
