Are you aware that a systematic routine of Bible study, quiet time, and journaling at home can result in neglecting a spiritually healthy lifestyle on the road? How can this happen? Surely developing a daily habit of reading our Bible increases our spiritual health and the odds of doing the same when we travel. Sadly, that’s not always the case. When we hit the road for the holidays, to go on vacation, or a business trip, our new environment, and altered schedule can change our priorities resulting in a momentary abandonment of our spiritual lifestyle.
Priority paralysis occurs in the best of us. I’ve walked many a path, driven many a road, and hiked many a trail in my lifetime and, in doing so, experienced priority paralysis when it comes to my spiritual health. And I’m not alone. This paralysis starts as subtle as forgetting our quiet time and can spread quickly into a long-term displacement of meeting with Father regularly when on the road.
Recognizing the benefits of a healthy spiritual life is essential. Keeping a spiritually healthy attitude also plays a vital role in our physical health. According to familydoctor.org, “Some research shows a connection between your beliefs and your sense of well-being. Positive beliefs, comfort, and strength gained from religion, meditation, and prayer can contribute to well-being. It may even promote healing. Improving your spiritual health may not cure an illness, but it may help you feel better. It also may prevent some health problems and help you cope better with illness, stress, or death” The last thing we want to do is disregard our spiritual growth habits when we’re away from home.
5 Practices
Here are five practices we can incorporate into our healthy lifestyle to increase our success in keeping a vigorous spiritual life while traveling.
- Plan for Self-Care to Include Your Spiritual Health
- Practice Spiritual Habits Before Leaving Home
- Prepare Answers to Gently Decline Spiritual Distractions
- Provide Spiritual Health Alternatives to Accommodate Travel
- Pre-Pray for God’s Grace and Provision
Plan for Self-Care to Include Your Spiritual Health
If your regular quiet time takes place in the morning, schedule your first activity after breakfast, allowing you time to maintain your morning self-care routine and your time with God as one action.
My morning self-care routine begins at 5:00 a.m. and runs until 7:00 a.m. For many years, I included washing my face, brushing my teeth, and getting dressed to shoes. Then I added Bible study, prayer journaling, and intercessory prayer into the same timeframe. This change transformed my spiritual health and self-care into a deeper personal connection, like my relationship with God.
What spiritual habits can you add to your morning routine? Doing so makes you less likely to ignore them on the road.
Practice Spiritual Habits Before Leaving Home
The only habits that stick are the ones we practice most often. Our spiritual health is nothing to be sneezed at, as our religious beliefs impact many areas of life. This article about Religious Involvement, Spirituality, and Medicine states, “Most studies have shown that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness) and less anxiety, depression, and suicide.”
Practicing your spiritual habits daily before hitting the road will keep you on track to maintaining a healthy spiritual lifestyle. Set a schedule that fits you best:
- Time of day
- Length of study
- Length of prayer time
- Location in your home
Start with a simple schedule of when and where. Then start with five minutes of Bible study and five minutes of prayer. Increase as the Holy Spirit leads.
Prepare Answers to Gently Decline Spiritual Distractions
No one intentionally draws us away from our spiritual health habits. That said, if we think about the possibilities, we can prepare answers ahead of time to gently decline spiritual distractions while we keep our time with Father a priority. Use the following conversation starters to keep distractions at bay:
- That sounds like a great idea. If you can wait until a little later, I’ll be happy to join you.
- You know, I’ve always wanted to go there. Right now is not the best time for me. How about tomorrow at 11:00?
- I know you are planning to head out early. Are you okay if I bring my study material on the trip? I can finish it in the car. This way, I won’t be preoccupied and can have fun.
- I want to give you a heads-up, I take thirty minutes each morning for my Bible study, so I can be ready to go by 10:00.
Write out answers how you would say them and practice before you need them. Being prepared removes the anxiety of what to say, especially what to say in a gentle, positive, and kind way.
Negativity can distract us from sustaining positivity throughout the day. As a bonus, check out these recommended ways to reduce negativity to be happier and see which methods you might incorporate into your daily regimen. Seriously, who can’t use a little more happiness?
Provide Spiritual Health Alternatives to Accommodate Travel
As I’ve mentioned, I rely on a daily routine of Bible study, prayer journaling, and intercessory prayer to start my mornings. I have my journals, a couple of Bibles, pens, pencils, and a favorite mug of frothed coffee ready to go near my favorite spot on the couch. When on the road, having all my favorites with me is not always conducive. Therefore, I utilize audiobooks, podcasts, and various digital platforms and devices to remain spiritually healthy while traveling.
- I listen to podcasts while driving or as a passenger in the car.
- On a plane, my iPad provides me with downloaded books. It takes up less room, and various titles are always available.
- My earbuds allow me to covertly worship when hiking, walking, or heading to a destination with others around me.
- I use the YouVersion Bible app to study with friends across the miles and to highlight, bookmark, and share Scriptures.
Making my Bible study time easily attainable helps keep me on track while traveling.
What devices do you currently use? How can you improvise to maintain your spiritually healthy habits without compromising value?
Pre-Pray for God’s Grace, Mercy, and Provision
Ask friends and family members to pray for God’s grace, mercy, and provision concerning your spiritual health before you get on the road. Here are five specific areas they can pray over:
- Time and space for you to relax and spend with Father.
- A peaceful time for you to enjoy being in God’s word.
- Opportunities for you to invite others into prayer time.
- God moments throughout your day that you can reflect on in your journal.
- Creative thoughts that bring you closer to Father.
Incorporate these same considerations in your prayer time. Doing so will develop an expectancy in your heart, encouraging you to seek Father more each day.
As you strive to keep spiritually healthy while traveling, I’d love to her which of these practices you include.
Author Bio
Linda Goldfarb’s vocal prowess has pleased domestic and international audiences for more than two and a half decades as a retreat and conference speaker, radio personality, performer, audiobook narrator, podcaster, and board-certified Christian Life coach. Her award-winning LINKED® Quick Guide to Personalities series speaks volumes to the readers, benefitting them in all aspects of relationships. Whether sipping frothed coffee with friends, hiking with her husband Sam, engaging in deep conversation with her children and grandchildren, or speaking truth with gentle boldness, Linda strives to be transparent and authentic.
Spiritual health and self-care go hand in hand, so I’m glad that you discussed the latter here. Making time for yourself will ensure a better quality of life.
That is so true, Rob. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Be blessed on your journey!
Hi Rob, thank you for your comment. I agree our overall health is a balancing act that must include body, mind, and soul.