Last week I challenged readers to quit having a quiet time. I wasn’t making a case for avoiding time with God in the morning like most of us were discipled into doing. Rather, the appeal was to think of it as the beginning of a conversation with God, revisiting things we felt, heard, and learned as we moved throughout our day, as well as bringing new ideas, needs, and gratitude to him. That is the abiding Jesus talks about in John 15.

I can tell you are leaning in, so let’s take it out of the theoretical realm and get practical.

We have been taught that God is with us. We intellectually believe God is present. We can even quote verses about God’s nearness, but we are forgetful creatures. We simply forget that He is with us. Therefore, the first step in abiding is to determine what will help us remember. It could be as simple as setting an alarm on your phone for the times in the day that you want to remember to abide in God’s presence.

If that seems too structured for you, you can create a prayer prompt by identifying an activity that you do semi-regularly during your day; swipe your key card, check your email, pick up your phone, refill your coffee or water bottle, or if you are in and out of your car a lot – every time you buckle your seat belt. The point is to choose an action that you already do and attach a short prayer to it.

Now that we know how we are going to remember to abide, the second step is to craft a prayer that expresses our desire for God.

Here is an approach that I have used and found quite helpful.

1. ​Center yourself, becoming quiet in God’s presence.
   • • -Imagine Jesus calling you by name (like the blind man in Luke 18) and asking, “______, what do you want?”
     • -Jot down the desires that come to mind. If several things come to mind, write them all down without editing. (I need wisdom in my new role at work. I need freedom from my worry about___. I need courage for a difficult conversation.)
     • -Or, if it helps, instead write, “God, what I most want from you right now is ______.” (joy, peace, companionship, etc)
2. Next, choose your favorite name/title for God: Father, Jesus, Dear Lord, etc
3. Now, combine your name for God with the expression of your heart’s desire.
4. If you have several possibilities – write them down and begin to work with them, trying them, timing them with your breathing.
   • • -Loving Father, renew in me the joy of your salvation.
     • -God, help me to recognize your presence and respond to your voice.
     • -Dear Lord, show me how to love those I work with.
5. Then, choose the one that fits best and start.

You may be thinking, “Man, that seems like a lot.” Well, it is, and it isn’t. It is when you think of the momentum your current routine (or lack of routine) has. But it isn’t a lot when you think about the “friendship” (John 15:15) with Christ that will develop, the “lasting fruit” (John 15:16) that you will bear, and the love for others that comes from abiding during your day.

If we want to be formed into the image of Christ in our work, at our work, and through our work, we can’t settle for a quiet time when Jesus is inviting us to an ongoing conversation throughout our workday.