You know healthy eating and exercising are important for your well-being. But over time, I’ve realized nourishing your spirit is even more essential to feeling balanced and beautiful.

When I take time to nourish my spirit, I am a stronger version of myself, and I am able to give more to other people.

Those are just two reasons why I prioritize time for my relationship with Jesus.

Nourishing your spirit is easy to do, but like anything else, it requires intention. There are ways to ground yourself every day, and these are the ones that work for me.

Pray

Prayer is so important and powerful. Prayer brings me peace and clarity that I can’t find on my own. I can’t imagine a day going by without starting in prayer. I often roll right out of bed, and onto my knees. Talking to God not only prepares me for the day by filling me up with the Holy Spirit, it also protects me with the armor of truth that guides me as I encounter people and situations throughout my day.

There are times when I know exactly what I need help and guidance with, and I pray specifically about those things. Then there are days when I don’t know what I need, what I want, or where I should be headed. I pray specifically about those things, too. I pray for God’s will, not my own, and that He’ll show me what to do by opening and closing doors in my relationships, job opportunities, or specific paths I may be traveling down. And trust me, when you pray specifically, you’ll see your prayers answered. It may not always be in the way you expected, but they will get answered.

Writing in a journal can be a form of prayer too. In my prayer journal I write down my worries, hopes, memories, and dreams. It gives me a way to check in with myself and to reflect on the thoughts that are floating around in my head. It can also help me identify patterns of behavior, measure my growth in different areas, and reflect on my goals for the future. It’s incredible to look back after years of praying for something and write a check mark with a date next to it to remind myself how God answered that prayer.

Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is a practice, so let’s pause a moment and try it out.

Take a look around your home. At first you may recognize things your brain has trained you to notice so you can fix them. There’s a mess in the kitchen that needs to be picked up. There’s a meeting to get to, a phone call to make, and laundry to do.

Here’s what I suggest: try to turn off the automatic approach that wants to get things done. You don’t know it, but too often your go-getter side stops you from appreciating what’s right in front of you.

Now take another look at your home, and think about the blessings that come from these things. Maybe the mess in the kitchen is your son stretching his wings and making a sandwich for himself. You have a meeting on your calendar because something new and exciting is happening at work. The laundry is dirty because there’s been a week full of beautiful experiences — soccer games, birthday parties, or family days in the park.

Your home looks a lot different now, right?

Life is a beautiful gift, and we have to remind ourselves to receive that gift. Practicing gratitude is the way to do just that.

Give Back to Others

We are all busy, and it’s easy to get caught up in our family’s responsibilities and problems. But it’s important to take a step back from our busyness and truly see other people — their lives, their responsibilities, and their problems.

Life is an intricate framework of people, and in order to live in a meaningful way, we have to help others. Giving back makes us healthier, happier, and whole because it allows us to see the blessings we’ve been given and can pass along to others. It is important to remember that everything we have is God’s. It doesn’t belong to us in the first place. This also includes time. Giving doesn’t have to be only material possessions or money. You can also be give your time to others who may need it. Whether you volunteer at a women’s shelter or help the environment, giving back will help you feel more connected to your neighbors and the earth that God gave us.

Original editorial written for Faith.Full by Candace Cameron Bure.

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Your Turn

Prayer, gratitude, giving: how do you nourish your soul? How do you intentionally connect with Jesus and follow after Him each day? Share with us on our blog! We want to hear from you! ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full