Every day holds new obstacles, new problems, new conflicts. I get that. I get that there aren’t ever enough hours in the day to do everything you could ever want to do. There’s always at least one task that gets left out and generally, it’s the one you want to do the least. Whether that be homework, chores, or any other responsibilities there’s always something.

Lately, for me at least, it’s been my relationship with God.

I’ve pushed Him to the side for so long now, what with the endless stacks of homework constantly awaiting me, these new ‘adult responsibilities’ that I’m still getting used to, hanging out with friends, and keeping up with my relationships.

I’ve seemed to forgotten about my relationship with God, how good and how rewarding it can be. There are so many little moments throughout the day that remind me how good God is and how I have this constant ability to praise Him and everything He has done for me, like the other day during finals week. I hadn’t been stressing too much but I had this dark cloud looming over me, this last exam that I had to take that was a complete curve ball to me. That day, for the first time in a while, I started my day slow, I didn’t immediately get on my phone, I listened to some worship music and prayed for my day. Fast forward to hours later when I discover my professor has given my grade some grace and has allowed me to be exempt from this exam if I would like to be. Praise Jesus! I didn’t know I had been tense and holding my breath for a while, so I let out the biggest exhale of my entire life. I wanted to cry I was so happy. I wanted to fall on my knees and scream out how good our God is, how He provides in every way, no matter how big or small (but I was in the library at the time, so I just cried and called my mom, praising God all the while).

This, and many other small things, has given me a revelation. I, like many other, need to learn to pray and to worship God without ceasing. Even when God gives you what you want, praise Him, keep talking to Him, do not forget about Him and His great love for you. I constantly find myself not getting into the word or praying when I’m in a good place or when I’ve had a really good day. More times than others I am that superficial Christian who prays to God when my life is going wrong, when I feel lost and abandoned, when I’ve lost all hope. And of course that’s great, it’s so important to pray when you’re going through trials, but it is also important to pray and worship when everything is alright in your life.

Our God is not one to be taken for granted, and He is most certainly not a wish-granter. He doesn’t just poof appear when you have problems, and then as soon as they’re fixed poof disappears again. That isn’t how it works, that isn’t a real and strong relationship with God. A real relationship means focusing your life in a Christ-centered direction 24/7. Christianity isn’t to be taken lightly and I feel like, as an American, that can be very easy. We have so much available to us, and when things go even slightly wrong we throw a fit. We need to remind ourselves daily how much God has provided for us. He’s given me so much, and I forget often. I have a family who loves me, a house, a good education, food constantly available to me, clothing for warmth in the winter, the list could go on and on for ages.

So I challenge you to go deeper with your relationship with Christ, to pray more about what you’re thankful for and not just what you want or need. Let God be the center of your life and it will be so much easier to act and live according to His will for you.