Let’s be honest: The last two months of the year can be challenging. With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays just around the corner, it is easy to live life on autopilot. Less sunlight and lower temperatures can decrease motivation, and many look forward to hitting the “reset button” on life at the beginning of the next year.
Unfortunately, if we aren’t careful, this attitude can carry over into our spirituality. But lately, I’ve been doing something very simple yet effective, that has helped to reignite my own relationship with God, at a time in the year when things tend to “cool down.”
Recently, I listened to a book called Soul Revolution: Helping People Become All That God Intended by Pastor John Burke. In his book, Burke encourages readers and listeners to take on what he calls “The 60/60 Experiment.” Basically, this experiment entails checking in with God every 60 minutes, over a period of 60 days. The goal is to develop and strengthen a continuous, responsive relationship with God, in every aspect of life.
A few weeks ago, I began the 60/60 Experiment. And while it has been a blessing, it has also been more difficult than I thought it would be. Some days are better than others; despite setting an hourly reminder in my phone, I don’t always stop to check in with God as I should. But, I will say that I am experiencing a closeness with God that I’m not sure that I’ve ever experienced in my life.
This experiment has reminded me that forming good relationships take intentionality, communication, and openness. The same is true of a relationship with God. So, for me, the goal isn’t performance; the goal is quality. To put it another way, I’m concerned with how consistently I am checking in with God, but I’m more concerned with how deeply I am connecting with God when I check in. My ultimate goal is to get to the point where I don’t need a reminder to check in with God at all!
How is your relationship with God right now? Whether you’re spiritually “on E,” or your cup is “running over” (see Psalm 23:5), I’m challenging you to take on the 60/60 Experiment for yourself. There are 45 days left in 2019, so if you started today, the 60/60 Experiment would take you about two weeks into 2020. Spiritually speaking, I can’t think of a better way to end this year, and to begin the next.
Interested? Cool! Here’s how you can start:
- Ask God to help you commit to the challenge of a continuous, responsive relationship with Him over the next 60 days. You can’t do it without His power!
- Set an hourly reminder in your phone to remind you to check in with God. If you’ve got an iPhone, it’s as simple as asking Siri!
- When the reminder goes off, don’t ignore it! Even if you can’t stop to kneel down and pray, send up a prayer to God from your heart. Recommit yourself to Him. Thank Him for who He is. Talk to Him about how you felt, or what was going on in your life, when the reminder went off.
- Optional, but highly recommended: Over the next 60 days, consider buying and reading/listening to Soul Revolution by Pastor John Burke.* He goes into greater detail on how you can be successful in connecting with God throughout the duration of the 60/60 Experiment. Visit www.soulrevolution.net for more information and resources.
- Also optional, but highly recommended: Find at least one or two others who might be willing to take on the challenge with you. Burke emphasizes in his book that the 60/60 Experiment is better accomplished in community, rather than in isolation. I agree, and dedicate a whole chapter to this idea in my own book, The Bulletproof Challenge. You need support and accountability; don’t go at it alone! (Shoutout to my personal “running partner,” Pastor Bryan Gallant!)
Five steps. It’s really that simple. All the best in your spiritual journey, and I’ll update you all with 30 days left in the year to let you know how the 60/60 Experiment is working out for me. Until then, be blessed!
P.S. I haven’t forgotten about the Social Media & Your Spirituality series; I’ve just been really busy. Part Two is coming soon, so if you haven’t read Part One yet, check it out now!
*Note: I do not directly benefit, financially or otherwise, from the promotion or sale of Pastor John Burke’s book.
https://rodneyosbornejr.wordpress.com/2019/10/27/social-media-your-spirituality-part-one/