If your class is meeting online, invite your students to bring an index card or piece of paper, along with a pen or pencil, with them to class.

As we’ve learned, building a close relationship with God takes time—and intentionality. Like an athlete who makes time for their training every day, we can make time for God. This means adding in a practice or habit that draws us closer to God, but also cutting out bad habits that keep us from making the time or spending it well. For example, an athlete needs to work on strength, stretching, and drills that reinforce the fundamentals of their sport. But they also need to cut out bad habits related to what they consume, when and how long they sleep, etc. 

• What is a practice you can include in your routine to build a close relationship with God? (Accept all reasonable answers such as reading or memorizing Scripture, praying, finding solitude, volunteering with local missions, attending a worship service, etc.)
• To begin your practice, will you need to break a bad habit or make a change in your routine? Talk about that. (Accept all reasonable answers. Examples might include: not hitting the snooze button, or “unplugging” on a certain hour or day, or getting homework done earlier, so there’s time for church or youth group, etc.)

Hand out one index card to each student and a pen/pencil. If your class is meeting online, invite students to have their papers and pens or pencils ready. Just like any relationship, growing closer to God takes time. It isn’t a race, but being consistent is helpful. Commit to making one small change this week to build your relationship with God, and write it on one side of your index card.

On the other side, make a chart to log your new practice. Log it in a way that makes sense for you and your practice, or use simple checkboxes—for example, seven checkboxes if you wish to pray for your friends each day this week, or 52 boxes if you want to unplug every Sunday for a year, or 10 boxes for 10 verses you want to memorize by New Year’s. Whatever your practice—track it.

Think of this not as a scorecard, but as a thermometer. Our relationship with God will experience highs and lows. Sometimes the changes God is working in us aren’t noticeable all of a sudden, but take place over time. Logging our time with God gives us a chance to reflect and take note of small but significant signs of a strengthened faith. Especially if you’re not a journal-er, this can be a helpful way to do a regular spiritual check-in to consider how you’ve grown and how you’d like to continue growing with God.

Close in prayer as you challenge your students to come prepared next time you meet to share about their relationship building experience over the last week.