During the last year or two of high school I started to get a little more serious about my relationship with God. Like most young Christians, I knew I wanted to grow but I didn’t know what to do about it.

A few years before, a small group of teenagers in my youth group had decided to write a verse and a little word of encouragement on a 3x5 card every day and trade it with a buddy to encourage one another in our faith. It was awesome! For about a week. We missed a day. Then three days in a row. Then that effort fell by the wayside altogether.

A friend had told me shortly after that that he read his Bible every morning and hadn’t missed a single day in three years. I felt convicted, but as an overthinker I mulled his comments over for a few days before concluding he was a “legalist.” I wanted my relationship with God to be more organic and exciting. A daily habit felt more like work. Should our walk with God feel so forced?

After limping along for years, trying and failing, feeling my weakness and wondering if there was something uniquely wrong with me, I’ve reached the conclusion that the millions of faithful Christians who have walked with Christ throughout the centuries are right, and I was wrong: Discipline, effort, habit, and consistency don’t ruin our relationship with God: they help a lot!

Think of Daniel: Three times a day (that’s a habit formed after years of personal discipline) he got down on his knees and prayed before an open window (Daniel 6).

Think of Paul: “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9).

Let’s face it: while our “new man” desires to know the Lord and to spend time with Him, the “old man,” our sin-twisted former self (the “flesh”), still gropes for influence in our lives; every day is a strenuous contest between the Spirit and the flesh. We shouldn’t expect daily growth, daily obedience, or daily fellowship with God to come easily.

Given this reality, it’s safe to assume that if you haven’t undergone some intentional struggle to cultivate your personal relationship with God, then…you’re not doing it.

I’m also mindful of the fact that many Christians—many of you—have adopted harmful habits over the years that damage your conscience and snuff out any desire to be silent in the presence of the Lord. If you’re consuming pornography, nursing a habit of drunkenness, addicted to the gossip and backbiting taking place on social media, or otherwise living in a way that contradicts the conviction of the Holy Spirit, then no wonder you never pray or read your Bible (If this describes you, you need help fast; please have the humility to reach out to an elder or trusted brother for support!).

With all that being said, don’t you want things to change? Why wait for January 1? Why not begin today? Personally, the key to developing a habit of spending time in prayer, Bible reading, and meditation on God’s Word has been to set aside consistent time.

Everybody has to figure out what works for them, but it might help if I share some of my experience. Before I became a pastor, spending time with God meant leaving early for work. I had to drive into downtown Louisville every day, and each minute meant another half mile or so of congestion on Interstate 64. I found that if I left my house before 7am, I could arrive in the parking lot 30-40 minutes before I had to be at my desk. If I waited even 5 minutes, my commute would lengthen and the window would close.

I decided to set a goal: leave the house each day before 7am and listen to a sermon on the way to work. By the time I arrived and had the time, it was just a matter of what to read (visit this link for ideas) and how to pray.

I realize that many of you have already been at work for an hour or more at the time I used to leave my house. But it’s possible in most cases to find the time, and I strongly urge you—even if you have an early start—to spend time with the Lord before you begin the day’s responsibilities. Carving out the time simply requires a willingness to say “no” to lesser things (even good things) and the commitment to keep getting up after you’ve stumbled yet again.

I do want to mention two exceptions to the rule: If you’re a mother of very young children or a caregiver for an elderly or seriously ill family member, your schedule isn’t as predictable. Sleep when you can, spend time in prayer when you can, lean on the kindness of Christ, and be kind to yourself. God is faithful! Cast all your cares on Him and He will care for you.