Spiritual Icebreaker
Dear Lovely,
When we arrived at church last weekend—the first service of 2026—our sunday school teacher provided an icebreaker we could use while chatting with the friends many of us hadn’t seen over the holidays. I’m not always a fan of an icebreaker, feeling they’re a bit cheesy, and that I’m probably too old for needing direction on how to engage in small talk, but as it turns out, this was a good one.
For one, I genuinely liked the topic. And two, it was a good way to bring my mind forth to a spiritual realm since my current topic of thought was anything but spiritual: I was thinking about the wide leather green belt I had creatively substituted for the come-with sash on the trench I’d chosen to wear. This looks chic, I’d decided. Especially layered with the plaid scarf mom brought me from London. Goodness, it feels a bit vain to admit my mind was on fashion when it should be somewhere more worthy, but I’ll be honest and tell you that is often the case because I LOVE getting dressed up on Sundays. I LOVE fashion.
“What spiritual goals do you have in 2026?” our leader prompted.
Though my pride in the green belt choice had been strong, I easily shifted to the icebreaker because I had been thinking about this very topic off and on over the holidays: I want to make having a God-focused day my norm.
What I’m talking about is different than the days I already lead. I want my reliance on God to last all day, throughout the day, woven within and in between everything that makes up my day.
Each morning, after I’ve sat down for my quiet time, I whole-heartedly mean it when I say, Lord, today is your day. I am your servant. One of two things happens, however, the moment I say “amen.” I either shift my focus from God to the world, or I shift focus from God to myself.
the patterns of this world are easily accessible and easily mistaken for something called ‘hustle’
I scroll. I answer a text (or 10.) I see an email. I see 50 emails. I notice we need groceries. I notice that picture isn’t straight. I remember a bill needs to be paid. I have a doctor’s appointment. I have to take a kid to a doctor’s appointment. I have a lunch date. I have a business meeting. I signed up for a Pilates class.
The distractions are endless, are they not? Where is there room for God when I have so much to do during the day? And in the past, when I’ve felt a voice nagging me to connect with God, I justify the disconnection by reminding it “I did a quiet time this morning. Shouldn’t that be sufficient?”
Should it? I don’t know. Is it? Well no, it’s not. At least, it’s not for me. If it were, I would consider God during my entire day and not allow the distractions to dictate my choices.
If it’s not the worldly distractions that shift my mindset away from God, it’s me. It’s my own selfish ambition.
my mind says
what do I want to do today?
who do I want to call?
what work do I want to create?
what do I want to eat?
what do I want to say to my kids? my husband?
what do I, I, I, I want…and on and on it goes…
Because of these two very strong voices, rarely, if ever during the day do I stop and consider what God wants for me, and unfortunately, I’ve found that running toward the things I want without first listening and obeying, leaves me on a hampster wheel; an exhausting, unfulfilling, broken hampster wheel. I know from experience that a lack of obedience pre-empts spiritual devastation. Continued prayer and communion with the Lord is the antidote. Do you agree?
Let me ask you another question: prayers are full of asks; when are they full of stillness? When do we actually sit quietly and connect with the Creator? Any wonder there is so much devastation in our world?
Prayers are full of asks; when are they full of stillness?
So Beautiful, I’ll tell you my first step in normalizing God-focused days in 2026. I’m setting alarms on my phone for every hour between 9 am - 5 pm. When that alarm goes off, I stop what I’m doing and I recite this verse.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Romans 12:2
And then I sit quietly for about 5 minutes (I actually have a second alarm already set for 5 minutes later) and I just listen to the quiet. Yes, that means I have an alarm that goes off at 9:00 am and at 9:05 am; 10:00 am and 10:05 am etc…all the way until 5:05 pm. I prioritize 5 minutes every hour to listen to God. That gives me 45 minutes throughout the day to listen to and for the Creator of the entire universe to instruct me, because the outcome of obedience is always the best possible scenario, and that is what I want for my life.
What happens if you’re driving when the alarm goes off? I say the verse out loud and ask God to transform my mind while keeping me safe on the road. Then I pray for safety for my teenage driver.
What happens if you’re in the grocery store? I recite the verse to myself, ask God to guide me in being a good steward with my money and only purchase necessary items, and then I reach for the chicken breasts.
What happens if you’re in the middle of working? If I’m able, I stop work for 5 minutes. If not, I recite the verse in my head and carry-on.
The point is to reconnect. The point is to be God-focused all day, not just during a quiet time. I know this method may seem severe. I know that some days I won’t be able to connect each time an alarm goes off, but we won’t ever have deeper connection if we don’t find some way to prioritize it. My goal with this practice is that connection with God becomes a continuous gentle rhythm throughout my day.
When we make connecting with God a priority; when we seek to listen more than to tell; when we memorize and meditate on holy Scripture, everything changes. Our way of thinking changes. Our reactions change. Our pathways change. Our decision making changes. Our relationships change. And inevitibly, our world changes. You can and will change the world if you prioritize connecting with God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
So Beautiful, if you are hoping to make a spiritual change in 2026 and don’t know where to start, how about prioritizing time within your day just to listen? He knows your heart already. He knows your deepest longings, your aches, your struggles, and your needs. He knows. So now listen. Let’s listen! Let’s hear what the Lord, the Creator of the universe has to share with us on all of those matters.
I’ve been practicing this method for several days now, and though at first it felt almost burdensome, it’s slowly becoming more normal. I’m thinking about God more, therefore I’m relying on God more…or, at least I’m more aware that I can rely on Him for this situation or that situation because I’m reminded of Him every hour. Does that make sense? My faith in the truth of Romans 12:2 is strengthing and I KNOW God is transforming my mind.
Like I stated above, I’ve often thought icebreakers as a cheesy tool only needed for someone who doesn’t know how to converse with others. But sometimes we forget how to converse with the Lord. Sometimes we forget that a conversation requires more than one voice. Use an icebreaker if you’re struggling with a connection. Below is a little graphic I made for you to use with some simple questions you can ask during your 5 minutes with the Lord. Save it on your phone and revisit when needed.
I don’t hear a booming voice from the sky when I sit quietly. But God’s will and direction finds its way to me through the quiet space I’ve left open for Him, some way or another.
Happy New Year Beautiful friend, and I pray your spiritual gifts and connection to the Lord bloom bright and strong in 2026. Please send this letter to anyone you believe would enjoy it.
