When it comes to summer, we tend to press pause on a lot of things, and that can include our commitment to practising our faith. But summer doesn't have to be a season of spiritual slacking.
While the free time that we are blessed with shouldn't make us feel guilty, lethargic or free, as if we escaped the stifling trappings of the routine of religion*, we shouldn't view it as a time to sit back completely either.
*If you do feel that way it's worth addressing these issues before you're thrown back into the full and demanding programme of church life post-summer.
While school may be out for the summer but spiritual growth isn't. It's very much in.
Here are four ways that you can use the summer break to build on your faith.
Press pause on being too busy; progress with making more time for God
If you find yourself "too busy" during term time to make a God as much of a priority as He should be, fill the empty slots you now have in your diary with activities which show your devotion to Him.
However long your holiday, you can use the time to grow closer to God. This might mean sticking with your usual early mornings but replacing the rush for work or school with a relaxing biblical meditation or extended prayer, or packing our Bible in with the rest of your holiday books before you jet off for some time in the sun.
Press pause on boredom; progress with a radical routine
There are some things that you'll be able to do over and over again without becoming bored in the slightest. While it's fantastic if prayer, Bible study, worship and church attendance all come under that umbrella for you, this isn't always the case.
See summer as an opportunity to reset. It's not the only time of year we have to do it but it's as good a time as any. Work on stripping away the reasons why you lack passion about certain aspects of your faith and approaching these weak spots in a creative way. If your prays need a boost, try keeping a journal so that you're not stuck for material at the end of the day. If your worship needs a lift, try exploring different styles of praise. Give each a go for set and substantial period of time so that you have time to see if they work for you or not. Getting radical with your routine should help you banish the boredom for good.
Press pause on group get-togethers; progress with one on one worship
Bible study on a break? Prayer group gone away for the holidays? There's no need to despair at the thought of your church clubs and activities taking a summer sabbatical.
Spending solitary time with Jesus is something that not all of us make a habit of when our schedules are dominated by other commitments. You can use the extra time you now have to work on your relationship with Jesus when no one else is around.
Press pause on cynicism; progress with sincerity
If we're feeling out of sync with other Christians during times when the world feels as though its at its gloomiest, we can become overly cynical about their faith and our own.
Refamilarising yourself with why Jesus is the unshakeable source of joy will enable you to be more genuine about your own in the face of adversity. What's more, summer is a great time to rediscover our faith in its sincerest form. There's so much in the natural world to be happy about and so much inspiration for praising God and performing kind acts.
