Why Time with God Has No Diminishing Returns—Only More Blessings

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Welcome to One Day Out, a weekly newsletter to help deepen your faith, enhance your health, and guide you in pursuing a purpose-filled life.

Opening Prayer

Lord, You never tire of spending time with us. Thank You for always being near, always listening, and always loving us. Help me to see time with You not as another task, but as the foundation of my life. Give me wisdom to train my body well and discipline to train my spirit even more. Let me seek You in all things. Amen.

No Diminishing Returns with God

We’ve all experienced overtraining. In college, I spent hours grinding in the gym and on the field, constantly pushing my body to the limit. But no matter how strong I got, there always came a point where I had to pull back—because growth requires recovery.

Physically, there’s a fine line between training hard and overdoing it. But spiritually? There’s no such thing as too much time with God. There’s no point of diminishing returns. Every second you spend in His presence strengthens, refines, and draws you closer to who you were created to be.

And yet, in the same way that people often neglect rest days, we often neglect our time with God. We assume the bare minimum—five minutes in the Word, a quick prayer—will get us where we need to be. But relationships don’t grow without investment.

So today, I want to share some practical ways to improve physical and spiritual discipline—because how we train our bodies and our spirits are more connected than we realize.

More Time with God = More Growth

During my first marathon training cycle, I was pouring hours into running and lifting but only 5-10 minutes into my faith each morning. I was growing, but not as much as I could have.

After I ran that first race, I jumped into training for the Coastal Delaware Marathon. My body started telling me I needed a break, so I dialed back my time in the gym and focused more on running. During that season, I also started attending a men’s group and serving at my church’s youth ministry. That’s when I truly realized: that spiritual growth doesn’t happen when you only give God the minimum effective dose.

God is a jealous God—He desires a real relationship with us, not just scraps of our time. "You shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." – Exodus 34:14.

Imagine trying to build a deep friendship with someone while only texting them once a day for five minutes. It doesn’t work like that. Our walk with Jesus is the same. The more we seek Him, the more we grow.

Intentionality = Better Results (In Fitness & Faith)

Physically, I’ve learned that training smarter—not just harder—produces better results. Instead of working out just to say I did, I focus on quality. I go hard when it counts, then prioritize recovery so I don’t burn out.

The same applies to my faith. Instead of rushing through a devotional just to check it off my list, I spend real, focused time in prayer, worship, and reading the Word. And the more I do, the more I crave it.

Here are some simple habits I’ve built into my day to keep my body and spirit strong:

Ways to Make Time for God Every Day:

1. Start your morning in the Word. Even just 10-15 minutes sets the tone for your day.

2. Pray while walking, cooking, or driving. Turn off distractions and talk to God.

3. Listen to worship music or a faith-based podcast. Instead of scrolling or zoning out, fill your mind with truth.

4. Use meal times to pause and reflect. Read a short devotional while eating lunch.

5. Replace mindless scrolling with prayer. Yes, even when you're on the toilet (don’t judge—we all do it).

6. End your day with gratitude. Before bed, thank God for at least three things.

Daily Health Habits to Improve Your Health:

1. Move throughout the day. Push-ups, pull-ups, air squats—small movements add up.

2. Take a 10-minute walk after meals. Helps digestion and regulates blood sugar.

3. "Mobility snack" while doing tasks. Stretch while waiting for coffee, checking emails, or watching TV.

4. Hydrate first thing in the morning. Before coffee, drink a full glass of water.

5. Fuel your body well. Prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods that support energy and recovery.

6. Sleep like it’s your job. Quality rest is just as important as training.

The Power of Consistency

Spending more time with Jesus has completely changed my life. Not just in big ways, but in the small, everyday moments that add up over time.

Am I perfect? Not even close. There are days when I rush through my quiet time or let distractions pull me away. But perfection isn’t the goal—consistency is. And the more consistently I show up, the more I see God working in my life.

So here’s my challenge to you:
Take one or two of these habits and implement them this week. Be intentional with your time—both physically and spiritually—and see how much better you feel.

Because while overtraining can set you back, overinvesting in your relationship with Jesus will only take you further.

Let’s go all in.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for always being available, always listening, and always calling me into deeper relationship with You. Help me to not just give You the leftovers of my time, but to make You my priority. Teach me to steward my body well, and to train my spirit with even greater discipline. Draw me closer to You each day.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Know others who want to grow in their faith, optimize their health, and live a biblically sound life according to God’s word? Share this and let’s grow His Kingdom!

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