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November 3, 2025 17 mins

Find the full episode here >>> LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Ever crawl into bed and realize the day rushed by without a single quiet pause with God? We’ve all been there, and today we open a gentle but practical path forward—small, sacred pauses that fit real life. Instead of waiting for a perfect schedule, we can choose presence in the middle of the mess and discover how a five-minute rhythm can reset the heart without adding pressure.

We start by naming the “later” mirage and trading perfection for grace. You’ll also get a clear, repeatable five-minute routine. We show how daily margins—brewing coffee, traffic, dishes—can become invitations for awareness instead of distractions. With Mary and Martha as our lens, we embrace rhythms, not rules, and learn to adapt practices to changing seasons: one verse on hard days, deeper study when life allows. Along the way, we share community resources at DevotionDrops.com along with gentle encouragement to keep showing up, even when it’s messy or brief.

If you’re longing for a God-aligned day that blends sacred and ordinary, this conversation offers tools you can use immediately. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find the show. What small moment will you reclaim for prayer today?

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Paula Behrens (00:00):
Have you ever crawled into bed at night and
realized you didn't pause onceduring the day to talk with God?
You meant to, you planned to.
You even set your Bible on thekitchen counter open to your
favorite psalm, right next toyour essential oil diffuser.
But somewhere between themorning coffee spill, the
unexpected work email, and thelast load of laundry, your good

(00:21):
intention slipped intotomorrow's to-do list.
Well, you're not alone.
The struggle to find time forspiritual growth is one of the
most honest confessions amongChristians today.
We want to grow in faith.
We long to feel close to God.
We know that prayer andscripture are the lifeblood of a
vibrant relationship withChrist, yet the pace of modern

(00:42):
life feels like a treadmill thatnever stops.
And somewhere in the middle ofthe busyness, our spiritual
rhythm gets tangled in the noiseof everything else.
So, how do we untangle ourtime?
How do we find spiritual growthin a world that glorifies
hurry?
We'll have a little heart toheart about that in a few

(01:04):
moments.
But first, funny story.
When I first began my seminarywork while serving two church
congregations full-time,everyone assumed I had my daily
devotional time perfectlyorganized.
But truth be told, there weremornings I could barely find
five minutes to catch my breath,let alone dive into deep
reflection.
One day, as I rushed out thedoor with mismatched shoes, I

(01:28):
realized that even in my chaos,there was a lesson.
Embracing God's grace andself-forgiveness, I realized
that true success in mydevotional life requires
prioritizing my spiritualpractices.
Are you finding it challengingto maintain your spiritual
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day?

(01:49):
I'm Paula, and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
I longed for a deeperconnection with God but
struggled with consistency.
Then I found the perfectapproach.
If you seek simple ways todeepen your connection with God,
this podcast is for you.
Please take a moment to followthe show, leave a review, and

(02:10):
share with your friends who needa little biblical encouragement
today.
Hey friend… I know how exhausting it can be to chase after a devotional routine that’s just not working for you, constantly restarting with good intentions while fighting through distractions that keep pulling you away from God. I'vewalked that path myself, that
cycle of trying my best butfalling short.

(02:32):
That's precisely why I createdthe Aroma of Christ Coaching
Hour.
It's a sacred space where wework together to develop a peace
reset utilizing a complementaryessential oil sampler that I'll
send to you ahead of oursession.
This unique approach will bringemotional alignment and clarity
to your spiritual journey.
Imagine stepping into a rhythmthat truly refreshes your soul,

(02:55):
anchoring you in God's presencefor that lasting sense of calm
you've been craving.
This is your invitation to makeit doable today.
Turn your quiet time into asource of thriving
faith. Save your seat now for an Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour + Peace RESET at paulabehrens.com/coaching.
That's Paula Behrens B E H R EN S .com /coaching (no spaces).

(03:21):
It's time to start breathingpeace into your walk with Jesus.
All right, let's get started.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal, and cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.
It is so easy to imagine thatspiritual growth will happen
later, later when the kids areolder, later when the work slows

(03:41):
down, later when life feelscalmer.
But here's the truth later is amirage.
The enemy loves to whisper thatyou'll have more time tomorrow
because it keeps you from makingtime today.
God isn't waiting for you toclear your schedule before he
meets with you.
He's waiting for you to invitehim into your schedule now.

(04:02):
He's not looking for hours ofpolished prayer, he's looking
for your heart in the middle ofyour everyday moments.
When Jesus walked this earth,he was surrounded by people all
the time, crowds pressing in,disciples asking questions,
needs pulling on him from everydirection.
And yet he managed to slip awayto pray.
Not because he had more timethan you and I do, but because

(04:26):
he chose to make time.
Luke chapter 5, verse 16 tellsus, but Jesus often withdrew to
lonely places and prayed.
He didn't wait for the perfectmoment, he created it.
Maybe that's the shift we needtoo.
Not waiting for open spaces inour day, but creating small
sacred pauses that invite Godin.

(04:49):
Just as Jesus often retreatedinto places of tranquility,
places that were likely imbuedwith the natural aromas of the
earth, so too can we createspaces where our senses draw us
closer to God.
You might be surprised how thesense of smell can play a role
in your faith journey.

But here's the thing (05:09):
God designed our bodies in such an
intricate way that our sense ofsmell directly connects to the
limbic system, the part of ourbrain that governs emotion and
memory.
That's why fragrance cantransport you back to a moment
or calm your spirit almostinstantly.
When paired with prayer orscripture, scent becomes a

(05:32):
beautiful anchor for your faith.
Imagine beginning yourscripture reading time with the
soothing aroma of frankincenseknown since biblical times as a
symbol of worship and holiness,or diffusing citrus oils like
orange or bergamot during yourmorning devotions to lift your
mood and focus your mind.
The scent becomes part of yoursacred rhythm.

(05:55):
So that later, when you catchthat same fragrance in the air,
your heart remembers this iswhere I meet with God.
That's not mysticism, that'smindful worship.
You're using what God alreadycreated to bring your wandering
heart back to Him.
If you're an essential oilenthusiast, you already know how

(06:18):
these aromas can shift theatmosphere of your home.
Why not let them help youcreate a space that welcomes in
His presence, as the ApostlePaul reminds us in 2 Corinthians
chapter 2, verse 15, For we areto God the pleasing aroma of
Christ.
Another simple yettransformative tool for

(06:40):
enhancing your quiet time isjournaling.
This isn't about perfecthandwriting or fancy stationary,
it's about genuine, raw,reflective writing that allows
you to see where God is at workin your life.
When life moves fast,journaling slows it down long
enough for you to notice gracein motion.

(07:00):
If you've ever said, I justdon't have time to journal,
well, I understand.
But what if you reframe it as,I'll take two minutes to write
one sentence?
You can jot down yourgratitude, a prayer, or a single
takeaway from your morningverse.
Over time, those quick entriesbecome a mosaic of faith,

(07:22):
snapshots of your spiritualgrowth.
Maybe you keep a small notebookin your purse or use your notes
app on your phone.
Maybe you scent your journalpages with a drop of lavender or
cedar wood oil to associatethat moment with calm
reflection.
Even one line a day can becomea conversation with God.
Journaling is less aboutrecording perfection and more

(07:44):
about remembering presence.
Let's get practical for amoment.
You might be saying, Okay,Paula, this all sounds
beautiful, but how do I fit itin?
Here's a simple rhythm thattakes less than five minutes.
Step one, breathe.
Take a deep, slow breath.
Inhale peace.

(08:06):
Exhale pressure.
If you like, put a drop of yourfavorite essential oils in your
palms, like peppermint forclarity or frankincense for
focus.
Breathe in the aroma and remindyourself, I am in the presence
of God.
Step two, read one verse.

(08:27):
You can open your YouVersionapp, a devotional book, or
simply recall a verse you'vememorized.
Either read or recall itslowly.
Speak it out loud if possible.
Let the words land softly inyour heart.
Step three, reflect.
Ask, what is God showing meright now through this verse?

(08:49):
It doesn't need to be profound,just honest.
Step four, respond.
Say a short prayer.
It could be as simple as, Lord,help me walk in this truth
today.
Five minutes.
That's all.
It's not about quantity, it'sabout connection.
And here's what happens themore you do it, the more you'll

(09:13):
crave it.
Those five minutes will groworganically into longer moments
as your soul learns to rest inthe rhythm of grace.
Let's talk about those hiddencorners of your day, the
in-betweens, the time spentwaiting for your coffee to brew,
sitting in traffic or scrollingthrough your phone before bed.

(09:34):
Those margins hold potentialfor divine encounters.
Instead of filling them withdistraction, what if you invited
God into them?
You could listen to an audioBible while commuting, whisper a
prayer while brushing yourteeth, play worship music while
cooking dinner.
You're not adding tasks, you'retransforming moments.

(09:56):
God doesn't only dwell insanctuaries, he walks with you
in carpool lanes and groceryaisles.
When you begin to see everymoment as an opportunity to
connect with Him, the sacred andthe ordinary start to blend
beautifully.
That's how faith fits naturallyinto a busy life.
It stops being a separatecategory and becomes the rhythm

(10:18):
beneath it all.
Let's be real.
There will be days when youmiss your devotional time, skip
prayer or feel spiritually dry.
The enemy loves to turn thosemoments into shame-filled
whispers.
See, he says, You're failing atfaith again.
You're not disciplined enough.
You'll never be consistent.

(10:40):
But guilt has no place ingrace.
Jesus isn't standing at the endof your day with crossed arms,
disappointed that you didn't doenough.
He's walking beside you,whispering, Come, rest with me
even now.
Remember the story of Marthaand Mary in Luke chapter 10?
Martha was busy, so busy.

(11:03):
She was serving, preparing,organizing, all good things, but
she missed the better thing,sitting at Jesus' feet.
When she complained to Jesusabout Mary's lack of help, he
gently said, Mary has chosenwhat is better, and it will not
be taken away from her.
Friend, you don't have to earnyour place at his feet.

(11:25):
You just have to choose it,even in the smallest moments.
So if today felt chaotic andyou only had 30 seconds to
breathe out, Lord help me, thatcounts.
That's prayer, that's presence,that's relationship.
Sometimes spiritual growthdoesn't come in bursts of

(11:45):
revelation, but in the quietlulls between noise.
Those rare moments when thehouse is still, the phone is
silent, and you finally exhale.
That's when your soul starts tohear God's voice again.
Psalm 62.1 says, Truly my soulfinds rest in God, my salvation

(12:10):
comes from him.
If your spiritual life feelstangled, maybe God isn't asking
you to do more, but to be stillenough to notice him.
Still enough to hear thewhisper beneath the noise, to
hear him saying, I am here.
That whisper is wheretransformation begins.

(12:34):
So how do we make spiritualgrowth sustainable, not just a
weekend goal or New Year'sresolution?
Well, it begins with rhythm,not rules.
Think about how your body hasnatural rhythms, breathing,
sleeping, eating.
Your spirit thrives on rhythmstoo.
Daily prayer, devotions, andjournaling prompts aren't meant

(12:56):
to be rigid checklists.
They are invitations tocommunion.
If you find mornings toohectic, meet with God in the
evenings.
If your day starts early, letyour commute become your prayer
space.
The point is not when youconnect, it's that you connect.
For example, you could create asimple morning scent ritual.

(13:19):
Each time you apply youressential oil, say a verse like,
This is a day that the Lord hasmade.
I will rejoice and be glad init.
Or perhaps your nightly routinebecomes an emotional reset.
You journal one sentence,diffuse lavender, and thank God
for one thing He did that day.
That's spiritual growth in reallife.

(13:41):
Now there will be seasons whenyour faith rhythm changes.
New babies, job transitions,caregiving, or health challenges
can all disrupt routines.
But spiritual growth isn'tabout perfection, it's about
perseverance.
Ecclesiastes 3.1 reminds us,there is a time for everything
and a season for every activityunder the heavens.

(14:03):
If you're in a busy oroverwhelming season, simplify.
One verse, one breath, oneprayer.
If you're in a spacious season,expand.
Study deeper, journal longer,pray wider.
What matters is not how muchyou do, but that you stay
connected.
God's love doesn't fluctuatewith your level of busyness.

(14:28):
His presence is steady, evenwhen your schedule is not.
Okay, let's bring this closer tohome.
What if your morning coffeebecame communion?
What if washing the dishesbecame worship?
What if every time you feltoverwhelmed you paused, not to
scroll, but to say, Lord, showme where you are in this moment?

(14:49):
That's what it means to praywithout ceasing.
It's not about constanttalking, it's about continual
awareness.
When your heart stays turnedtoward him, even your errands
become encounters.
That's living on purpose inChrist, not waiting for the
perfect time, but inviting himinto every time.

(15:12):
God delights in the one whokeeps showing up, even when it's
messy, even when it's short,even when it's whispered between
tasks.
So take heart, friend.
You're growing right where youare, in the middle of your time
tangle, learning to untie it onemoment at a time.
And in the process, you'lldiscover something beautiful.

(15:36):
The more you seek him in yourminutes, the more you'll sense
him in your moments.
Before we close the show today,I want to personally invite you
to join our Facebook community,Biblical Encouragement and
Devotional Rhythms withEssential Oils.
It's a peaceful,Christ-centered space where
spirit-focused friends arelearning how to make time for

(15:58):
God in the middle of real life.
You'll find practicalencouragement, Bible-based
inspiration, and gentlereminders that you don't have to
do this faith walk alone.
Inside the group, you'll alsofind a free download each month
to help you stay spirituallyrefreshed and focused.
This month for November, we'refeaturing "Awaken to Aroma:

(16:19):
Scent, Scripture and BrainHealth," a beautiful resource
exploring how fragrance andfaith work together to renew
your mind and strengthen yourwalk with God.
Come join us and experience thecommunity, encouragement, and
grace that's waiting for you.
Visit DevotionDrops.com toconnect today.
That's Devotion DropsD-R-O-P-S .com (no spaces).

(16:44):
Let's keep growing in Christone fragrant, faith-filled
moment at a time.
Thank you for tuning in today.
And remember, just like settingbiblical boundaries, it's okay
to say no to things that don'tserve you well, like that third
piece of cake at the churchpotluck.
If you were blessed by thisepisode, be sure to share it

(17:07):
with a friend and leave a reviewso that we can reach even more
listeners like you.
Check the show notes for allthe links.
Join us next week as wecontinue to discover how to live
on purpose in Christ.
Until then,keep leaning into Him and and
walking in His wisdom.
See you next time.
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