The reason “stacking days” has been floating around in my teacher brain this school year is because of two students in one of my world literature classes. I taught both of them in middle school, too, and while we had plenty of great days together, they both had days when I certainly was not their favorite teacher. They didn’t care for my expectations, and sometimes we just rubbed one another the wrong way, honestly. When they saw my name on their class schedule at the start of the school year, it’s possible that they were less than thrilled. 😉 But the year started off strongly and positively, and it has continued in the right direction ever since. I adopted the mindset of stacking day with these two students. Each additional day I can create positive interactions and learning experiences for them in my classroom adds to the progress of our respective relationships. And although I am waiting for the day that is surely coming when one or both of these students don’t love me for a period of time, in the meantime, I’m focused on stacking positive days with each of them. I’m giving them my consistent and predictable positivity, encouragement, respect, attention and love each day. Again and again. I’m stacking days so that as time passes, they slowly but surely realize they can set aside any previously held negative thoughts and just relax into a teacher-student relationship that is positive and productive.

Are you stacking days with Jesus? It is highly unlikely that every single time you open your Bible you read the exact word that absolutely changes the course of your day. It’s also possible that sometimes your worship experience with your church family feels encouraging and inspiring, while other times you’re fighting off yawns and just trying to keep your mind focused. We are imperfect humans, and anything we do is flawed—and that includes following Jesus. But guess what? We can stack days with Him in His presence. And even if they’re not always amazingly incredible, any time spent with Jesus brings us closer to Him, helps to build godly habits, and creates disciplines that can purify and sanctify.

Here are 10 quick ways to “stack days” with Jesus:

1. Read your Bible every single day. A verse? A chapter? An entire book? It doesn’t matter! Just read His Word daily.
2. Talk to God every single day. Whether in short little breath prayers throughout the day or for a longer set aside time period. He will take whatever He can get from you!
3. Thank Him for something every single day. After all, everything you have came from God, right? When was the last time you thanked Him for your friends? Your home? Your job? Your travel budget? Your safety on the way to/from work? Your family? Your church? Your pastor? You get the idea. Stacking days of gratitude will surely lift your eyes from the mess of the world and onto Jesus, the originator of everything.
4. Go to church every single Sunday. Like, every single Sunday! There are so many demands on our time and schedules in this day and age. Are you choosing to prioritize church? If not, I challenge you to do so. Regular worship with a gathering of believers is a part of God’s perfect design for life on earth. Throughout the Bible, we see His children gathered together in His name. Are you continuing this routine in your own life? Every single Sunday? 
5. Attend a small group. Hopefully your church has small groups available for members to join! Have you joined one yet? God wants His people to live in community. By attending a small group regularly, you get the chance to talk about the Bible and connect with other believers who can encourage and support you. If your church does not offer small groups, check out Bible Study Fellowship, which offers in-person and online classes across the globe.
6. Take notes. All the time! Whether it’s something the pastor says during his sermon or a comment made by a member of your small group, jot things down. When the radio deejay reads a Bible verse that pricks your heart, text yourself the reference at your next red light. Who knows when you might need to look back at what you’ve written down and apply it to a circumstance you’re facing. By keeping on keeping on with the notetaking, you’re building a habit of disciplined listening, and you’re preparing for yourself a wealth of godly tidbits to page through and read at a moment’s notice. 
7. Tithe. God’s Word commands us to give back our first 10% to Him. Do you have an automatic tithe/payment set up through your church’s giving channel? If not, I encourage you to do that right away. When you give back your first 10%, God will bless your remaining 90%. Remember, everything is actually His! So you’re not giving away YOUR hard earned money, you’re returning a small portion to the Lord as a sign of obedience, worship, trust and gratitude so more people can be reached.
8. Reflect on God’s character. You could do this by naming a few of His attributes when you pray. Or what about if right when you wake up in the mornings, you got into a habit of just speaking out into your still-dark bedroom a couple names of God. It’s so easy to forget that God is the main character of our individual lives. By spending a few minutes each day reflecting on who He is, we remember our humble place before Him, and we fill with gratitude for our great God.
9. Invite the Holy Spirit along with you every single day. When you walk out your front door, just say, Holy Spirit, come with me today! Let’s go on an adventure! By staying aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence, you are so much more likely to be sensitive to His promptings and guidance as you go about your day. What a gift!
10. Surrender. Over and over again. Every single day. Surrender your big questions and your small ones, too. Get in the habit of giving Him everything. 

All of these things can be done regularly and consistently. Some of them may be easier for you than others. They also might be easy some days, while feeling more laborious other days. Just remember, feelings aren’t facts! Be careful not to let yourself be governed by emotions. If you only do what you feel like doing, you’re on a dangerous path toward who knows where. 

On the other hand, if you purposefully stack days with Christ in a disciplined, consistent way, you’re on a path toward nearness with Him. You will become more and more like Him, bit by bit. And the more you “stack days,” the more you will be ready when a storm hits your life (which is inevitable from time to time). Also, the more you “stack days,” the more your good seasons of life will feel like great seasons simply because good times with Jesus so easily surpass even the best of times without Him. So stack those days!! Let’s go.