Why You Need to Unplug Before You Come Unglued

This Week’s Focus:

Discovering the sacred rhythm of rest and play through a monthly God Date.

Note to readers: This is the second in a series of terms shaping the Divine Flow Lifestyle—simple yet powerful practices that help us experience God in everyday life.

Last week we explored Quiet Time: The Power of Stillness. This week, we turn to something that sounds playful but holds deep spiritual wisdom: a God Date.

Reclaiming the Sacred Rhythm of Rest and Play

Life was supposed to get easier.

New technology promised freedom—faster computers, smarter phones, instant access to anything and anyone. But somewhere along the way, the promise backfired.

Instead of more space, we got more noise.

Everywhere we go, noise fills the air—music pounding at the gym, TVs blaring in restaurants, talk show voices blasting across radio and podcast airwaves.

And when the world quiets for a moment, we fill the silence by scrolling through our phones—doom-scrolling headlines, swiping through photos, consuming the next burst of distraction.

Our minds become fragmented, fractured—juggling constant noise, endless notifications, and ceaseless demands. Sleep suffers, stress spikes, focus falters. We lose touch with our inner selves—and with the still, small voice of God.

That’s why the practice of a monthly God Date is essential for our health and well-being. It’s a sacred rebellion against the noise—a playful return to wholeness.

Almost Unglued

Years ago, I was juggling work deadlines, four kids, and the constant pressure of feeling overwhelmed. My inbox never emptied, my calendar overflowed. Life’s demands pressed on me like a vise.

I snapped at my wife over little things. The kids got my frayed, impatient energy. Some nights I lay awake, heart racing, feeling like I was one step away from losing it. I was running on empty—almost unglued.

One day, I shared my frustration with my spiritual director. She listened quietly, then smiled and said,

“Brian, you need to start taking God Dates.”

I laughed. “What’s a God Date?”

She explained it was simple: block off sacred time each month—no work, no phone, no agenda—just you and God. It’s a time to be alone with yourself and the Creator to simply “Be” to recharge yourself and rekindle your connection with God.

“Put it on your calendar,” she said. “Treat it like an appointment you can’t cancel.”

So, I did. In my day planner, I wrote two secret letters: JC—for Jesus Christ. My colleagues didn’t need to know who I was meeting. But I knew.

At first it felt odd to sneak away from work each month. But soon it became like oxygen—fresh air for which my soul had been gasping.

On some God Dates, I strolled along a river or lake. Other times I sat in church or wandered in the woods, talking with God like an old friend.

Slowly, the noise in my mind quieted. My heart softened. My soul breathed again.

Monthly God Dates didn’t just restore my balance—they brought me home to myself and to God. I realized a God Date isn’t just time off, it’s time in—time to turn inward, to rest, to listen, and to let God speak to your heart and remind you who you truly are.

What’s a God Date?

In a world that never stops buzzing, rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a spiritual necessity. A God Date invites you to unplug, be still, and rediscover the quiet joy of simply being with God.

A God Date is an intentional, sacred time set aside each month to be alone with the Creator—away from the noise, the demands, and the endless to-do lists. It’s a personal retreat, a mini-sabbath, a time to reconnect with the Source of your being.

There’s no agenda other than rest, presence, and play.

You might take a long walk, sit quietly in prayer, journal by the lake, paint, sing, nap, or rest in the peaceful silence of an empty church.

The key is to make space—to listen, to breathe, to let God restore your soul—and to rediscover the childlike joy of being loved.

The Perfect Model

Jesus modeled this rhythm. After days of healing and teaching, when the crowds pressed in around him, the Gospels tell us:

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”
—Mark 6:31 (NIV)

And again:

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
—Luke 5:16 (NIV)

If even Jesus needed to pause, rest, and play in the presence of the Father—how much more do we?

Science Agrees

Modern research confirms what Jesus modeled. Studies show that regular rest and play reduce stress, boost creativity, and increase emotional resilience.

According to the National Institute for Play, adults who intentionally cultivate playful time experience greater life satisfaction, better problem-solving skills, and stronger relationships.

Rest and play aren’t indulgences—they’re essential for our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Permission to Play Again

Scheduling a God Date often requires something simple—but countercultural: permission.

Permission to step away from your responsibilities. Permission to stop producing. Permission to play—with God.

Many of us secretly believe that stepping away from our work or families for a few hours is selfish. But spiritually, it’s the opposite. It’s self-care in its purest form—a way to recharge your inner batteries with divine love so you can return to life energized and whole.

Think of it like a car battery. When the battery runs out of power, the car won’t start—no matter how much you turn the key and stomp on the gas pedal.

The same is true for our souls. Without time to recharge through stillness and playful connection with God, we run on empty and eventually come out sideways—irritable, tired, and disconnected.

Your God Date is your spiritual recharge. It’s how you plug your heart back into the Source—God’s divine love. And when you refill your soul with that love, you don’t just receive it, you become it.

Your Turn: Step Into a God Date

Now it’s your turn. This week, give yourself permission to play with God. Schedule a monthly God Date—half a day, a full day, whatever works. Write something simple in your calendar like “God Date” or “JC.”

After you schedule your God Date, guard it. Because when your soul is charged with divine love, you become a co-creator with God, bringing light, laughter, and life to everyone you touch.

When the day arrives, unplug. Step outside. Take a walk. Sit in silence. Laugh. Breathe. Let your heart rest in the Presence that loves you beyond measure.

To help you make the most of this sacred time, here’s a practical tool you can carry into your God Date. Think of it as your spiritual recharge kit, designed to help you fully step into presence, rest, and play.

A Tool for Your Spiritual Toolbox: The God Date “Sacred Pause Kit”

Give yourself a small, portable set of tools—or practices—that help you step fully into your God Date. Think of it as your spiritual recharge kit. Your Sacred Pause Kit might include:

• A Journal and Pen – To write prayers, reflections, or letters to God. Even a few bullet points can help your heart breathe.

• A Favorite Walking Spot or Quiet Space – A park, a lakeside path, a chapel—somewhere that feels sacred and allows you to unplug from noise.”

• Music or Silence – Choose gentle music that lifts your spirit or embrace complete quiet. The key is intentional presence.

• A Small Ritual – Light a candle. Take a few deep breaths. Read a short scripture passage, or recite a prayer like, I am here, I am present with you, God.

• A “Play” Element – Sketch, doodle, sing, or do something that sparks joy—remember, God Dates are sacred and playful.

• A Reminder Object – A stone, a bracelet, or even your calendar note “JC”—something that signals: this time is yours, reserved for you and God.

How to Use It:

1. Pack or gather your kit before your God Date.
2. Set aside distractions: phone off, notifications muted.
3. Choose a practice from the kit that draws you into presence.
4. Let yourself breathe, reflect, and play—no agenda, no pressure.

Another Tool for Your Spiritual Toolbox: Diving Deeper Into the Flow

Go deeper into learning and living the Divine Flow lifestyle with my book, Finding Flow: Spiritual Practices to Reclaim Inner Peace, Balance, and Wholeness. Full of real-life stories about God Nudges, God Dates, Quiet Time, and other spiritual practices, it’s your guide to enriching your spiritual toolbox and inspiring your journey.

Click here for the audio, Kindle, or paperback copy.

Next Week: What’s a God Nudge?

Next week, we’ll explore God Nudges—and how learning to trust them can transform your daily life.

Have a blessed week.

Your friend in the flow,

brian