{"id":32773,"date":"2022-09-10T16:22:40","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/most-churchgoers-say-they-spend-their-day-seeking-god\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:22:40","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:22:40","slug":"most-churchgoers-say-they-spend-their-day-seeking-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/most-churchgoers-say-they-spend-their-day-seeking-god\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Churchgoers Say They Spend Their Day Seeking God"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Aaron Earls<\/em><\/p>\n

American Protestant churchgoers say God is on their mind throughout their day in both intentional and impromptu moments.<\/p>\n

The 2019 Discipleship Pathway Assessment study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research identified seeking God as one of eight signposts of spiritual maturity.<\/p>\n

About 2 in 3 Americans who regularly attend a Protestant church (67%) disagree with the statement: \u201cThroughout many of my activities I don\u2019t think about God,\u201d with 40% strongly disagreeing.<\/p>\n

Fewer (19%) agree or say they neither agree nor disagree (14%).<\/p>\n

\u201cA Christian has the opportunity to walk with God,\u201d said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. \u201cMost churchgoers affirm their thoughts are on God as they go about life\u2019s activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Women are more likely than men (45% to 33%) to strongly assert they\u2019re thinking about God throughout their day.<\/p>\n

Middle-aged churchgoers are more likely to say they think about God during many of their activities. Those age 35 to 49 (42%) and 50 to 64 (46%) are more likely to strongly affirm their constant thoughts of God than those 18 to 34 (33%) and those 65 and older (36%).<\/p>\n

African American (55%) and Hispanic churchgoers (51%) are more likely to strongly assert they regularly think about God during the day than white churchgoers (33%) or churchgoers of other ethnicities (32%).<\/p>\n

Black Protestants (58%) are more likely than evangelical Protestants (40%) or mainline Protestants (27%) to strongly disagree they don\u2019t think about God throughout many of their activities.<\/p>\n

Those who attend worship services at least weekly (41%) are more likely than those who attend less frequently (36%) to strongly disagree.<\/p>\n

Intentional moments<\/strong><\/p>\n

Around 2 in 5 churchgoers (38%) say they set aside time for private worship, praise or thanksgiving to God every day.<\/p>\n

Another 29% say they do so a few times a week, while 13% set aside the time once a week, 7% a few times a month, 4% once a month, and 9% rarely or never.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving an attitude of praise requires noticing who God is and what He is doing. This takes intentionality,\u201d said McConnell. \u201cOnce we choose to observe His work, however, the thanks and worship come naturally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Female churchgoers (40%) are more likely than their male counterparts (36%) to say they set aside those moments every day.<\/p>\n

African Americans (45%) and Hispanics (43%) are also more likely than whites (36%) or other ethnicities (31%) to have specific times for private worship, praise or thanksgiving every day.<\/p>\n

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See also  Pastors Concerned with Growing Leaders, Reaching Outsiders<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Black Protestants (46%) and evangelical Protestants (40%) are more likely than mainline Protestants (29%) to say they have such times daily.<\/p>\n

Those who attend church at least weekly (40%) are more likely than those who attend less frequently (33%) to have set aside times for private worship every day.<\/p>\n

Impromptu moments<\/strong><\/p>\n

Around three-quarters of Protestant churchgoers (78%) agree they find themselves praying at the spur-of-the-moment throughout the day, with 44% strongly agreeing.<\/p>\n

Few disagree (8%), while 14% neither agree nor disagree.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho we turn to when we have good or bad news says a lot about our relationships,\u201d said McConnell. \u201cIf we immediately want to share life\u2019s ups and downs with God and ask Him for help and guidance, that demonstrates we value our relationship with Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Around half of women who regularly attend a Protestant church (49%) strongly agree they find themselves praying throughout the day, compared to 36% of male churchgoers.<\/p>\n

Evangelical Protestants (46%) and black Protestants (45%) are more likely to strongly agree than mainline Protestants (32%).<\/p>\n

Those who attend a worship service four times a month or more (46%) are more likely to strongly agree than those who attend less frequently (38%).<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus opened the way for people to enter God\u2019s presence through His death on the cross,\u201d said McConnell. \u201cAs individuals respond to Christ\u2019s call, they see Deuteronomy 4:29 fulfilled in their lives\u2014when they seek God with all their soul, they will find Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Aaron Earls<\/h2>\n

@WardrobeDoor<\/p>\n

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Aaron is a writer for LifewayResearch.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n