Do you remember the days of the pandemic when everyone was working from home, and a long commute was going from your bedroom down to the basement? Well, those days have passed, and with many companies requiring people to return to the office, one thing has become abundantly clear. You need to buy more clothes. Gone are the days when you could put on a dress shirt and pajama bottoms or stay in your pajamas for your next Zoom call. Beyond the clothes, the morning routine of turning on the lights and opening your computer has been replaced by traffic jams, packed trains, or dealing with some other form of public transportation to get to work. Some of you can still work in a hybrid format, so you won’t need as many clothes as those who must return to the office five days a week. For the essential workers, who could never work from home, they might secretly be thinking it’s about time.
Even with going back to a commute, one thing remains constant. God has a desire to commune with you. So, before you get upset or angry at the thought of commuting again, what if you shifted your perspective on it? What if you turned your commute into a blessing and used it as an opportunity to grow closer to God? It may be difficult for some to see how this can happen, especially when the person cuts you off and offers you a one-finger salute. That’s why I want to help you explore how you can turn this commuting scenario into something productive for your walk with the Lord. Here are six ways to utilize your commute to grow closer to God:
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1. Turn Your Travel Time into Reading Time
1. Turn Your Travel Time into Reading Time
Commuting can be a great time to read. Most commuters today are locked into their own little world. They tune out from those around them for those moments they are commuting. Since you must be in this space for a defined period, then one way to use that time is to read your Bible or other books that can encourage you spiritually. You can even read the books I have written…sorry for the shameless plug. Regardless of what you read, don’t let this time go by idly. Now, I am not saying you need to read every day because sometimes you want to exhale from a long day at the office or a brief night of sleep at home, which is okay. But using your commute this way can be a great way to catch up on some reading, stimulate your brain, and feed your spirit.
Here is a little piece of advice. You may discover you are more attentive to reading before than after work because your brain may not be as sharp after spending all day in the office. But whether you do it before, after, or both, using this time wisely can fill your mind with inspiring things.
I know what some of you may be saying. Clarence, I drive to work, and as much as my car may have lane-changing safety features, I can’t drive and read. You are right, and I would not recommend it, but you can drive and listen. Download your favorite audio book, and you, too, can have the benefit of reading as you keep your eyes on the road. I think the other drivers would appreciate that.
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2. Start a Daily Dialogue with God During Your Commute
2. Start a Daily Dialogue with God During Your Commute
Since prayer is simply an ongoing conversation with the Lord, what better time to talk to the Lord than during your commute? Back in the day, if you saw someone driving down the road talking to themselves with no one else in the vehicle, you would think that person needed help. Today, because of technology, you can speak as freely as you desire because everyone else is probably conversing with someone anyway. They won’t know if you are talking to God or your wife about what’s for dinner. Either way, you won’t look out of place.
Now, I will caution you: This works great if you are commuting alone in your own car. If you are commuting with someone else or using public transportation, then this is the time to pray silent prayers because if not, you become the one people think needs help.
And let me encourage you with this truth–those silent prayers are as powerful as the vocal ones. Whether you're shouting it from the mountaintop or whispering it in your heart, God hears both the cries of your mouth and the meditation of your heart with perfect clarity. After all, if he could listen to Hannah's silent prayer in the temple, he could hear your quiet petitions today.
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3. Turn Your Commute into a Worship Session
3. Turn Your Commute into a Worship Session
An excellent way to commute to work is by filling your heart with singing and worship. With singing and worship, you can encourage your soul as you are making your way into the office. Back in the days of the Walkman or portable CD player, we had to travel with cassettes or CDs, so there was a limit to what you could listen to. You probably probably have that old cassette or CD you wore out because you played it so much. Now you have your phones and with all the streaming available, you can find whatever style of praise or worship music that inspires you.
Worshipping during your commute can lift your spirits and set you in the right frame of mind before entering the office. There is something about singing to the Lord that changes the atmosphere of where you are and also the atmosphere of your heart. You can walk into the office filled with joy, and the beauty of music is that it has sticking power. That one song that ministers to your heart can be the melody that stays with you throughout the day, keeping your heart and mind focused on the Lord.
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4. Fill Your Mind with Solid Teaching or Preaching
4. Fill Your Mind with Solid Teaching or Preaching
Do you have a favorite pastor or teacher you like to listen to? Hopefully, the pastor of your church is one of them, but if they are not, please don’t tell them that. If you are in the building on Sunday in church, you only hear one person preach or teach. However, there are some gifted and anointed teachers and preachers of the word of God to whom you may also enjoy listening. Using your commute to listen to those people can be an excellent way to find inspiration and education. This, again, is where technology comes into play because you can upload their podcast or use satellite radio to find them. I have always found this beneficial to my mind and spirit as I made my way to work.
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5. Take Advantage of the Opportunity to be Still
5. Take Advantage of the Opportunity to be Still
Every commute does not have to involve filling the air with singing, talking, or preaching. Sometimes, the best thing you can do during your commute is to take a moment and enjoy the stillness. Consider this for a moment. The commute time is your time. Chances are there are no kids or spouses around, and while there may be other people around you, you often don’t know them, and they may be enjoying their moment of solitude as well.
You can use this time to give your mind a break and rest it if necessary. If you are driving, don’t rest too much, or you may fall asleep. But you can just enjoy the silence of the car and meditate on things happening in your life, on the job, or in the family, or just enjoy the quiet ride and think of nothing at all. Sometimes, it is in these quiet moments that you find the clarity you need.
For many today, silence is challenging and even uncomfortable. When I used to work in sales, we did this exercise where I sat across from one of my colleagues, and we had to look at each other for ten seconds and not say anything. That felt very awkward, and those ten seconds felt like an eternity. Though we can get uncomfortable with silence, sometimes, it is in those quiet spaces that we hear God speaking the most. So use them to your advantage. You may discover that those moments of calm may become some of the best moments of your day.
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Originally published March 11, 2025.
