What’s a D.A.W.G. day? The acronym stands for “Day Alone With God,” and this practice can make a world of difference in your faith!
We can get so busy in our daily lives, moving from deadline to deadline and season to season. It’s easy to end up devoting just a few minutes a day and a few hours on Sunday to your relationship with the Lord, inadvertently pushing Jesus aside for the tasks that seem more urgent at the time.
This can leave your faith thread-bare, and lead to feeling distant from God. Of course, your daily responsibilities are important—but your spiritual life is even more important! When you’re connected to your faith, filled with the Holy Spirit and walking with Jesus, everything you do benefits greatly. After all, there’s no aspect of your life that God doesn’t care about. And being centered spiritually has a positive effect on everything you do.
Can You Really Get Away…for a Whole Day?
It might sound impossible to suggest that you take an entire day away from your daily responsibilities, focusing just on God. But think about it—have you ever gone on a vacation? Spent a day golfing? Watched an entire day of Shark Week documentaries? The truth is, as difficult as it might sound—you can probably manage to take a day off. And, the Lord knows that your time is precious. When you give Him the gift of your heart and your time, He knows that this is a sacrifice that means a lot. He won’t take your efforts lightly, and you’ll find that the blessings that result from your DAWG day are lasting and wonderful.
Schedule your DAWG day like you would a business trip or vacation. Get out the calendar, find a day that works with your schedule, and make a commitment to spend that day with God.
If at all possible, take an entire day—book a hotel room away from your usual responsibilities, even if it’s just a short drive away. Find a quiet spot near a lake or the ocean and set up a shelter where you can spend the day in peace. Rent a camping cabin somewhere beautiful and spend 24 hours in solitude, focusing on God.
What Does a DAWG Day Look Like?
This is your day alone with God, so it will look a little different for everyone. You’ll want to bring a Bible, a journal, and maybe some books to help you as you go through scripture. Some people like to check into a hotel or cabin the night before, and spend the evening in prayer. In the morning, you might get up early and watch the sunrise as you listen to worship music or read through the Psalms. A DAWG day is a perfect opportunity to fast as you pray, or you might bring a picnic lunch to enjoy as you take in the beauty of God’s creation.
Some people like to plan their DAWG day, making a schedule that includes prayer, praise, study, and worship. Bringing along a prayer list can be helpful, so that you have a guide that reminds you of praises and prayer requests from others. It can help to prepare a playlist of your favorite worship music—and don’t forget to include a way to listen to the music! If you play an instrument, you might want to bring it along so that you can worship in your own way.
You could spend an entire day focusing on how much God loves you, reading through verses that remind you of His powerful love. There might be something in your life that you’ve not been able to let go of, either a personal sin or failing or a sin committed against you—and spending the day seeking healing from the Lord can be life-changing.
Some Considerations for Your DAWG Day
DAWG days are for experiencing God in a deeper, more personal way. Plan to ask God to speak, and to help you hear what He has to say. Spend the day seeking His heart, His will for your life, and a better understanding of how you can live for the Lord. Leave open space for prayer, for simply listening for the Lord, and for letting the Spirit lead you.
Although you might have planned your time alone with God, be prepared to throw those plans right out the window and just follow God’s lead. There may be something entirely different that He’s been waiting to share with you!
Remember, Jesus often went to deserted places to pray and spend time alone with the Father. In doing so, he set a wonderful example for us—sometimes, it really takes getting away from distractions, everyday demands, and the needs of other people to really be able to focus on God. You’ll come away from this dedicated time of praise, worship, and connection with a renewed spirit, stronger in your faith and ready to go forward with fresh resolve!