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"Help!" Lisa* whined, holding up her Spanish homework. "Can you explain this stuff?"

"I have volleyball practice," I said, shoving some books into my backpack. "Then play practice.  … "

"You're my only hope to ever pass this class," she pleaded.

"OK," I sighed. "I'll call you later tonight."

As Lisa disappeared down the hallway, I felt my face burn with anger. I wasn't mad at Lisa, though. I was mad at myself.

I just couldn't say no.

I couldn't say no to my friend Mary, who asked me to go out for volleyball. I liked being with my friends, but volleyball wasn't really my sport.

I couldn't say no to my friend Kerry, who begged me to try out for the school play. It was fun, but it took up a ton of time.

I'd said yes to so many things, I could barely keep up.

It was nearly midnight before I got everything done. As I collapsed into bed, I couldn't help but notice the devotional I was supposed to be reading to prepare for my next youth group meeting.

I flipped it open and started to read. But it didn't feel like quality time with God. Instead it felt like one more thing that I couldn't say no to.               

 By the time Sunday night rolled around, I was really behind on the readings for youth group. But I needed to reconnect with my friends and, most importantly, God.

As my mom drove me to church, I skimmed the devotional. I felt like it was written just for me. It was all about how people make themselves too busy.

We started off the night by singing praise songs. As the guitars blared through the gym, I felt totally connected to God. I forgot about my next volleyball game, the lines I had to memorize for the play, and all my homework.

When I joined my small group to discuss the devotional, I discovered I wasn't the only one who was feeling overwhelmed.

 "We're all busy," my youth group leader Sarah said. "But how does this affect your relationship with Jesus Christ?"

"I feel like I say yes to a lot of things," I said, taking a deep breath. "But I'm not sure I always say yes to God."

It wasn't easy to admit, but I knew it was true. I'd been a Christian a very long time and I wanted to have a deeper relationship with Christ. But somehow he'd become just another thing on my to-do list.

"I totally understand what you're saying," Sarah said softly. "This is something I've struggled with, too."

We spent the rest of that night figuring out ways to put God first. Sarah told us to pick a time every day that was reserved just for God. She told us to start small, so we'd stick with it and wouldn't set ourselves up for failure. Then she encouraged us to hold each other accountable for doing our personal devotions.

"I've discovered," Sarah added, "that the more time I spend with God, the less frazzled I feel. Invite him into your everyday life."

I made a goal to pray for at least 15 minutes each night and to read a devotional three times a week. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. Sarah and my friends from youth group started asking me about my devotional life. Knowing they were holding me accountable helped me stay on track.

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