Has your quiet time gone stale? Are you constantly running from one thing to the next and having trouble finding the time to get to know your heavenly Father? Or has the pandemic, with everyone in the same space all the time, kept you distracted?
Guilty? Me too!
I have been having such a hard time getting to a space where I can sit down ALONE and really focus on Him and what He wants to teach me each day. I used to get up before the rest of the family. I love when I can have the quiet house all to myself…but, with the pandemic, my husband and I have been doing early morning cardio and I physically cannot get up any earlier than the 5:30-5:45 am that we are doing now. So, I tried moving it to after breakfast – well, then my teenage girls are starting their day and NEED to tell me all their (insert eye roll) silliness before I head out to walk puppies. Next, I tried right after my midday puppies – yup, then people want their snack!
So, I have been struggling to find the right time and place to get with God. I have come up with some solutions that are working for me – at least for now! The really neat thing I am learning is that, it doesn’t have to look a certain way. I don’t have to sit down, light candles, drink coffee, check off a reading list or whatever else I have tried to include over the years. I don’t even have to read! And, it doesn’t have to look the same every day either! In fact, I think my quiet time lately has looked a little bit different every day. I’m loving it! It’s helping to keep it exciting.
The Essentials
So, I am experimenting because my dog walking schedule combined with my family’s schedules has my calendar looking different every day. Some things I have really liked, but they just don’t work when I have 8 hours of dog walks scheduled and my kids have to get to dance class on time. Others, I still need to tweak or try a few more times because I’m learning something new. But, I am finding that if I keep these few things in mind, that He will meet me every single time and I come away with a little bit more of Him.
Make Time For God
The next morning he was up long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. Later, Simon and the others went out to find him, and told him, “Everyone is asking for you.”
Mark 1:35-37
Jesus had just spent the entire day preaching, teaching, healing and casting out spirits. He must have been exhausted when He got to bed that night. But, instead of sleeping in, He got up early and found a place to be alone with God…But, He wouldn’t be alone for long before the interruptions and demands of a new day would begin…
I need to make time to get alone with God! It’s the only way to know for certain which direction I am to go.
Invite Holy Spirit to Teach You
You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them bread from heaven or water for their thirst.
Nehemiah 9:20
But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, in your hearts, so that you don’t need anyone to teach you what is right. For he teaches you all things, and he is the Truth, and no liar; and so, just as he has said, you must live in Christ, never to depart from him.
1 John 2:27
There are so many passages where we are promised the Holy Spirit to teach and train us. He even fills in the answers for us when we pray! But, we must open our hearts to let Him lead by asking Him to come and teach us.
Expect Holy Spirit to Come
“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13
God has promised to come when we call on Him. He has promised to send His Spirit to teach and train us. He will let us find Him and know Him!
Remember the Purpose
Keep your eyes fixed on Him. This “quiet time” is all about getting to know Him. It’s not about checking off a list of to dos or following a formula. Getting to know a friend often involves conversations, events – even parties! Getting to know God can include conversations and quiet, but also, singing, dancing and celebrating. It doesn’t have to be quiet! God can, and will meet you in all circumstances.
Here are some of the ideas I have been experimenting with lately:
- Structured Study time
- Prayer Walking
- Audio Bible “Reading”
- Praise music in the car while driving
- Podcasts from credible teachers of the Word
- Quiet meditation in nature – or in a closet
What does your time with God look like? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!