Do you have a time set aside in your day to talk to God, and to allow Him time to talk back to you?
Some time ago, I would spend a quick few minutes, then move on to the next task at hand. I’m a sleeper, and one of my favorite things to do was to sleep. It still is. I would wake up with just enough time to get ready, but squeeze in a few moments to read my Bible then get ready to run out of the house.
Over time, and with someone else to care for, I’ve had to change my routine. I could no longer allow myself 30 minutes before I needed to be out the door.
Ironically, now I find myself waking up long before I need to leave. I find myself wanting to linger as I read my devotions and bible. I also read/heard something so powerful that it is shaping the way I spend time in devotion.
Do I read/have my devotion/pray, only to jump up when I’m done, never waiting for Jesus to answer? Or, do I leave time within my quiet time to hear a response to my prayers?
Now, I try to be intentional. Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes I find myself falling asleep as I’m sitting quietly, and I’m not speaking. I have to be intentional that it’s not just quiet time for me to go back to sleep, but it’s quiet time so that I can hear if a response is coming to my questions.
Sometimes it does not happen right away. Sometimes it’s when I’m busy doing something else that the answer to my questions or requests will come to me.
For me, I’ve had to carve time out in the mornings. I already told you that I love to sleep. It’s really my favorite past time. So when night comes after a long day of work and running errands and taking care of my child, I don’t even know if I would have the capacity to sit still for 2 minutes without falling asleep.
I’ve also found that when I start my mornings in devotion, I am strengthened to go through the day’s challenges.
I won’t tell you when to worship. That’s between you and God. But for me, I’ve found that my early morning quiet times are when I’m refreshed and ready to face the world. No matter what challenges may come.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that we are able to spend quiet time with you. Lord, please teach us what will work for our relationship with you so that we may be strengthened and fortified to face whatever comes our way and as we continue to grow in you.