It is especially hard for mothers of young children, (who are up at night with feedings or non-sleeping little ones) to try and get up early to spend some quiet time with God. In this exhausting season of life, we even nap when the little ones nap! So how can you sneak in quiet time. I read children's devotions to my preschooler. She loves the one-on-one time we spend reading. Don't think you could learn anything from a children's devotional book? Today's lesson was on Philippians 2:14, "Do everything without complaining or arguing." Surely none of you has a problem with that one? (I do!) So while the examples they use in the book may not be relevant to me, but my daughter, I can still challenge myself with the verses and apply them to my life.
Maybe you're busy in the car. Whether you are a busy executive heading to meetings, or the car pool mom, the radio is a great source of quiet time. When taking my oldest daughter to school every day, I always listened to an awesome pastor, Bob Coy. I never failed to be challenged and learn something. He is no longer in the time slot of my car pool drive, much to my disappointment, but I can still find his radio show here.
I'm sure there are loads on Internet pastors out there, for those of you who spend lots of time hanging out at the PC. If listening is your thing, you can hit Bob Coy or another site. Reading more your thing? I receive the P31 daily devotion in my email inbox every day. While checking my email, I squeeze in devotion time by reading their daily devotion. Even some of the blogs I read challenge me and teach me biblical lessons. Quiet time? Yes it is.
Want more bible intake without someone else's commentary? How about the bible on CD? I have it, and can take my 2 mile walk while listening to scripture come alive with animated voices. It is energizing to hear and picture the scriptures come to life while I walk. This is also a wonderful time to pray without interruption! Combining walking & quiet time gives me a chance to exercise my body & spirit.
Finally, I'm about to tell you my NEW SECRET WEAPON. Yes, this is going to revolutionize my quiet time. I just know it. Remember you heard it here first. THE TIME CHANGE! Yes, next weekend (Nov. 2) daylight savings time will end and we will revert to standard time. This means we'll FALL BACK gaining an hour. Well, usually I still wake up with my body clock saying "yes, I know the clock says it's 6, but feels like 7 to me." I plan on using my body clock to start having quiet time in the morning. It won't be a stretch to wake up at the same time as I have been, only now it will be one hour earlier. I'll let you know how it goes.
Do you have any quiet time tips?
Mark 1:35 -- Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Luke 5:16 -- But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed
Luke 9:28 -- About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
20 comments:
Great tips, Kelly!!
My quiet time is early in the morning, because that is when I am my freshest and I purposely devote this time to the Lord.
But, as you say, a children's devotional, anytime spent with God is crucial to our spiritual development.
I co-teach the 2 year old preschoolers on Sunday mornings, and they are far from quiet. But, I have to say that each Sunday is a blessing to me because of the way they see Jesus--just see Him and love Him--without all the complications we bring from our lives!!
And that is the way I want to be--
coming to Jesus with the heart and mind of a little child--just as He said.
Beth
A couple years back, this was my attitude: I didn't have time to schedule an every day quiet time. Homeschooling four children, working part time etc. etc. When I finally prioritized and said - I don't care if I have time - I'm doing it in the morning, it's THAT important. I find that I now have MORE time. Can you believe it? My schedule has increased, but my quiet time remains in the morning, AND God has given me the grace for every day and less stress to boot. Thanks for showing how important it is!
I too have learned that mornings are by FAR the best time to get alone with God. I'm not always quiet though. ; )
Then my desire is to "pray at all times". To have that ongoing conversation throughout the day. He is so patient with us.
My quiet times are in the morning. I am a morning person so I get up before anyone else in my family and it gives me a chance to sit quietly and meditate. I do a little Bible reading too during that time. I am going to use your idea myself when the time changes. I think I will get up a little earlier and hit the gym and then get to work earlier. I am the first one in my office to arrive which gives me a chance to call up my secret weapon; Biblegateway.com I log on first thing in the morning and then usually keep it on my computer all day. I read first thing in the morning, during my breaks and then when I need to calm down or just relax. It works for me.
I love your tips! We enjoy the devotion times with our kids as well. I like the radio idea, even though he's not on the radio anymore I could have him talk through the computer while folding clothes! Instead of a early morning queit time I'm more of a soon after the kiddos are in bed. Thanks for the encouragement to get more God fresh squeezed into our day!
This is a struggle for everyone. For me, it has to start first thing in the morning, BEFORE my kids get up. :)
I think that it needs to be an ongoing thing, though. We need to be looking for those great opportunities that you talked about all day long!
Deuteronomy 6:7 And you shall carefully teach them to your sons, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
I agree with all of you, morning is a good time for me.
Although during our warmer months, I will go out on the deck in the early afternoon to spend time with God.
I use to love listening to Pastor Bob but we don't get it here,anymore:(
I've been working on finding the right quiet time. Unlike most of you, mornings will definitely NOT be my time. It's usually very late at night.
I do like the idea of the Bible on tape. I think I'm going to try that one.
Sometimes when I'm walking, I'll wear my headphones with nothing on so that i have time to think, reflect and pray and people I pass wave but don't stop to chat because of the headphones.
I love to hear how others spend time with God. Isn't it great how He meets with us so personally.
He gave me a Scripture a couple of years ago
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:147
I was going through a new adjustment time with having two babies under the age of two. He whispered to my heart and showed me that I needed to get up before the boys and spend time with Him and that He would fill me with His word, which is what I needed for that day. Quiet is sometimes hard to find...but God is not.
When we seek Him we will find Him.
These are all great ideas, being open and willing to hear God throughout our days.
Great ideas, Kelly, and I'm so glad you posted about the time change because I had no idea when that was happening.
When my kids were small I had a hard time finding time to spend with God because when I had a spare moment all I felt like doing was sleeping! I remember reading that Ruth Bell Graham kept an open Bible on her kitchen counter so she could catch snippets throughout the day and also to handle discipline issues with the kids when they arose.
Good suggestions! I love that your verses all had prayer. Kelly, personal question...if that is ok. Does 'chatty' really describe you? When I saw you title post, I wondered if it is difficult for chatty to be quiet and listen? Sometimes the Lord has to give me the referee time out signal, meaning it is His turn to talk and for me to B quiet :) I think I see His hands motioning me now...bye!
Kelly,
Thanks for the tips. I'm not super-organized with my schedule so I do tend to catch my quiet time as I can. Your ideas are great ways to be creative, but still deliberate, with God.
Blessings,
Kelli
When I go into quiet time expecting no so quiet time God always shows up... Just this morning noodle climbed in my bed during my quiet time and fell back to sleep. It was so amazing to have that time with God and my little man sleeping next to me... God is good :) !! Plus when I am interupted I have already prepared my heart and mind for the distraction so frustration doens't creep into my life.
Here are some things that I have been doing for quite some time as well as what God has just been impressing on me since I now have the girls in the house and have to adjust to a whole new schedule.
I set my homepage on my computer to Spurgeons Daily Devotions. It is the first thing that comes up so there is no excuse for putting anything in front of that 2 minutes with God. I can't tell you how many times God has spoken to me through those.
Like you I get P31 devotions in my email as well as WOF devotions, and Turning Point Daily Devotions. Again, God has used all of these to speak to me even when I'm in a hurry.
I pray in the shower.
Since I now have to drop off Em at school and then go back and pick up her and Olivia, I have about 20 minutes of sitting in line at the school. Today God said "Take your Bible Study with you!"
I also have kids Bible songs on CD and keep them in the CD player at home. The girls love to listen to them and it keeps them occupied. So while they're being filled with God through song, I can take a little time to read my Bible, pray, or do my study.
When I was working outside the home and life was getting waaayyy to hectic, I used to go park my truck somewhere quiet and alone at lunchtime and spend my lunch with God.
Great topic CK!
Hi, Kelly!
Wow...I was JUST thinking about the scriptures indicating how morning is a special time. But God wants us any time of day to spend devoted time with Him. He just wants our hearts...morning, noon and evening!
I am a morning person, so I like to rise early. (I am usually asleep then by 9 PM!)
My tip: Be organized before you go to bed to you eliminate distractions in the morning. In general, before I go to bed, the table is set for breakfast, the coffee pot is prepared and set for automatic, and the kid's lunches are packed for the next day. And their backpacks are packed and ready to go. I also have their school outfits out and ready for them to get dressed in the morning.
This really doesn't take too long and it goes a very long way in preparing myself for quiet time the next morning.
I find if my morning "stuff" is done, then my quiet time is more peaceful and my mind is on HIM, not pressured by what needs to be done. My goal is to be sure I have reserved 45 mins to an hour each morning of quiet time in the Word and praying. (I get up before everyone, too, so it really is "quiet" for me.)
One other tip...don't go on line or check e-mail before you have your quiet time. Give Him the firstfruits of your day. Go straight to His Word. (unless you are following an on-line devotional or study of course!)
It took me years to get to the place of prioritizing my quiet time as #1 and revolving my day around that. Bottom line...I NEED Him!
Well,that's all I got! I was asked to speak at a women's breakfast, and I have been prayerfully planning on speaking about quiet time and sharing of my "tips". Your blog is timely....and my comment is probably way too long!
Now, I am off to bed....a little later than usual! But we are allowing the kids to stay up LATE this school night to watch the Phillies in the first few innings of the World Series! Go Phillies! :)
Love this post! I'm writing one on the busyness of life -- great minds think alike!
Oh, and I LOVE the new blog design. So very you!
This is starting to look like Tuesday's tips.
All Great suggestions.
Note to "b his girl"...Yes, Kelly is Chatty BUT Kelly is also a terrific listener and I know for a fact that she knows when to chat and when not too. I guess she is what you would call a "controlled" chatter.
I'm pretty sure I know her better than or at least as well as most people, I'm her sister.
Now as for me, I am NOT a controlled chatter. Lucky for me, Chatty Kelly helps me remember to stop and think. Sometimes I even follow her advise.
Ahhh, I love your secret weapon! (And I'm thankful for the heads-up...That wasn't even on my screen. Thanks!)
I fully agree that children's devotionals count. God will use anything.
Hi Kelly..
Thank you droping by and sharing your heart and words of encouragement. I hope you got the 2 awards on my blog. My quiet time is when I drive to work in my car. I cover myself in prayer as I drive, I cover each one of my family members. I give the Lord my day, my job, boss, co-workers and clients. I have a beautiful drive to work each day and I speak to the Lord just as if he sitting next to me on the passenger seat *smile*.
Hugz Lorie
Well ADHD-Jo said it before me but I was thinking it. (Tuesday Tips) LOL. Of course God planned that one special so that I could meet some really great ladies. :D
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