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When Do You Have Your Quiet Time?

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Women Living Well Blog: When Do You Have Your Quiet Time?

Women Living Well Blog

Monday, October 13, 2008

When Do You Have Your Quiet Time?

When do you have your quiet time? That's a question I get asked a lot and with each season of life it is at a different time. There are many great Christian heroes of the faith down through the ages who had early morning quiet times including David, Daniel and Jesus. In Mark 1:35 it says "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place and there he prayed."

But I have found that some seasons of life do not lend themselves to a consistent morning wake time like when I had newborn babies! My energy level was low in the morning and I found that during the children's afternoon naps I could have a more "alert" quiet time! But I have passed through that season of life and am able once again to return to my morning quiet time.

So every morning I meet with God around 6am-ish. The discipline of rising early is not as difficult as the discipline of going to bed early! The computer and television lure me into staying up late and create a weariness that would not exist if I had more discipline!

So here's what I do - each night my goal is to go to bed while there is a 10 on the clock. So if I get to bed at 10pm - I get 8 hours of sleep and if I get to bed at 10:59pm I get 7. Once I see a ten on the clock - I wrap up what I'm doing and head to bed. Sometimes I get sidetracked - but as the 10 o'clock hour comes to a close - I can be found rushing to my bed so that I am in my bed when that clock hits 10:59pm.
Let me shout from the roof tops -this blog is NOT to make moms of nursing babies or toddlers who are still waking in the night, to feel condemned for not rising early!!!! I think God does not command that we rise early for this very reason - there are situations in life where it just is not possible! So I cannot speak where the Bible does not speak!
Evening quiet times may work best for you, for me I often think I will do it later but then it just doesn't happen. So this is what works for me. Elizabeth George says there is just a small window of time in the morning that slams shut the moment your children wake. So even if you can only rise just 5 minutes early - grab that window of time and delight in your time with your Heavenly Father. He loves you so!

It's your turn. When do you have your quiet time? What works best for you and why?

Walk With the King!
Courtney
http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

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7 Comments:

Blogger Kristi Stephens said...

I have found that mornings just don't work for me in general... I have tried since I was a teenager to consistently have a morning quiet time, and I never have succeeded for more than a few days in a row.

Like you said, at this stage of my life (with two small children who nap), afternoon naptime is my sanctuary. I have to be careful - my time with the Lord can be swallowed up with housework, facebook (!!), blogging, etc. in the blink of an eye!

October 13, 2008 at 9:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For me when it comes to spending quiet time with God I believe that there is one important thing for myself to keep in mind. God doesn't want half of me,He wants all of me. He wants my best. Even in the old testatment if it wasn't the perfect sacrifice He wasn't pleased. I don't feel that it matters what time of day I choose to give to God as long as I am happily giving my whole self to Him. I shut the phone off if it's during the day. I want to make sure that He is giong to have my full attention. There is nothing worse to me than trying to talk to a friend that is "texting" someone else. I think God feels the same way when I am talking to Him and I allow distractions in. I can so easily get side tracked with the phone or something else unless I turn them off.
When I am walking closly with God I don't struggle to find quiet time. In fact is seems that He will even wake me up in the night or early morning. I love those times best.
I have never had a set time. I just grap opportunities. It makes me sad when I think of the opportunities that I have let slip by.

October 13, 2008 at 1:08 PM  
Blogger Courtney (Women Living Well) said...

Ah - yes, the morning quiet time is a challenge - but I have found that having a solid appointment with God every morning when the alarm goes off helps me not miss a day.

Today I did my prayer journaling at 6amish and posted the blog. Then from 10:45-11:30 I did my Bible study (I'm in a Beth Moore study currently). Often I save indepth study time for later in the day or at night when the kids are in bed!

Kristi and Christa - thanks for your testimonies of the realities of fighting for that quiet time! It doesn't come naturally but once we set aside distractions - it is usually the sweetest time of day! Keep it up!

October 13, 2008 at 1:57 PM  
Blogger Casey said...

Unfortunately at this time in my life I am unable to commit to the mornings. I felt guilty after doing the Elizabeth George study and then I prayed about it. My QT is at night. I find this time the best because I reflect over my day. I am able to give God all the praise and thanksgiving for everything I encountered. I enjoy going to bed with a smile on my face. God is so good!

October 13, 2008 at 9:09 PM  
Blogger Courtney (Women Living Well) said...

Casey -

Growing up - my mom could be found regularly at her kitchen table at midnight studying her Bible! She's a night owl - some are wired this way!!!

I love how you have found peace in God's grace knowing that there is NO time of the day more "spiritual" than another! All of the day is God's and you have found a sweet time of fellowship with your savior in the evenings. Awesome - I know you are not alone! I am positive that many many many women have theirs in the evenings. Thanks for sharing!

October 13, 2008 at 10:47 PM  
Blogger Kelly L said...

I am a morning person...so mornings definitely are better for me! I like to get up and have at least a few minutes of quiet, prayer time before the rest of the house wakes up! Sometimes this is only a short time and others I am blessed with 30 minutes or more! Those are rare but cherished mornings! :) I agree you have to find time that works best for you, whether it's morning, night or in the afternoon! What christa said makes sense...it just needs to be when you can give God your full attention and have no distractions!

October 14, 2008 at 7:05 PM  
Blogger Courtney (Women Living Well) said...

Amen Sista!

October 14, 2008 at 7:51 PM  

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