In over a decade of being a Christian, I just recently developed this habit of really spending my quiet time with the Lord. It is a shame to admit, but it’s true. I never had the understanding of the importance of having my daily time with Him. I am a very dynamic woman, and my days are always loaded with activities, which include work, social and church fellowships, and even ministries. My daily routine would just go from waking up to working the entire day {even till night), attending church gatherings and activities, and sleeping. I would also want to include my weekends which is usually spent in fulfilling my household chores, attending church services, and doing my church ministries.
I thought that I was spiritually okay, seeing that I did not miss attending church services on Sundays. Until I came to a point that I got exhausted and felt that I was only going with the motion. Don’t get me wrong. I loved doing all the things that I did at church, but I felt that I was spiritually drained. I felt like my heart was very far from the Lord and that I was not really in fellowship with Him. I felt that I wanted to quit and just disappear for a moment. I did not have the joy that I had anymore.
One day, I just found myself asking the Lord to help and direct me to the path that He wanted me to be. I prayed to Him to restore the joy that I once had in my heart. As how the grace of God works, the Lord renewed my heart and restored my fellowship with Him. One thing I realized, was that I was not spending quality time with Him. I was busy with myself and His kingdom that I have forgotten the most important person – the King. This is where I came to my senses and strived to make Him my very first priority.
“How should I develop my quiet time with Him? I am always busy, and I feel that I don’t have enough time. I pray anyway.” Familiar with these statements? Yes, these were also the same words that I had before. But the Lord reminded me that apart from Him, I can do nothing (John 15:5). I am sure that as a Christian woman like me, you don’t want to be nothing. Thus, we seek the Lord first and abide in Him, so we can be something through Him.
Four Ways to Develop our Quiet Time
Developing the habit of spending time with the Lord is not easy. It takes willingness, commitment, and of course, love for the Lord to establish a consistent quality time with Him. I believe that it is easier to start while being single, as compared to being married, since we are just responsible for our own selves.
- Make a commitment to spend time with the Lord every day.
The first step is making your commitment that whatever happens, you set a daily realistic time where you can freely meditate on the Word of God. Making a commitment is like developing a habit. This can’t happen overnight, but it is the result of a consistent commitment to do so.
- Establish a specific time of the day and honor it.
To make your commitment more powerful, make sure to establish a time to meet with God. Early in the morning is the best time to have our quite moment with the Lord.
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. “
Like King David, it is also wise to spend time with the Lord with a fresh mind, soul, and body. By spending time early with Him, our focus is not yet divided with the daily routine of life. This is a good time to offer our day before everything gets in ourselves.
If morning would not really be possible for you, still set a specific time within the day, so long as you have spared some time for the Lord. There’s no proper and right time when spending time with Him. We all have 24 hours a day and some time would be offered to God.
- Choose a place where you can comfortably do your bible reading, journaling, and praying.
As much as possible, choose a place away from any distractions. In this way, you can focus and concentrate. Jesus sets an example to withdraw Himself to pray (Luke 5:16). In the same way, it is also beneficial to isolate ourselves from the world, so we can give our utmost attention to God. There are times that I even have to silent my music player because there are times that music can be my distraction. It is your call how you manage these certain distractions.
- Ask (pray) the Lord to help you fulfill your daily commitment for Him.
Our love for God compels us to have our quality time with him. But at the end of the day, it is the Lord who enables us to do this for Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you each day as you desire to get to know the Lord more.
Having a consistent daily quality time with God is not impossible as long as we have the discipline to do so. As someone once said, “The study of God’s Word for the purpose of discovering God’s will is the secret discipline which has formed the greatest character.” It is indeed! As long as we desire to know more about the Lord, we will be motivated to offer our best time for God.
photocredit: http://www.pexels.com
Leave a comment