The Quiet Time

Pastor CJ was writing about getting back to the elementary things of Christianity.  While I was reading her blog it reminded me of another elementary topic …the quiet time. 

When I first became a Christian my mentor, Kimberly or “Kimbers” as I liked to call her, encouraged me to get to know the Word a bit better.  She gave me some bible verses to memorize at first (What do you know Pastor CJ was right?) which was really helpful and fed me well at first.  Then I started to get hungrier for the word.  Sooner than I thought, I was reading an hour a day in the mornings before heading down to breakfast.  I also started journaling my thoughts about what I read, and talking it over with God because I wanted to understand what I was reading.  This was such an amazing time in my life that built the foundation for my Christianity today.  My intimacy with God grew and He got me through some tough times during the beginning years of being a Christian.  I’m glad that my time was open in that season in my life to have such long quiet times; I definitely needed it. 

After some time I did what many people do, I got busy and my quiet times started to dwindle to what they are today. A few minutes listening to the Bible app on my phone in the morning and, if God is lucky, a quick prayer, with a 5 minute journal writing.   Now I too have heard the old adage “It’s not the amount of time it’s the quality of time,” but I feel like that is such a cop-out.  If my soul pants for Him like a deer pants for water (Ps. 42:1), how is a quick gulp of His Living Word on my way out the door going to satisfy me?  And my soul indeed does pant.  I can feel it throughout my day when I feel restless, tired, irritable, moody; depressed…the list goes on. In the early years, I remember that I started each day anew with the Author and Perfector who knows what I need most to have a successful day.

 And what a difference it made; I had energy to conquer whatever came up against me and I was filled with peace even when I didn’t have a reason to be.   He said if I’d just come to Him, He would satisfy my thirst (John 4:14), give me joy for my mourning (Isaiah 61:3), rest for my soul         (Matt 11:29), protect me in the shadow of His wings (Ps. 91:4), and the list goes on. But I cannot receive any of this if I run off to start my day and do not give Him the dedicated time that He deserves.

The truth is He misses me and I can feel it in my soul because I’m missing something too.  I’m like the bride (Song of Solomon 3:1) who laid awake at night tossing and turning longing for her groom.  And my Groom says to me “How I’ve longed to gather you together in my arms.” (Matt 23:37)

Dear Sisters, do you feel that longing too?  Then I encourage you to go back to the elementary practice of spending that quality time together with God every day.   Whether it is in the morning, noon, or nighttime it doesn’t matter just as long as it’s consistent.  Just a hint, if you do it the same time everyday it’s easier to make a habit of it.  Please make sure to be stubborn in setting aside this time and let no interruption be in the way.  On that note, be smart and choose a time that is the least active in your household so you have a better chance of not getting interrupted.  Be willing to sacrifice some sleep by getting up early or staying up late if that is what it takes to have your soul fed again and give the Lover of your soul the time He so passionately desires with you.