A blog where women are inspired and encouraged to grow in their relationship with Christ.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Problem Solved!

Oh, the guilt!  For years {years!} I beat myself up because I couldn’t make early morning quiet time work.  I haven’t slept well in, oh... ever.  So dragging myself out of bed to have quiet time when I’d just gone to sleep? You guessed it.  It was just so... quiet, that I kept dozing off!  And then, I’d not only be exhausted, I’d have a major battle with guilt.

So, some years ago, after much prayer, I’m pretty sure God said it was OK for me to have my set-apart time later in the day. :)  No, my day isn’t ruined because I’m not in His word at 5 a.m.  I talk with Him and listen for His voice all day long.  And He’s there with me every moment of every grace-filled day.

OK, quiet-time problem #1... Solved



Now, on to quiet-time problem #2.

For a long time {far longer than I care to admit}, I’d get comfortable in my cozy chair with my journal, devotional, and Bible in hand.  I’d whip out my prayer journal and pray through the written requests, add new requests and... Check that off my mental list.

Next, I’d read my daily devotional, pray the prayer at the close of the devotion and... Check that off my mental list.

Next, I’d open my Bible and jump to the scripture of the day.  Read a few chapters and... Check that off my mental list.

Next, I’d stack my journal, devotional, and Bible on the little table by my comfy chair, get up and go on to do the next thing on my mental list... Check.   

And then, do it all again the next day... Check.

Do you see anything wrong with this picture?    
That’s right!  I was doing ‘good’ things, but they’d become 
chores to be checked off a list, and not a passion springing from 
the depths of my soul.   

Somewhere along the line, my passion had begun to look a lot like an agenda.

Well, it evidently didn’t sit well with our Abba Father because, 
by His immeasurable grace, I began to be extremely dissatisfied with 
my quiet time.   I knew something was very wrong...  I’d become as the Pharisees.  
 Doing what, from the outside looked good, but in my inner-most being?  
 I found myself empty and desperate for... something.


So, I began to pray; asking our Abba Father what He wanted my quiet-time to look like.   
This is what I got...

It’s a sacred time... set apart for and by Him.
It’s about relationship, not agenda.
It’s about passionate praise and prayer. {Psalm 99:3, Philippians 4:6}
It’s about reading/experiencing/living His word.  {2 Timothy 3:16}
It’s about singing and music.  {Psalm 146:2}
It’s about sitting and listening and hearing... {Psalm 46:10}
It’s about reading a book... maybe a devotional and maybe not.
It’s about asking Him each day what He wants our time to look like. {James 1:5}
It’s about allowing Him to change it up. :)
It’s about inviting Him to sanctify me... from the inside out. {I Thessalonians. 5:23}
 
I wouldn’t for a minute, tell you that getting up early and having a set pattern in your quiet time isn’t wonderful.  Actually, it may be the very best thing for you.  And that’s great!

But God knows my prone-to-be-like-a-Pharisee heart and has designed something a little different for my set-apart time.

Who knows, maybe someday I'll be up at 5 a.m., sitting in my chair, wide awake, and having a quiet time that looks very different.  
But for now... 

With my whole heart I seek you; 
let me not wander from your commandments! 
I have stored up your word in my heart, 
that I might not sin against you. 
Psalm 119:10-11  ESV


Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10 NLT
 
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true 
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, 
for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 
God is spirit, and those who worship him 
must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:23-24 ESV 

I’d love to hear what your quiet-time looks like.
Or perhaps you don't have a set-apart time.  
I'd like to hear about that too! 
Leave a Comment!
Living in His grace,
  Mary  
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52 comments:

  1. I think what is important isn't WHEN you spend time with the Lord each day, but that you DO spend time with Him! Amen.

    Whenever I start to feel not satisfied with my morning quiet time that's a sure signal to me that I have fallen into the routine of habit and need to switch something up to get the focus back on God.

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    1. Amen, Beckey! It's so important that the time we spend with the Lord glorifies Him and brings deep, rich relationship. I'm so glad you came by and took the time to comment... I really appreciate it!
      Blessings to you, my friend ~ Mary

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  2. I am totally amazed. It seems like you write about me. Thank you for the powerful lesson.

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    1. Jedidja, it's always so good of God to give us what we need!
      Thanks so much for dropping by today!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  3. Mary, I am that early riser you wrote about! :) I believe sometimes followers of Jesus get a bit Pharisaical in their walk with the Lord, that somehow me having my quiet time with Him early shows I love Him more. If this is the attitude, then it is works earning grace. Our works, whatever they are, should be because of grace.

    I have a physically and mentally demanding job which leaves me exhausted most evenings. I am at my most alert in the early hours. As you stated, it is not when, but did we spend time with Him.

    God is not interested in the time of day, He is available 24-7. And frankly, so should we. We never know when God is going to want to speak to us! :) Excellent post, as always!
    Much love, Grace

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    1. Grace, perhaps someday I'll join you for those early morning quiet times! Isn't it wonderful that God doesn't have office hours; limiting Himself to certain hours of the day?! He's available at all times... wanting us to be in communion with Him at all times.
      I'm so glad you came by... always love your comments!
      Blessings to you, my friend ~ Mary

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  4. Yikes, I know what you mean about our time with Him turning into an agenda. Yes, I want to be intentional about being with the Lord, but I need to do a better job at inviting Him to guide me in what I read/do each day. I need to have an attentive heart. Awesome post. {And, no, you'll NEVER see me doing my devotional in the wee hours of the morning!}

    XOXO,
    Meredith

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    1. Meredith, I'm thankful that our Father pours His loving, empowering grace into our lives. A grace that enables us to be intentional and passionate about our time with Him. {I'll meet you in the afternoon for some awesome quiet time!} :)
      Blessings and love ~ Mary

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  5. oh my goodness, this is totally something I am struggling through right now. THat time of changing it up. I cannot do mornings for the same reason, and I try to do it before bed, but then I am so tired by the time I remember!

    One thing I am SO very thankful for- God's grace. He KNOWS what's going on, it dosn't surprise Him, and He so faithfully and patiently waits for me to come to Him, any time, any where. Sometimes all I can do in a day is the popcorn prayers of moment by moment communication with Him throughout my day.

    Like you said, it's about the relationship, not the time, or procedure :) SO thankful for our loving heavenly Father <3

    Have a beautiful week!
    Come over from Time Warp Wife :)

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    1. Christine, I'm so thankful that our Abba listens and hears far more than our words... He hears our heart. I'm praying right now that He'll help you stay awake for some very rich in-His-word time! I love your heart for Him!
      Thanks so much for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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    2. aww thank you so much Mary!! Funny how God works like that. Just last night I had a great time and wasn't too spaced out either! ha!
      Thank you for praying, God is not so wrapped up in time as we are, I believe we can pray for things 'late' and God still totally gets it <3

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  6. Bouncing over from Jen's. I like what you say about passion looking like an agenda...I think we have all been there.

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    1. Amy, I think you're right! Most of us have probably struggle with this at one time or another. I'm so thankful for His direction and grace!
      Thanks for bouncing over!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  7. Dear Mary
    I live in our Lord the whole day and talk to Him about just everything (the god and the bad). But there are times when I go to me heart, deep inside where He and I are united in spirit and then I just chill (like my boys would say) in His presence, having a wonderful conversation with Him. An early morning quiet time is not for Fobromites. I usually wake up more tired as when I went to bed. It can also very easily become a law that you need to fulfill. Around 80% of the first Christians were totally illiterate and had only the Holy Spirit to lead them daily into the presence of our sweet Lord and they had a strong faith in the grace of our Pappa!
    Blessings and love
    Mia

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    1. Mia-Mia, you made me smile when you said early mornings aren't for Fibromites... so true!! I'm deeply grateful that we have continual access for sweet communion with our Lord... To be able to talk with Him about any-and-everything.
      I always love the perspective you bring... Your heart makes me want more of Him!
      Blessings and love to you, my friend ~ Mary

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    2. Thank you for sharing the reality of Fibromylagia, I presume (Fibromites). You are both so right...tired when we awaken and sleep-deprived can make a difference in how our day goes. But God knows and He knows best, what is best for us and when. Praising Him in all things.
      Caring through Christ, ~ linda

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  8. Were you writing about me, Mary? Sure sounds like me anyway!!
    You have encouraged me with the words of ways to have those quiet times with the One we need and want to sit with.
    Thank you so much.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

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    1. Hi Linda! It sounds as if you're a fellow Fibromite! I imagine early mornings are difficult for you as well. I'm so thankful that He is available for us any time of the day or night. He's so good to invite communion and deep relationship.
      I'm so glad you made it by today!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  9. Delighted to stumble over tonight. Splashing around and loving every minute. This looks like a refreshing place to dip my toes into some serious goodness.

    I so want more of Jesus ... He rocks.

    Splashing,

    Sarah
    www.justsarahdawn.blogspot.com

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    1. Sarah, I'm certainly glad you found your way here!
      And you're so right... He does rock!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  10. We've been writing all about spiritual discipline lately and the freedom and joy we SHOULD find when we plan to be with God. I love your perspective on this. It's what we discovered too. Doing it is important. Being flexible, free and joyful is important too! Thanks for the reflection!

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    1. Helene, I'll have to check out your posts on spiritual discipline. I love how God coordinates our hearts!
      Thanks so much for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  11. Mary, this is a great post - so honest!

    I don't struggle with mornings so much, in fact it's the evenings I find myself unable to keep my eyes open.

    But I am dissatisfied with my quiet times at the moment and have been for some time. Your explanation about how we make it agenda driven is so true. But I do find talking to the Lord difficult. Still searching and praying that the Lord will meet me in my weakness and mess.

    Linked here from A Wise Woman Builds Her Home. Blessings

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    1. Mel, thank you for your vulnerability. I believe that the God who hears and answers our prayers and meets us in the midst of our mess, will surely show up in those difficult moments when you struggle to talk with Him.
      I'm very glad you're here!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  12. Having grown up in a traditional Baptist church during my teenage years I've struggled with problem #2 for a loooong time. This is a beautiful post and very helpful because even though I know better now I still find myself dealing with the same guilt occasionally that it doesn't look like that for me. Pinning so I can keep it handy.

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    1. Marty, I'm so glad this was helpful. Isn't is amazing the 'stuff' that sticks with us for years?! I'm thankful for His life-changing grace!
      Thanks so much for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  13. Mary,
    Thanks for linking to Wednesday's Word. I love this post and it is so me - sometimes. I tend to get "agenda" driven. Not a good thing. But so far my morning times have been worshipful so I will continue until He changes that.
    Blessings
    Janis www.janiscox. I care because He cares for us.

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    1. Janis, I love that you have worship-full mornings! I think the 'agenda' thing plagues a lot of us... I'm thankful He meets us where we're at and begins to show us how to commune with Him in an even richer way.
      Thanks so much for hosting WW!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  14. Hi Mary, I'm coming over from SDG, and I've just been so blessed by this post. Especially these words: "It’s about relationship, not agenda." I am not a morning person either, I never have been, and I've never gotten up early and first for devotions. Because I can't. Because I'm so tired. Because I fall right back to sleep unless I get into the shower first, then of course I have to feed the animals and do my hair and makeup and before you know it....now I have to go to work. Such lame excuses, but it's the truth!! :-) I used to feel like I wasn't "christian" enough because I didn't do daily devotions...but that's not the truth. Lately these past couple of years, I feel Him everywhere. The best place for me to be with Him is night time, out in my yard, or in my pool, floating along - and sometimes I just cry because I know He is so near!!! It IS a relationship, not an agenda! Beautiful!
    So good to meet you!
    God Bless,
    Margo at Legacy of a Single Girl

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    1. Margo, isn't it amazing how we beat ourselves up because our time with our Abba doesn't look a 'certain' way?! I love that He meets us anywhere, anytime... even floating in the pool! He's not confined to our boxes!
      It's so good to have you here!
      Blessings to you, my new friend ~ Mary

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  15. This is such a great post! Thank you for sharing it! I am currently reading through the One-Year Bible in the ESV (I choose a different translation every year... they have a web site, and it's free.). I also pray through some Scriptures using the book Daily Light for the Daily Path (which is also available online for free.)

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    1. Lyli, don't you just love 'free'?! I've never embarked on the Bible-in-a-year endeavor, but would love to. You go girl!
      Thanks for being here!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  16. Beautiful post!!! I started late last year reading through the Bible from beginning to end. I do it either first thing in the morning or the final thing at night but then I am open to His leading like today, the 2nd day of the Pentecostal season, I enjoyed a fresh outpouring of His spirit through pray and worship. It was such a blessed time. I enjoyed the presence of the King. I also journal my time spent in the Bible and/or prayer when I feel it's something God's showing me specifically. I didn't start that part of it til this year. Thank you for sharing what you shared in this post and allowing us, me, to share mine.

    Stephanie

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    1. Steph, it sounds as though you have a rich time with our Lord... I love that! There's nothing like spending our lives with our Lord!
      Thanks so much for coming by. I appreciate that you took time to share!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  17. Such freedom in your words here. I've gone back and forth about this. I've had the structured quiet times, and then gone through long seasons of more flexible (but still honest and earnest) times with the Lord. I've come to believe that that's what works best for me. Sometimes, I need the structure; other times I pay better attention to my relationship with spontaneity and variety. I like the variety of good books, a run on the treadmill while praying, Bible reading, commentary reading, night prayer, mid-morning prayer, group prayer, group study ... all of it... And that's the way it is with my relationships with other people in my life. They are a part of my everyday, not just a specific time of my day.

    Great advice here, Mary! Thank you!

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    1. Jennifer, I'm thankful our Abba doesn't have office hours! Our time with Him sounds very similar {except the treadmill thing :)} Next year He may have me sit with Him in a very different way... It's up to Him!
      I so appreciate that you visited and shared!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  18. Love this! I struggled with early morning devotions - as a night owl, it was pure torture some mornings getting up. I'd go through my days cranky and not at all feeling inspired, motivated and empowered by His Spirit and Word. Having a dedicated time for prayer, study and meditation (for me it's during my lunch hour)has made a tremendous impact on my day. Visiting from Prowess & Pearls Doing You Well Wednesday. Thank you for linking up - this was a much-needed read! Blessings to you!

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    1. Michelle, I'm so glad you have sweet dedicated time with our Lord. Morning devotions are wonderful... they just don't seem to work for everyone. I'm thankful our Lord is so willing and wanting to permeate our day.
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  19. I can definitely identify with what you've written. In fact, I think I need to periodically "renew" my quiet times so they don't turn into a check list. Why do we do that? I"m so glad God is patient with us.

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    1. Gail, I'm so thankful for His patience... And His life-giving word!
      Thanks for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  20. Beautiful. My times with the Lord have changed over and over the last many years of my life. It really depends on what "season" I am in. I have eight children, so I often get my quiet times with the Lord on the fly. Right now, I am again in a "nursing" season, so my quiet times come when I am nursing the babe. Sometimes little ones are joining me. Sometimes my young adult of a son is joining me quietly. Sometimes it is shorter times, sometimes long "dig in to the Word" times. Sometimes it is only prayer. But all the time it is about being with HIM. Loved this today!

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    1. Chelsey, I'm sure God is well-pleased with your faithfulness in getting with Him in the midst of mothering eight little darlin's. I remember having some precious times with the Lord while nursing our sons. I'm thankful there's not a moment that He's not with us!
      It's so good to have you here!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  21. I love, love, LOVE this post! With my toddler son still getting up at unpredictable times in the middle of the night or say 4:45am to start his day, early morning quiet time is not something that is easy around here. I've learned to make his nap-time, my God-time. Now I look forward to nap-time for more than one reason! :)

    During today's quiet time, I started praying... But I couldn't get this verse out of my head "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. And every time I would start to talk again, I would hear God's gentle rebuke: "Be Still." "Be still, and I will fight for you." (Exodus 14:14) "Be Still and know that I am God." Just be still... God took over my quiet time this morning and gave me exactly what I needed, rest in Him.

    Quiet time with God is SO important, and it looks different to each and everyone of us. There is no right way or wrong way to do it as long as it is to grow closer to God! :)

    Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful post!

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    1. Oh Kelsey, I'm so glad you had such a beautiful time with our Lord this morning. Sometimes He simply wants us to be quiet and rest our minds in Him. He knew just what you needed! I know it can be hard with little ones to find time set-apart. I'm so glad that nap time works for you!
      Thanks so much for coming by and sharing!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  22. EXCELLENT! Building that intimate walk of love and faith can be lost in the duty idea of a relationship with God. Thanks so much for sharing this on my link-up this week.

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    1. Hi Kate! Thanks for coming by! And thanks for hosting the linkup!
      Have a great weekend!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  23. I loved your honesty! And I like the idea of asking God what He wants my time with Him to look like. Your post reminded me of a little booklet I read entitled "Practicing the Presence of God" which was written by a monk that was so busy in the kitchen that he didn't have time to get down on his knees every morning. God's presence - that's what it's all about, isn't it?

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    1. Esther, you're so right. It IS about God's presence in our lives. He's so good to be there for us... We, like this monk, need to recognize, embrace and worship His presence.
      Thanks for visiting and for leaving a comment!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  24. My quiet time is not at 5am although I might be up then, it is later because I am not awake though I am up. I exercise and shower first. I might even clean the bathrooms and kitchen before sitting down to rest and have my time with the Lord, fully awake.

    Thanks for visiting WholeHearted Home and linking up last week.

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    1. Judith, you're such an inspiration! Thanks for coming by!
      And thanks for hosting the WHH linkup!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  25. I too had the "check list", until He led me to create "Blog Through The Word" (a closed FB group) and to Blog on "Gods4ever" the verses He spoke to me that day. I don't always publish the daily writing, editing, pictures, etc. take time, but I do write the verse and how it transformed my heart. I drink in and eat His Word in the morning - chewing on it throughout the day. It becomes a part of me!

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    1. Deby, I love your passion for God's word! It's so evident in your writing. I know that our Father must be smiling as you chew on it throughout your day!
      Blessings and love, sweet sister ~ Mary

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Your comments mean so much to me. I love reading each and every one! Thanks so much!