How We’re Learning

by Muriel Gregory

Quiet time.

I hear you, moms of toddlers and preschoolers, wondering what quiet is.

I also hear you, wife of a deployed soldier, with so much on your plate that you pray for more hours in a day.

I hear you because I’ve been there.

A quiet time with God is NOT the absence of screaming kids. It doesn’t require you to have all the items on your to-do list checked off.

Quiet time with God simply requires your willingness to spend a few minutes connecting with Him through His word.

The quiet comes from within and is not linked to external circumstances.

When my kids are testing my patience, my to-do list is miles long, and my calendar is filled to the brim, I make time with God a priority. Through trial and error, I’ve learned through the years that prioritizing my time with God gives me focus, vision, and peace.

Acts 4:13 recalls a time when John and Peter astonished the people around them because of their courage. Then the verse says “They were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

Let the people around you take note that you have been with Jesus.

Did you know that it only takes 5-8 minutes to read a chapter in the Bible? 5-8 minutes to quietly read a chapter and allow God to reach the deepest part of your soul (Hebrews 4:12). To maximize that time, I need a strategy.

What do you say? Want to give it a try?

How to Maximize Your Quiet Time:

Here’s how I maximize my quiet time. Think of it as a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for connecting with God.

  1. Pray – It doesn’t have to be fancy or lengthy. Just a simple prayer. (Thank you God for this morning. Let me hear from you. Give me guidance for the day.) Why pray? You are only connected to the person you want to call if you dial the number. Prayer is dialing the number and making the connection.
  2. Make it a morning routine – Yes, you can read your Bible any time of the day (and you should). Yes, you can talk to God at night and during the day (and you should). I’ve discovered, though, that peace through the day starts with time in the Word. So grab your coffee or your tea and open your Bible.
  3. Have a plan – A reading plan that is. There are many available. Find one that works for you and stick to it. Don’t become legalistic about it. If you miss a day, pick up where you left off the next day. Maybe it will take you 3 years to go through the “Read the Bible in a Year” plan. The most important thing is that you are in the Word.
  4. Have a journal and pen handy – You do not want to miss out on what God will be sharing with you. There will be a verse that speaks straight to your heart. Write it down. There might be a conviction. Jot it down. It might be a promise. Highlight it.
  5. Finish in prayer – Thank God for this time. Be grateful for His presence and His Word.

The Word of God is extremely powerful (2 Timothy 3:16). More than our minds will ever be able to fathom. Let’s keep that in mind and benefit from time in God’s Word.

Soldiers, sailors, and airmen train to fight an enemy. They learn about weapons and practice using them. Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the Word of God is a weapon: the sword of the Spirit.

We can learn to use it intentionally and strategically.

We also fight an enemy (Ephesians 6:12). One that we do not see but one we can identify when we list our challenges and struggles. So make the most of the time that you spend with God. 

Your Turn:

Are you all in with me? Are you ready to maximize your quiet time and make the best use of the most powerful weapon available to men?

Father God, I am so thankful for Your Word and Your love for me. I am so grateful that I can approach Your throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16) and that You are a steady source of courage and peace.

 

Additional Resources:

Here are a few links to reading plans to get you started:

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