(I spent about 3 solid hours "retreating" and then took the opportunity to eat a quiet lunch, shower leisurely, have a pedicure and manicure and then spent some time making myself look lovely for a date with Ross. If you don't have a whole day to devote- 2 or 3 hours will be enough to do the meaty part : ) )
I wanted to share with you one of the areas where I really felt God asking me to commit to change: Quiet Time.
About a year ago, when I was still having a hard time adjusting to the new mother gig, I felt completely broken and spiritually troubled. My heart was convicted by the fact that I wasn't regularly in the Word, so I began a read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year program. And my attitude and heart drastically changed. Suddenly there was life and there was hope. At a time when it was still tricky finding a few minutes to brush my teeth, I devoted myself to reading the Bible at some point during the day.
Throughout the year, my quiet time has changed a lot- since a baby's schedule constantly changes. I LOVED having quiet time during Caleb's morning nap- right around 10 o'clock in the morning. I didn't have to get up any earlier than him, we had some time to eat and play and get settled, my brain was actually awake when I read. It was a sweet time. About 3 months ago, however, Caleb gave up that morning nap and my quiet time hadn't really been the same since.
I was convicted on Friday about this, about the lack of consistency. Yes, I was reading (almost) every day, but it was when I could squeeze it in. If I really wanted to learn and to grow, I needed to plan it into my day. If I really wanted it to affect my attitude for the day, it needed to be in the morning.
So I committed to getting up every day (yes, every, single one) at 7am. That may be early or late for you, but that's what's right right now for me. The tough part was the consistency of every day- even Saturday and Sunday. But I was highly convicted of this. Maybe I'd have a better attitude at church and more loving to my sweet husband if I had my heart molded by the Word even before he woke up!
I've adjusted what I've been doing a bit as well. I'm going to share the new plan here with you, because it may help you. If you have a plan that works well, by all means continue. If not, some of my suggestions may help : )
1) Get out of bed : ) Get a snack of some kind (most people like coffee), my Bible, my notebook and head to the couch in the orange room (yes, we have a newly-painted orange room...)
2) Pray for attentiveness of mind and an open heart.
3) Read Scripture (I was using an on-line read-through program, but I found it part to keep up the pace. I think I'm on track to read the whole Bible in 2 years, not one : ) That's okay, though. Today, I read all of Joel. I'd never read there before!)
4) Jot down key verses or an application piece in my new notebook. (This was new for me, too- but I know I needed to respond to the Word somehow or I was just going to forget it.)
5) Pray EVERYDAY for Ross, Caleb, Baby Girl (It's sad to admit, but I wasn't doing this with consistency. This is such a great act of love and an opportunity for my faith to grow as the LORD answers my prayers. Among other things, I make sure to pray for my children's salvation each and every day.)
6) Pray for any other requests.
7) Meditate. (I learned about this in college and have been rereading material on it. I'll blog about it more... later.)
8) Write to-do list for the day in my new notebook.
That last one may seem out of place. A to-do list? In your Scripture notebook? Here's the justification behind it:
- I'm already sitting down and it's quiet, early in the morning, it's the perfect time to think about how we are going to spend the rest of the day.
- I look at my to-do list 10+ times a day, if I write it in my notebook, I'm looking at the Scripture I read that day, too.
- By writing it in my notebook, right after reading and praying, I can connect my activities with spiritual things. These things are how I am going to live out my faith today.
- By writing them in a notebook, and not 100 little pieces of paper, I can look back and see consistency and patterns and be encouraged as God gives me the strength to do things, both big and small
I'm excited to see how this new structure for quiet time affects my life and the life of my family. Again, I encourage you- take a few minutes and think through what you do. How can you do it better?
Here are the verses I wrote down this am:
Joel 2:12-13
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Rend Your Heart
12 “Even now,” declares the LORD,“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
Right now I just read my devotionals, then some of the Bible, and then pray. I think using a notebook is a great idea, and so is writing the to do list in it! Thanks!
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