The Most Important Time of the Day
When I was studying at University I read a lot of Elizabeth Elliot’s books. This godly woman was a role model to me. I was encouraged and motivated to have a closer walk with the Lord and also to be willing to give my life to Him wherever He would lead.
I had been having Quiet Times with the Lord for many years, ever since I was around 12 years old. But they were sporadic. In one of
“I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”
Job 23:12
She didn’t have breakfast until she had had her quiet time.
I decided to take up this challenge as well. I bought a journal, drew a picture of an ink stand and old quill pen on the front, and wrote the verse:
“As for God, His way is perfect…. He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
Ps 18:30
From that day on, for the next three years while I was a student, I rarely missed a morning with God. I didn’t have a specific time that I had to be up. I just had to have my Quiet Time before breakfast! Sometimes I had early lectures and had to get up earlier to have my time alone with God. Other times I would have a class off for the first hour and I would get to Uni early, go to the chapel, and have my Quiet Time there. Sometimes I would treat myself to a breakfast at McDonalds and have my Quiet Time there! I can count the times I missed breakfast on one hand…. in other words, I didn’t miss many Quiet Times either. (Just in case you thought my student years only consisted of lunch and dinner!!)
Now I didn’t do this to be legalistic. I used this method as a tool to motivate and remind me to spend that time with God in the mornings. It was so profitable. After a time it became second nature and I did it without thinking.
After University I got married and one by one my three children were born. I’m afraid I got out of the habit and it became sporadic once again. I still tried to have my Quiet Time daily, as often as I could. At times when I was sick I would miss it for months. Other times I had it at night or in the middle of the day when the children napped. The days I dedicated to God even in a 5 minute time frame, were always more productive than days when I didn’t! There is just something about bringing our plans to God and dedicating them to Him for the day that makes it just go that much smoother!
I always used a journal at these times. It would be a mix of recording my feelings, what had happened the day before, what I was planning, and prayers to God. To this day I still use this method in my Quiet Times. I find that putting pen on paper helps me arrange my thoughts and prayers so much better. I also have a record of what has happened in my life for the past 18 years! How many times I have flicked through previous journals and seen the ups and downs of the previous years. One year I think I must have written these words down nearly every day: “I’m feeling so down today, please help me Lord.” These were the days I was going through severe depression. Other days were of the antics of the children and how much I was enjoying the time I had with them. Ups and downs. My life on paper.
I know women who get up very early each morning to have time with the Lord before everyone wakes up. I must admit this is the best time for me as well. I love to get up before dawn while the house is still asleep, put on the kettle, make a pot of tea and curl up in an easy chair with a quilt tucked around me and my Bible, journal and cup of tea! These times are so special! But there are also stages of my life when I can’t get up early and then I get frustrated! Even if I tell the children to give me half an hour of peace and quite, I can still hear what is going on outside my bedroom door! And there are still times that I need to get up and discipline them.
At first I felt guilty when I couldn’t wake up on time. I thought I was being lazy, not wanting to be with God enough to get out of bed. But there were times in my life when I just could not get out! When I was sick. Or when I had been up during the night with sick children. Or when we had been traveling. I learned not to beat myself up about it or be legalistic. I learned during these times to pray during the day, to sing during the day, and to be in communion with Him during the day. After a while I was able to get back into a routine again, and rise early, like the Proverbs 31 woman.
Dear ones, may I encourage you to take time each day to spend with our Lord? It will do your heart good and it will change your life.