Quiet Time

My experiences with "quiet times" over the years... 1971--2008 EEEEEK 37 years.
I can recall trying for those quiet times when I had babies. I wasn't then (Post baby) doing the before dawn "quiet times" and instead hoped to do them when it was nap time. I can remember being frustrated, because at least one of the babies didn't think it was time to take a nap at the time I wanted my God time. For some reason it didn't occur to me back then to wake up very very early (beat the babies to it). Probably because with three babies 3 and under, I grabbed what sleep I could. Well, That is just one little picture in my memory I recall from those years with babies. That was a season.

Later, I did get up before the crack of dawn....but even then, time with the Lord was limited by a little one waking up and waking up hungry! Looking back, I shouldn't have fretted over it. It was OK. Another season would be in the future. THis was my "children" season.

There was another season, AD (after divorce) when I had stopped all that God-stuff for a time, angry at God you know. But after a 3 year-stint away from church and then returning, I attended a "Walk through the Bible" course at church. There we were asked to make a committment of so much time daily with the Lord. I wrote out my committment.(Writing out a commitment or promise is very powerful to me. I will keep it). I think it was 5 or 10 minutes that I said I'd give to the Lord daily in a quiet time. It was a beginning. It was all that was necessary. it was a season for 10 min. quiet times and the Lord blessed it. You know they say it takes 6-8 weeks to develop a habit, so you must keep at it for at least that long, til your body adjusts and will wake you up at the hour (6 a.m. or 5 a.m.) instead of you waking it up. It eventually feels ok to get up that early. Quiet times are as important as breathing is, or eating. No, more important. And The Lord will honor it.

Now I'm in a season where I can spend 1-2 hours with the Lord on many days that give me that opportunity. There have been awesome times and dry times. There have been times of worship, and other times of lots of reading. There have been times when I felt God waiting there for me when I arrived, and other times that I had to believe that by faith alone. My quiet times are not all the same, I try new things, give variety to it, I guess. And this one thing I've learned: when I don't have quiet times, (let me put in here, that If miss one day, I do not feel I have caused the world to stop spinning, or that God will be mad at me, or that I will suffer something terrible that day, because I didn't get spiritual in the morning... I don't go there... We can converse with God at all times and throughout the day. He is that companion I surely appreciate and covet who is always with me. So if one day, I was unable to sit in my chair at an early hour, it is ok.) However, If for reasons beyond my control, (ie. a house full of company in the dead of winter.) I do not have an opportunity for God time for several days in a row.... I have a hallow within that crys for God-normalcy again. The last time this happened, I told myself, that I MUST make a way, even if it is a 5 min. time, to just get quiet with Him and honor him. The bathroom is a possiblity for a closet! Right?

Right now, my quiet times have been a little dry. Since I'm not teaching Bible study anymore, I'm not reaping so much revelation from the Word. Which should tell me something, shouldn't it. (that I should keep up the same study habits as if I were teaching). I've had my soaking season, and still do that on some days. But what I feel I need to get back to is just singing to the Lord a little. I'll do that on my walk, but Winter is coming... the walks will soon be put on hold. I've discovered that it is very important, for me in this season, to "voice" my conversations and praise to the Lord. Maybe it keeps me awake. But I've just found that the silence before God, though it is also very good, also goes just so far. I must not be mute always...but must sound out.... ring out my conversing with him. Something about that.... putting it into the atmosphere... that has power.

Well, enough said about quiet times. I guess this Blog thing, is a place to ramble. Kinda like a "dear diary." I think I've rambled enough.

Love you all
Me