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3 Ways to Have a Consistent Quiet Time

March 14, 2017 By Jennifer H. Yates 5 Comments

14 Mar
3 Ways to Have a Consistent Quiet Time

Do you struggle with having a consistent, daily quiet time with the Lord? I talk to people all the time who are experiencing different problems in their lives, but when I ask about their time with the Lord, it is sporadic, at best. I can identify. I used to be just like that.

Twenty years ago I was a mess. I was a young wife and mother, miserable, struggling with sin, having no consistency in my time with the Lord. I wanted God to fix all my problems, but I wasn’t willing to surrender everything in my life to Him.

I was saved, going to church, even serving in church, but I wasn’t walking in the Spirit. I was living life on my own terms and expecting God to bless my mess.

I wanted victory, but I didn’t want to take the time to seek God every day. I wanted my prayers answered, but I wanted it all in my time and my way. I wanted to claim the promises of God, but I didn’t want to put the time and effort into studying the Word.

Finally, I came to realize that we can’t have a victorious, powerful walk with the Lord unless we are seeking Him every day.

“Seek: to go in search or quest of, to try to find or discover by searching or questioning; to try to obtain, attempt, to go to, to ask for, request; to explore, to make inquiry; to pursue or follow”

RANDOM HOUSE UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY, © RANDOM HOUSE, INC. 2021

What does it mean to seek the Lord?

3 Ways to Have a Consistent Quiet Time

Let me tell you what it doesn’t mean. We aren’t trying to obtain salvation by works or earn favor with God.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8, NIV

No, seeking the Lord is about being in love with the One who has saved us by His grace. I had felt this power when I first got saved and spent time every night with the Lord in worship and in the Word, but somehow through the busyness and stress of being a young wife and mother, I had no longer been seeking the Lord consistently. The power of prayer and the authority of Scripture took a backseat in my life. And it showed.

We can’t seek His promises unless we’re first willing to seek His face.

Finally, I came across a book that inspired me to get serious about seeking the Lord above all else in my life, and that is when I turned my heart back to seeking God. I can honestly say that my life has never been the same.

Prioritize

The first step in having a consistent time of seeking God’s face every day is to make it a priority. We have to value time with God and realize that we are hopeless and helpless without Him.

We all know it’s true, but we will make time for those things we value most. We have to do a heart check. What idols are on the throne of our hearts? What have we chosen to put ahead of time with the Lord? For me, it was family.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33

The secret is that God will bless us in those other good things we seek, if we will just seek Him first. For me, early morning is my best time. I committed about twenty years ago to get up one hour early to spend time with the Lord, and I have never failed to keep my time with Him–not because I am anything special, but because I realize now that I can do absolutely nothing without Him.

Plan

Having a consistent time with the Lord will not happen by chance. We have to commit to it and then plan for it. For me, planning ahead means that I set my clock for the time I need to get up; I have my coffee programmed to brew at the same time; I have a special place set aside to spend with the Lord; and I have a basket with all of my supplies waiting for me. And honestly: I can’t wait.

“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

Psalm 27:4

Oh, yes! David had experienced the presence of the Lord in the temple. He knew that nothing could compare to dwelling in His presence and experiencing the love, joy, and peace that come from being with the Father.

When we begin to seek the Lord and call on His name, when we forsake our sins and surrender to His kindness and grace, when we begin to hear Him speak and give us direction for our lives, when we begin to pray and see God answer our prayers in ways we never dreamed, WE WILL BECOME OBSESSED WITH HIM.

I never use all caps. Never. But I am so overwhelmed at the goodness of God that I just can’t help it. He is worthy of our time, our space, our lives. He can get all in my business if He wants to because I have died to self and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).

My life no longer revolves around me and what I want, yet He gives me the desires of my heart as I seek Him first (Psalm 37:4).

Pursue

If we want to be consistent in seeking the Lord, we will have to pursue Him at any cost. We will have to intentionally lay down other loves so that He can remain our first love. We will have to come to Him daily, seeking His face, seeking a clean heart and clean hands, and then seeking answers to our prayers.

When just being in His presence takes precedence over having our needs met, that moment we will experience the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:23).

“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face! Your face, Lord, I will seek.'”

Psalm 27:8

We chase after many things in this world, but none that can actually satisfy like the Lord. I know you will think I am crazy, but for over fifteen years, I have gotten up an hour early (5:30 on school mornings) to spend time with the Lord. In the last year, I have begun getting up  two hours early. Why? I just can’t get enough of Him.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Hebrews 11:6

Yes, He rewards those who seek Him. I am rewarded every day with the opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus, to experience the wonder of salvation, the peace of being in His will, the love that no man can match, the thrill of being on mission with Him to share the Gospel and to build His kingdom, and the hope of eternity with Him.

I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s enough to get me up every morning.

Do you struggle to find the TIME to seek Him daily? Join my free FOCUSED 15 Challenge for strategies and resources for quality Bible study in as little as 15 minutes a day!

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Filed Under: Quiet Time Tagged With: Bible, Bible study, busy women, Christian, Christian devotional, daily quiet time, David, delight, devos for women, devotional, God's Word, how to have a quiet time, Jennifer H Yates, Jesus, one thing, religion vs. relationship, seeking God, Three Ways to Have a Consistent Quiet Time, time for God

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About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
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Click link in bio to read post.⁠
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#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4, NIV).
All of Scripture, all of history, all of time has been about Jesus Christ, Son of God. 
Do you know Him? You can. His life, death, and resurrection are historical fact. All so that you could know Him and have eternal life.
Jesus loves you! ❤

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee fo
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:55-56).
Can you imagine the horror these women had witnessed? Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others had followed Jesus and helped support his ministry (Luke 8:3).
Now all their hopes had been crushed as they stood at a distance and witnessed Jesus' agonizing death on the cross (Luke 23:49). His own mother had to stand by helplessly as her son cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
As we women often do, they looked for a way to still serve Him, even in His death, by preparing His body for burial. Sometimes, it's the little things.
When our hearts are breaking and we think we can't take another breath, sometimes we need something in our hands--a burial spice, a casserole, a text that says I'm here.
We can't make the hurt go away, but we can channel it into something useful, something hopeful, something comforting.
As they rested on the Sabbath, I'm sure they anticipated the opportunity to see Him one more time, to minister to Him once more with the spices and perfumes they had prepared.
Hearts crushed, hands open.
Grieved but grateful. Resting but ready.
Because if there was anything they knew for sure, it's that Jesus was no ordinary man. And when hearts are turned toward Him, anything can happen.

God never called us to “blind” faith. We may b
God never called us to “blind” faith. We may believe without seeing, but faith is being sure and certain of what we don’t see, not what we don’t know. ⁠
The Israelites had historical facts on which to base their faith. That’s why God constantly told them to remember what He had done and tell it to their children. Their faith was in what they knew to be true, even though they didn’t always see it with their own eyes. ⁠
We, too, have facts on which to base our faith. The Bible is historically accurate and verified. If ever we needed to know what we believe, it’s now.⁠
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Click link in bio to read post.⁠
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#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like mo
It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like most women, when I do get still, my mind is still going 90 mph. I’m so distracted by all the preparations for the day. Sounds a little like Martha, who, by the way, is the one who invited Jesus over in the first place. But like Martha, I have felt the Lord’s gentle rebuke. He wants me at His feet. And really, that’s where I want to be. It’s not about time and focus. It’s about heart and desire. The rest will come. ❤️ #growingyourfaith #jesusfirst #wordbeforeworld #seekhimfirst #javawithjesus #womenintheword

Do you really want to grow your faith? What we fee
Do you really want to grow your faith? What we feed the most is what grows the most. 🍽️⁠
⁠
What are you feeding?⁠
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Click the link in my bio to read this week's post.⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus ⁠


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