In my last few posts, I’ve been sharing practical things that I do in my daily quiet time with the Lord. If you missed my last two posts, you can read them here: In the Morning When I Rise and Order My Steps in Your Word.
I want to add just a few more thoughts that make this time with Jesus so special to me.
In the summer, when I can take as long as I want, I play my Spotify Christian indie playlist while I’m doing my quiet time. I may stop and just sing and worship for a while. During school, I get up in time to have just one hour with the Lord, so I don’t usually have time for anything else after my “listen” time.
I also keep sticky notes handy, because as I pray, I prepare my heart for what I need to do that day. Oftentimes, I will begin to think of things that I need to do (because God is so good, He will remind us of stuff, amen?) When that happens, I jot it down but then get back to what I was doing—reading or praying—so that I don’t let those things distract me.
I usually read my Sunday school lesson on Saturday when I have more time to study. If I am also doing a Bible study, I will do the day’s reading in the morning during the summer, after I have finished my quiet time, but I will do it in the evenings during the school year. I studied Jesus, the One and Only by Beth Moore this past summer. More on Bible studies in my next post. 🙂
I realize to some of you, this may sound like an awful lot of time and you probably don’t feel that you have that much time to devote to the Lord, but think about this: we all have the same number of hours in a day. We all will make time for the things that we really want to do, no matter how busy we are. I have spent hours in the past watching television or trolling though Facebook before I even realized it. Consistent, quality quiet time with Jesus is the result of making it the number one priority in our lives. It’s just a choice.
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4, NIV).
I have other things I like to do—like sleep! But once you have tasted and seen that He is good, it’s like waking up and realizing that you are madly in love and absolutely nothing could change that. You just can’t get enough. I make no apologies. I love Jesus! I’m addicted to His presence. He is so good to me—better than I deserve.
Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).
Religious people hate to hear this kind of talk. They think it’s irreverent to talk about Jesus like this. They believe that Christianity is about going to church and following rules and being respectable on the outside. I actually feel sorry for them. They are much like the Pharisees—willing to take a stand for what they believe, but missing out on who Jesus really is.
Yes, I honor and reverence and fear the Lord. I believe that He is a holy God and that He requires that I walk with Him in righteousness, but He is also a Friend that is closer than a brother. Because I know Him as my Father, His rebukes are gentle to me most of the time. He convicts, corrects, rebukes, and chastises me; but He also forgives, heals, delivers, protects, provides, blesses, promises, and makes Himself known to me.
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me (John 10:14).
Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen what is better and it wouldn’t be taken from her. Praise God! Hate me if you want to, but you can’t take my relationship with Jesus away from me.
Jesus loves me. And that is enough to keep me coming back for more.
How about you? What are some things you enjoy about your time with Jesus? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below!