We often let so many practices of our faith slip between the cracks after so a few years of being a Christian. We sometimes feel “mature” enough to go without consistent habits like fasting and observing the Sabbath, which we adhered to when first coming to the Lord, a perpetual excuse of business and distraction.
For me, each day time with God is one among the primary to go, right up there with fasting and memorizing the Word. Starting your day trip with God not only dispels the easy chaos assaulting our brains inside a minute of consciousness – finding the varsity permission forms and impending deadlines – but places all the things under God’s authority. It is trusting him to see you thru every circumstance, knowing he’s celebrating with you thru the minor successes of the day, and letting him know he’s Lord. It’s amazing the difference quiet time makes, though I’m undecided why we’re surprised how spending time with the creator of the universe could positively impact our day. I’m a more patient mother, a more positive staff member, simpler ministry leader, and I’m even nicer to my putrid cats after I start out with the Lord.
I feel the primary solution to be your “best self” is by remaining near God. You + God = a greater version of you. And everyone: the hubby, the youngsters, your employees, and the snarky school secretary you almost assaulted during last month’s estrogen surge, really do agree.
Whenever friends share about being frustrated at home (or anywhere, really), I at all times ask how their quiet time with the Lord has been. Especially parents with young kids, since it’s so hard to seek out a quiet anything, let alone an actual sliver of time spent within the Word and prayer. After having two babies in under three years, I went without dedicated quiet time for years. Sure, you pray through the bi-weekly shower or within the automobile when your thoughts aren’t massacred by fighting, but without personal time with God, we’re doomed. Looking back, I ponder if I consider those early years the toughest of my life because I wasn’t a “baby person” or because I wasn’t a spiritually strong person.
It makes total sense when you concentrate on it. When you’re with God, you manifest His characteristics—patience, long-suffering, kindness—did I mention long-suffering? And you’ll be rather more equipped to handle your assistant calling out “sick” for the third Friday in a row or your son telling you his report is due tomorrow. And he needs pictures. And the printer’s out of ink. At times like these, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” translates to not crashing your automobile in fury driving to Staples for tricolor economy ink. That quiet time dose of II Peter might just have saved you.
It’s really easy to persuade ourselves that we’re spiritually mature enough to make it days, even weeks, without prolonged, dedicated times of being within the Word and prayer. It is just one other crafty lie from the enemy that affects our inner peace, family members, and residential life greater than anything. Reserving alone time for God can seem nearly inconceivable while you’re sleep-deprived or a working full-time parent, nevertheless it’s price it.
We might need been awake at five, and the home clutter could pass for an ADT security billboard (Don’t let home invasion occur to you!), but God still wants us to find time for him for our own good.
Even should you only have quiet time in your automobile, praying and worshiping, after which reading a web based verse while you get to your cubical, do what you possibly can to make it occur. In a time when distractions and chaos seem at an all-time high, I feel the important thing to having the very best 2024 possible is by committing to spend more time with the Lord. This means literally dedicating time every day to quiet our hearts, being still in silence, praying, and, most significantly, listening to what He has to say.
When we take time to be still and soak in God’s presence intentionally- not after we’re within the we not only receive direction, but we’ll receive all the opposite advantages from His presence that make such a difference in our lives.
When we’re in tune with His heart, we’re simply more grounded and focused. We’re reminded of how much we’re loved and the way precious this life is, and we grow to be more of the person we’re meant to be. Somehow, all of the things that matter rise to the surface, and the “things of the world” take a more rightful, lowly place in our hearts and minds. The problems, irritants, and stressors in life diminish, and we’re capable of operate above the fray, not distracted or tempted by the things that come against us by the hour, if not minute.
And how can they not? How can marital tension, or that pending deadline, or financial strain undo us after we’re in constant communication with the one who has power and victory over every area of life? They really can’t exist in the identical space.
It may be tempting to skip out on quiet time when running the youngsters out the door every morning and falling to our pillows like bricks on cement, muttering “night Lord,” if that. Some days, it’s sure to occur. But if we really need more breakthroughs, changes in habits, and victory in areas we’ve been praying about for years, we’ve to commit to being still and hearing God’s voice.
We might need to present something as much as make the change, like no email or social media before 9 am or one less episode through the evening, but it’ll, in fact, be greater than price it.
I’m praying for a 12 months of abundance, freedom, and victory for us all in 2024.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/pcess609
Jessica Kastner is an award-winning author and writer of Hiding from the Kids in My Prayer Closet. She leads Bible studies inside juvenile detention centers with Straight Ahead Ministries and offers unapologetically real encouragement for ladies at Jessicakastner.com.
