Good morning, readers and friends! I hope this second Saturday of the new year finds you well. ^_^ Today I wanted to take a little bit of time to share with you what my quiet time looks like.
It is so vitally important to be reading the Word and talking to your Heavenly Father. And just literally having quiet time. Where your mind is at rest and you quiet your heart. When the stress eases away and you can sort through your thoughts or simply be still.
So, make a goal for 2019! Make time for God, and for rest.
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First thing I do when I wake up to a new day … PRAY. The more I discover prayer, the more passionate I am about it. Prayer is a heart-changer, a life-changer, a world-changer. It strengthens your soul, calms your heart, and shows you the sweetness of communion with God like few other things can.
I want to pray more. So this year I took the leap. I’m getting up at least a half an hour earlier than the rest of my family so that I have quiet time to pray. Now, I do not like getting up early. I am not a morning person. But I knew this day would come. So here I am, getting up before I “have” to … and loving it.
So, talk to God for a half hour or so.
Then I get up, get ready for the day, and usually do my Bible-reading while eating breakfast. I started my second read-through of the Bible in October of last year. So I’m currently in Deuteronomy and Mark. (*whispers* … a little behind, but I’ll catch up!)
I highlight, underline, and write things on sticky notes. Yep, I’m that kind of person. And it’s helpful for me!
Also, I read the NKJV as of now. What translations do you all like to read?
I started a little gratitude journal. So usually jot down some things in there each day.
I’m currently not working outside the home, so after breakfast I clean up the kitchen and do other chores … whatever needs to be done. Many times I put in my earbuds and either listen to music or sermons/inspirational talks/whatever while cleaning.
J.D. Greear, John Piper, Matt Chandler, Dale & Veronica, Priscilla Shirer, Daily Disciple, FarAwayDistance, Paul & Morgan, Girl Defined, Joseph Solomon, Emily Wilson, Coffee Girls … there is a surprising amount of godly brothers and sisters on Youtube who have some amazing wisdom to share.
Of course, I love to read! My goal this year is to read a Christian Living nonfiction for every novel I read. (I go a little more into this on my other blog.) So perhaps during lunch I’ll pull out my nonfiction or novel and do a little reading. Now with nonfiction, I like to highlight and underline. That way I can go back through my books and re-read those bits of wisdom that I had gleaned.
Right now I’m working through One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp (which has been amazing), and Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. I’m not sure why I hadn’t discovered this little Christian allegory before! It’s been quite lovely.
A glowing sun-orb fills an August sky the day this story begins, the day I am born, the day I begin to live. ~ Ann Voskamp
This is the story of how Much-Afraid escaped from her Fearing relatives and went with the Shepherd to the High Places where “perfect love casteth out fear”. ~ Hannah Hurnard
I’m also going through Max Lucado’s Grace For The Moment. It takes so little time to read each day’s devotional, but if I feel like it gets to be just one thing too many, I may put this book aside.
I know a lot of people say they don’t have time to read, but I would encourage you to make time. Not only is reading a chapter or two a day said to greatly help to reduce stress, but you can glean so much helpful & amazing wisdom and information from books! Connect with your brothers & sisters in Christ from all over the world by reading their books, and let them show you what God has been teaching them!
I would like to journal more regularly this year. It’s a way sort through and process things, reduce stress, and record what God is doing in my life & heart! I also enjoy writing letters to my future husband on occasion in a journal. 🙂
These are ways for me to slow down and refocus.
And listening to music! Listening to great songs, worshiping, dancing around the house, lifting up my hands and soul to the Lover of my soul! That’s some time well-spent, I believe. There’s something about good music that can definitely relieve tension and stress. And good lyrics that put my focus back on Christ & glorifying Him. Right where it needs to be.
Well, there it is. That pretty much sums up my quiet time and restful, stress-relieving activities. I’m trying to live my days intentionally, to the glory of God, and these things help so much.
Now, to become intimately part of the local Body of Christ! ❤
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR QUIET TIME!
Lady Grace ~ a quiet & gentle spirit 
Wow, that’s very organized compared to me…
Usually my “quiet time” actually consists of talking to friends, video gaming, writing, reading (both my Bible and fictional stories), and sometimes playing board games with my brother, if he miraculously is bored at the same moments I am. I’d include maintaining my own blog, but…well…that feels more like work lol. I was on vacation for the last week, and I had no internet at all, and I was like, “Wow, I don’t have to worry about my blog! Sweet!” XD
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I haven’t always been very organized! This is a relatively new routine. Well, I’ve been reading my Bible daily & in a routine for a couple years, but with the rest I’ve not been quite as diligent. But I’m getting there! 🙂
I love chatting with friends! I don’t have many friends who live near me, but I’ve made it a goal to stay in better contact with my long-distance friends!! Spending time with your siblings is also a great way to spend “down-time”.
For sure, I wouldn’t call blogging part of my quiet time, either. It is work of sorts! Takes some mental and maybe emotional energy. I like to think of my blog as part of my ministry. 🙂
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Neat! I’ll probably never be organized. I mean, when it comes to packing a car, it gets scary how organized I am, but when it comes to anything else, it drives me insane; organized schedules are too repeatative for me to handle lol
Lol Same. I move so often it isn’t funny…
Neat! I’m actually thinking of starting a devotional on my blog, but Idk, I can interpret poetry well, but I’m not sure if I am the same with Bible verses or not…
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I understand, haha! Although, I never thought I was one for schedules and routines and waking up early, but to my surprise, it’s been good! 😉
Moving can definitely be hard! I wouldn’t recommend it without caution and prayer! But on the bright side, you have a chance to connect with lots of new people.
Well, I believe that as we seek God & study His Word, He will help us understand it! ❤
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Yes, that is a bright side for sure. Connecting with new people has helped strengthen my relationship with Christ and it has also allowed me to encourage so many people going through so many difficult times. Of course, in the end, it’s still annoying, because I know every time I end up moving again, it’s not just me that’s affected, all my friends feel it, too, so it’s definitely not fun. And yeah, I do tend to pray about it, even though I never actually get the choice in the matter
He definitely does, yes! But in the Bible, in Ephesians 4:11-12, it’s said, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” which indicates that the gift of preaching the Gospel is not for all of us, that some of us have different roles within the church. I need to ask my youth pastor, though, there was another verse (perhaps in Romans? Idk) that laid it out a lot more clearly. I’m gonna have to ask him about that, since I obviously haven’t memorized the reference…
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Yes, it’s great to realize that we can help & encourage other people through our struggles! But I definitely understand the pain of moving, and how it affects both yourself and the friends you’ve made.
For sure! I believe that the Bible teaches that we’re all called to make disciples and share the good news, but the way we each do that definitely looks different. Some people are called to be missionaries, others pastors, others youth pastors, others teachers, other encouragers, others authors, and some are probably called to literally be out evangelizing on the street.
That’s a great idea to talk to your youth pastors! Elders in the church can help you understand what gifts and talents you have & give you direction on where God might be calling you. 🙂
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And I’m probably called to be an encourager. It makes sense, given my talents, but in that sense my ministry is going to be more focused on helping others, so I don’t use verses quite as often, so, yeah, both nervous about how a devotional blog would go and worried about my scriptural knowledge, since for a long time I barely focused on scripture (major mistake on my part)
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Recently I’ve been trying to set a more regular morning routine/quiet time routine, and getting a look into yours was very helpful!! Thank you for sharing! Right now, I’ve been reading a KJV bible: I’m not entirely certain how I feel about it–some of the verses are certainly phrased in a way that are quite hard to understand–but my goal is to read all the way through in this one, and I have my markings in this one so I’m sticking with it for the time being.
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I’m so glad it was helpful, Hanne T.! That’s what I want this blog to be. 🙂 May we both grow in regular quiet times routines! And may God grow our hearts closer to His through them.
I understand! I used to read mainly the NIV. I’ve read KJV before, and also ESV and another random version. But finally I bought myself a NKJV copy and I’ve been really liking it. It can perhaps tend to be perhaps not as simplified as, say, the NIV, but I don’t mind. 🙂
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This is so wonderful Grace, everything you write is so inspiring and watching how devoted you are makes me want to strive to be more devoted and closer to Him myself. 🙂
I have a devotional book I believe you would enjoy by Sarah Young, called “Jesus Always.” This is my third year of reading it, and I absolutely love it, a very inspiring and encouraging book that I feel you would life if you ever look it up. 🙂 It’s part of my daily routine, and I read it every single day (well sometimes I get behind a tad but most of the time I’m caught up!)
I am also a dancer at a Christian dance school and spend a lot of my time stretching or dancing to Christian music, it’s a very peaceful thing to do and a fun and energetic way to express emotion to and through Him. Another thing I have is a small little greenhouse with so many beautiful little plants and flowers, it’s such a calm and peaceful little place, I love to pray while out there in the beauty of the nature He has created.
Thank you again for sharing this, it’s very beautiful and so inspiring to read. 🙂
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Thank you so much for your comment, Gabby! It really encouraged me. I hope I can continue to encourage you as a fellow sister in Christ through this blog! ❤
Glad to hear you've been enjoying that devotional. I actually read "Jesus Calling" a few years ago and remember being very uplifted. 🙂 Maybe someday I'll pick up "Jesus Always"!
A little daily devotional that I would recommend is "His Princess: Love Letters from Your King" by Sheri Rose Shepherd. I remember it being so very sweet & inspired me to seek God more deeply.
Oh, that's great! I love dance, and am always excited to hear about Christian dance schools and such. (It's something I dream about joining! 😉 ) Dance does seem like such an amazing way to express emotion, relieve stress, and, yes, even worship God. That's so wonderful that you have that.
And your greenhouse! I can definitely see how that would be peaceful, and a perfect place to talk to God. ❤
You're very welcome! Thank you for sharing, too! I feel blessed. ❤
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Awh! Thank you! I am so happy to have found this blog! ❤
And that's great! I'm happy you've enjoyed the book, it's definetly an inspiration for me every day and hopefully it can become the same for you once more!
That book sounds beautiful, I would love to take a look at it! Thank you for the suggestion! 🙂
Thank you so much! It truly is a beautiful way of expression, and if that's something you want to try, go fit it! It's never too late to start! 😀
I feel blessed too! Thank you so much for your kind comments, you're very sweet! ❤
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That’s wonderful! I’m glad! ❤
You're welcome! I hope you are blessed if you end up reading it!
You're so right! Maybe someday I'll have the opportunity to join a dance class. ^_^
❤ ❤
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