The SAHM's Guide to Quiet Times

Welcome back! I've written many times about the importance for us as mothers to take time away for ourselves...whether we crash at a coffee shop for a few hours, take a weekend away with our husband, or head out on a retreat with our girlfriends. In a past post, Non-Mommy Time, I list scriptural evidence of Jesus taking time away from His ministry to rest and rejuvenate with the Father. While coffee shops and hotel rooms are fantastic, it isn't realistic to expect these treats in regular occurrence. A daily quiet time? Now, that we can expect and look forward to.

I used to think a daily devotional/quiet time was just part of being a "good Christian." I did it when I felt like I was on top of things in my spiritual life, and I let it slip when I became busy with more important things :-( It actually wasn't until the midnight feeding of a newborn became a common practice that I intentionally started spending a daily (or nightly!) quiet time with the Lord. I would read scripture to Caleb as I nursed him at night. It was a precious time for me to share with my new son, and it helped me to stay awake while focusing on being grateful to God, instead of focusing on my complete and utter exhaustion :-)

Eventually, our sweet boy started sleeping through the night, so I would try and read the Bible during nap times or after he was down for the night. This became more and more challenging as he got busier, and as I continuously evolved into the SAHM profession. There was no denying the fruit that always came from calm time spent with the Lord, but I just couldn't figure out how to swing it with a busy baby who was beautifully consuming my life.

Maybe six months ago (near the time of this blog's birth), I decided that a daily encounter with God wasn't a luxury, it was a necessity for me. I made a change in my method, and it is working out to be a great thing. I'm a morning person by nature, so the before-bed reading and praying never worked for me. I would fall asleep while praying, every time, then feel guilty in the morning :-) So now, I set my alarm for 6am, and I make myself get up before my husband and my son (yes, sometimes I push snooze...). I get my coffee, turn on the fire place if it's chilly, and curl up by the lamp in our overstuffed chair. Yes, there are usually toys strewn about from the previous day, there are probably dishes to be done, and I could be making lunch for my husband. BUT! I need this time. My husband gets it, he respects the fact that there needs to be quiet, and he is sweet to let me proceed with my peace and quiet with Him...after all, a lunch isn't too hard of a thing for a husband to put together.

You know that I'm organized by nature, so why wouldn't I have some order in my quiet time! Here is what I do...

• I pray for God to open up my heart, mind, and spirit to whatever He needs to teach me
• I read the daily devotional from my current devotion book (there are lots of these available at various Christian book stores...I highly recommend getting one, as it really helps to focus my mind on a specific topic)
• There is always one verse used in my devotion. After I'm done with the devotional lesson, I read the entire chapter that the devotional verse was pulled from in my Bible (example...if the devotion focused on Isaiah 33:3, I would then go and read Isaiah 33)
• I started journaling about the same time I started this blog. If a scripture or a thought jumps out at me while I'm reading, I write it down. God always makes things obvious for a reason!
• Next, I go to the verse of the day on my Bible app. No joke! I do the same thing by reading the entire chapter that the verse was pulled from and write down verses, thoughts, or impressions that I feel from the Holy Spirit.
• Then, I write down praises to the Lord...things He has done in my life that prompt me to express gratefulness.
• Finally, I write down the first five things that come to mind that I can specifically pray about, in addition to my husband and my son.
• I spend time in quiet prayer until I feel like it's time to be done, or until Caleb begins to stir :-)

I share all of this to give insight into my "how" and not just my "why." I imagine that many of us know we should be doing a quiet time, but I was stuck on the fact that I didn't know how to do it for years. For me, I need to be by myself without TV or music. Maybe you aren't as distracted by those things. Learn what you need, and what you don't need.

Yes, I am tired every single morning, but the experiences God has allowed me to have as I have continued in this discipline are priceless. He always honors obedience. Most of my blog topics have come to me during these quiet times. There will always be more to do, but God delights at time we choose to spend with Him. Time is the biggest thing we lack as SAHMs. Ask Him to show you a certain hour during your day when it would be doable to meet with Him. I promise that your sacrifice will not return void. It simply can't. The more moments we spend with Him, the more we get to know Him and the more we get to love Him.

I pray that this post is helpful to you. Whatever time you spend with Him, tailor it to make it your own. Do what works. Change what doesn't. But, do your best to try it. You won't regret it. Be blessed, mommies!