Here's how I spend MY quiet time:
Get up about 6.
Greet Babuh [the DH, dear husband], who brews coffee when he rises at "0"dark:thirty a.m., bless him.
Go directly to coffee pot and pour me some.
Immediately infuse coffee with hazlenut creamer.
Slug down 1/2 the contents of the mug.
Open eyes.
Shuffle out to here
Truth is, the comics, as well as my first cup of coffee, are nearly always inhaled before I read my Bible or devotions.
Time out!
I want to be clear here, for clarity's sake. Well, for goodness' sake, too.
No, actually, for MY sake. It is MY quiet time. I am the boss of it, right?
I believe at this juncture, a brief history of MY quiet time would help you understand its significance in my life.
20 years ago, I began to get up before my husband and kids to spend time with my Lord, reading His Word and praying. What started as a 15 minute experiment, stretched to an hour of full-on devotion. As opposed to, devotions. (See above.)
We began an intimacy I'd never known. He was my Lover and I couldn't get enough of Him. Often a new revelation in His Word took me to a delightful mountaintop. Other times, I wept in repentance. Or in sheer shock and awe at His grace to me. And He heard my cries. Wiped away all my tears. Lifted my head. Whether our time was filled with delight or tears-often both-He filled a vacuum in my heart that my DH and kids could not. I was His Beloved. He was thrilled to spend time with me. ME!
We began an intimacy I'd never known. He was my Lover and I couldn't get enough of Him. Often a new revelation in His Word took me to a delightful mountaintop. Other times, I wept in repentance. Or in sheer shock and awe at His grace to me. And He heard my cries. Wiped away all my tears. Lifted my head. Whether our time was filled with delight or tears-often both-He filled a vacuum in my heart that my DH and kids could not. I was His Beloved. He was thrilled to spend time with me. ME!
Nowadays, for me to even consider spending part of MY quiet time with the Lord is a big deal. You see, I began to skip our morning meeting about 5 years ago when my marriage hit a rough patch. I tried to numb my pain with coffee and the comics. They became my intimates. The time became MY quiet time.
But God
never stopped whispering, longingly, for me to return to Him.
To continue our intimacy, OUR time.
But God
never stopped whispering, longingly, for me to return to Him.
To continue our intimacy, OUR time.
"Return to Me, even now, for I love you!" He says to my lyin', cheatin', double-dealin' heart.
That's grace.
He will take great delight in you, [Karen], He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you [Karen]with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
"In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help."
Psalm 18:6
"God will wipe away every tear from [Karen's] eyes."
Revelation 7:17
"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, [Karen], ...for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love..." Joel 2:12-13
Grace and peace to you!
Love, Karen
2 comments:
Wow, Karen, I feel the need to go have MY quiet time with MY God and get really reconnected. I have missed that closeness. Thank you for hitting me between the eyes girlfriend.
You would love the devotional called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. "Devotional" sounds very simple and boring, yet this treasure is anything but! I have given it to many friends who agree it is the best kept secret in having rich quiet times!
Blessings,
Amanda
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