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Thursday, October 24, 2013

Quiet Time on the Go (Part 2): Making Every Second Count

 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalms 46:10 (NKJV)
 
 
Cutting out the Distractions
 
A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to take a hike through the wood with my family.  I followed my husband and three year old, with my two month old strapped to me in a baby sling, hearing the sound of crunching leaves and the quiet chattering of my older son.
 
The hike provided the perfect atmosphere for some quiet time.  Even though I was walking, my spirit was still and quiet.  The distractions of everyday life dissolved away in the calm of the woods, leaving time to meditate on favorite scriptures, talk to God, and listen for his voice.
 
I found myself wishing I lived in the country, without all the distractions. However, after some thought, I realized what really matters is the condition of my soul.  If my soul is still and quiet, I can create an atmosphere for worship at home, or wherever I am.  Here are some ways I have learned to create that type of atmosphere.
 
Creating an atmosphere for worship
 
I will be the first to admit, most of my distraction are those of my own making.  I have a hard time with complete silence.  I’m sure many of you can relate.   I leave the television on for background noise and my phone is usually right next to me.  It took me a while to realize how many minutes I was wasting daily by having these distractions around me.  I want to make every second of my day count.
 
Lately I have gotten into the habit of turning the television off and placing my phone out of reach at different times during the day.  Instead, I turn on some soft worship music in the background.  Even if I am up doing laundry, washing dishes, or rocking my baby, I can be praising God through song and prayer.  Then when I have time to sit, I always have my quiet time kit within reach.  (Click here if you missed part one. Part One: Packing a Quiet Time Kit)
 
Hiding God’s word in my heart
 
It is a rare moment during the day when I have a large block of time when the kids are calm.  However, I have learned, mini study sessions, several times a day work well too.  This is where the post it notes in my quiet time kit comes in.
 
Psalms 119:11 says, Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
 
I’ve been thinking about the importance of hiding God’s word in my heart lately.  So, during my mini study sessions I get out my post it notes and write down a scripture that spoke to my heart.  Then I post it to the wall so I can look at it during the day.  This helps me memorize and meditate on the scripture all day long.
 
By creating an atmosphere of worship and hiding God’s word in my heart, I can make every second of my day count.  Please feel free to comment and tell ways you have learned to fit in quiet time into a busy schedule.
 
Thank you for reading and keep shining for him!
 
 
*Photo Credit:  My photo :)
 


2 comments:

  1. Rachel, first of all I want to thank you for taking time to share the Lord with this blog!
    I look forward to it and what God says to me through reading each one.
    I finally got my quiet time kit made and actually brought it to work today!
    I am using a compartment bag that you use for the back of a car passenger seat...it's just the right size for my chair(not much space at my shared desk).
    I also like that you shut off the tv and play background christian music. That's what I do while cleaning up around the house.
    God bless you Rachel for your willingness to serve Him in this way!

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    1. Thank you, Mom. I'm glad that God blesses you through reading them. I'm excited to hear that you have your quiet time kit now. It really seems to help me when I have everything nearby, so I hope it works for you too. :) Thank you for being such an encouragement to me.

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