I can admit it: Quiet Time with the Lord is something I used to take for granted. I used to lazily find my way to my Bible and study – sometimes richly, intensely – but haphazardly at best.
As a wife & mommy Quiet Time with the Lord is NOT something I can go without. I have spent many days, weeks, even months – attending to my life in that old, haphazard manner wondering why everything seemed so crazy and out of whack.
And usually some crisis would come and I would find myself on my knees, only to rise again refreshed, invigorated, replenished to face life.
It was sort of a “Binge & Purge” attitude – Feast or Famine if you will – that I’d taken on and it wasn’t working well.
In the past several weeks, the subject of “Quiet Time” has been in my face in many ways, and thankfully I’ve been trying to pay attention. You see – it’s the Quiet Time that keeps me from legalism – that living life following the rules, doing the “right” things, saying the “right” words, blah blah blah.
Quiet Time is about a one-on-one RELATIONSHIP with God.
It isn’t something to be attended to for show – or simply to mark off on a checklist. Quiet time are those moments taken alone with my Creator God, my Abba Father, the Lord God Almighty. These are the moments where intimacy and communion take place – where “religion” flies out the window and “relationship” envelops me as God takes my hand and shows me something new for the day, for the hour, for the moment.
These are the moments where His character is revealed more clearly and where faith finds new growth. Despite the incredible sweetness of these moments, making time for Quiet Time is not always easy. But like so many other things in my day, MAKING time is my choice – it’s within my realm and schedule – and its something that I have learned that cannot be tossed aside like a magazine.
Here’s a short list of inspiring websites – sites that offer tools & tips, as well as products, that enrich Quiet Time.
Quiet Time.org. Our women’s ministry leader mentioned a book by Katherine Martin, Six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time, and when I visited the site I bookmarked it immediately!
Cindy Rushton’s E-store. The wide variety of e-books, downloads, mp3s and more available from Cindy Rushton are enough to fill dozens of binders. As a Christian wife and mother, Cindy has a lovely way of teaching hard truths. I’m currently reading “Oops, My Cup is Empty and My Coffee Pot is Broke!” – a study of Hannah – and it is SO rich I’m blessed every time I open my notebook!
Max Lucado. Whether you want a daily devotional by email, a daily podcast, or a weekly message, Max Lucado provides fresh inspiration for a dry, thirsty soul!
There are so many more, but these are three high quality sites that may guide and inspire you to a deeper Quiet Time with the Lord, as they have me!
© 2009 – 2010, Debbie Taylor. All rights reserved.
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