Help, I am struggling with having a quiet time!

As a woman blessed to travel speaking at conferences and retreats, I cannot tell you how many times, over the years, women have said, “I am struggling with having a quiet time with the Lord.”  Most of them feel guilty about this, and do not want to admit to other Christians that this is their dilemma.

Can we be set free today? The treasure is in an earthen vessel, and the earthen vessel can be affected in so many ways. There is tiredness. There is family responsibility. There is work. There is … we could go on and on. All of us are impacted by the natural things that life brings. Then, there is listening to other Christians who seem to have a glorious devotional time every day of their lives. It is never stale, difficult, or unexciting.

Here it comes – freedom! Your time with God can be special whether it feels special or not. It does not have to be Instagram or Facebook worthy with a photo post showing the perfect open journal and Bible, a hot cup of coffee in a gorgeous mug, all sitting on a beautiful table on a porch overlooking a creek!

All that matters is that you show up with an open heart and have a meeting with the One who loves you most and cares about your life.

Most days, I wake up, make the bed, start the coffee, sip that divine beverage from heaven, and I listen to Andre Bocelli sing “The Lord’s Prayer” song. That song helps me remember that I am not alone today. My omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God will be with me, no matter what comes my way. I then listen to Philippa Hanna sing, “You’re Still God.” That song reminds me that I might not feel God or see God today, but He is still God today.

Then, I go to a corner in my home that is set up just for me to have a meeting with God. Trust me, it is not gorgeous like pictures in a magazine, and the only water nearby is in the guest bathroom! But it is where I show up to sit with my Savior. I read at least a chapter, usually more from the Bible – His book. I listen to another worship song, and then I talk to God, and try to listen to see if He has something to say to me.

Some days, it is so glorious that I do not want to leave and will linger in His presence. Some days, it feels like I am there by myself. Some days it is a little shorter. Some days it is much longer. Sometimes it is a delight. Sometimes it is discipline. Sometimes my life is peaceful. Sometimes, chaos seems to have decided to be my best friend. Some days, I write down notes of things that were impressed upon my heart. Other days, I write nothing. There are times when I am in the house totally by myself, and I literally march around in warfare.

It does not have to be complicated or set up in a certain way. It just needs to happen every day of your life. Show up even when you do not feel like it. The most important meeting of your day will be the one with your Creator. It is not about striving. It is about abiding.

Every day will not feel like you have entered the third heaven mentioned by the Apostle Paul, but in a frantic, chaotic, scary world, our only hope for peace is found in abiding in Christ. Even if we struggle with it at times, we must be still and remind ourselves that He is God, and He is still on His throne.

Spend time with God. We were made to “taste and see that He is good.”  Ask God to bring your spiritual taste buds to life. There is no better pleasure in this world than fellowship with God. Some days you will soar into the heavenlies as You sense His presence. Other days might seem like discipline. Feelings are not the goal; the goal is to abide in Christ.

^“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  – John 15:4-5 NKJV. “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” – Psalm 34:8 NLT.