My alarm softly sings a wake up song before the sun’s rays have yet to poke their arms up over the dark sky. A couple more minutes of waking up, and I remember it’s time to meet God. I gather my laptop, Bible study, and journal in the inky darkness, being quiet so I don’t wake my husband. Tiptoeing down the stairs, I let out a breath at the bottom. I didn’t realize I was holding in air. I don’t want to make a sound and wake up Little Miss. The moments of meeting with God are precious, and I don’t want an interruption.
I brew my tea and spread my blanket over my lap, thankful I chose to wear a fashion scarf on this chilly morning. Sipping my hot tea sweetened with just the right amount of raw honey, I sit wrapped in warmth, ready to meet the Lord. What daily bread does He have for me today? I can’t keep the corners of my mouth from tipping up. I’m not alone; He’s with me.
Has it always been so easy to wake up before the break of day? Am I always so eager? Well, no. Building the habit of this spiritual discipline has taken a long time. There are days when crucifying my fleshly desires is easier than others, but I want to highlight the joy that comes from my relationship with God.
No, I haven’t always felt the need or desire to crack my Bible open for study on a regular basis, but after I understood selfless love for the first time, a new hunger drove me to seeking Him. Since then I have had my hunger filled, and I want to stay clinging to the vine.
Abide in me, and I in you. John 15:4a ESV
We thrive when we stay close to the vine. Do you want to thrive? If so, you need a plan. Without a plan, good intentions can fall apart. The good news is, setting up the following will create triggers to cause your brain to respond that it’s time to spend time with God, and they’ll help your habit stick.
Without a God Time plan in place, good intentions can fall apart.
4 Decisions to Solidify a God Time Habit
1 – Materials
The grocery store has food, but we need to grab the groceries we need and take them home. If not, then we will still be lacking. In the same way, decide what materials you need for your Daily Time with God. A few suggestions: Bible. Journal and pen. Maybe a cup of tea or coffee. Probably a Bible study. And sometimes fun CrayolaⓇ Twistables to highlight or create Bible art. It’s a thing. Also, you will definitely need a printed copy of the My Plan worksheet described below. Yes, definitely.
2 – Time
How many times have you missed an appointment to the doctor’s office or job interview? Probably not many. Why? Because an important meeting has a set time. Do that with God. He’s always going to be there. Will you show up? Making an early appointment might work best before other things in your day come up. I’ve missed some of those appointments, but I like to “reschedule” for later in the day. If you have to do that, God gives grace.
3 – Location
Matthew 14:23 says, “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Like Jesus, an isolated place will help keep you from distractions. To help establish this daily meeting, it might be helpful to choose the same spot. Where is your meeting with God going to take place? Your desk? Your car? Your garage? Yes, even the garage could be a special space. At least you probably won’t fall asleep there.
4 – Frequency
I encourage you to meet with God every day to solidify your habit. Remember the acronym I talked about recently? Determining Again I Live Yielded. Today I’m Maintaining Evidence. The more consistent you are with keeping a Daily Time with God, the more you will regularly crave His matchless presence. What day is your appointment? I hope your answer is, “Daily.”
Some days the plan may need to be adjusted to fit your schedule. One caveat is that I have found it easy to slip into excuses when the need to adjust arises, and didn’t make my God Time priority. Yet God isn’t standing over us with a whip if we mess up. We are still righteous in His sight. Give yourself grace, and keep moving forward!
Insider Resource
I have created a Daily Time plan worksheet that includes an assessment with goals. You will find it in Insider Resources. Sign up to receive access.
What is your favorite time and place to meet with God (outside of a church service)? What materials do you like to use? What Bible study are you going through? Share and encourage others!
Making a plan will help my God Time habit stick.
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Kelly, this post is a wonderful peek into your world! I also rise early to have time with God and write before the rest of my family awakens. I treasure this time daily.
I write after time with God, too. It’s a sweet time. 🙂
I have been encouraged by the testimony of Elisabeth Ellliot in this area. She was such a godly woman, and obviously steeped in Scripture, but she said that it was not an easy thing for her to haul herself out of bed in the morning, and at times found herself beginning her prayers with words like, “I don’t feel very spiritual.” Even so, she did it. And that’s my goal. Just to show up in the presence of God, and to make that my offering to Him.
Michelle, Thanks for sharing that about Elizabeth Elliiott! Very encouraging!
Yes, definitely don’t let our humanness stop us from coming to God. He always has open arms.
I get up early too, Kelly. I do my Bible reading and prayer at the computer desk in our basement family room. One thing that has helped me stay focused is not checking email or looking at anything on the internet before I’m finished. I had gotten into the habit of doing that, and one day just decided to stop. It’s made a big difference in the quality of my time with God each day. 🙂
I’m with ya on that, Lois. My notifications already up on my iPhone screen used to distract me. Now I make a point to just go straight to Bible study or I may never make it out of the social media vortex. 😉
Kelly, I like your list of 4 things. And you are so right. Each one of them is a decision. Not always easy, but consistency does make it better over time. The biggest thing the helped me was creating a quiet time notebook and then also having a certain place to go. When I don’t do well getting up or when something happens and I don’t have my quiet time in the morning, I try to go back in the evening. Some days it’s pretty messy, and some QT’s are way shorter than I want, but I think God gets that. I really liked reading more about your mornings!
I like that you said you go back in the evening. Having kids can make life unpredictable, so flexibility is key. I’ll finish later in the day. Btw, when I hear my littles stirring in the morning I always pray they will go back to sleep because I’m not done yet. 🙂
I get up early too but I didn’t always. Somewhere in the middle of parenting, I realized that I needed more than I had in myself to parent wisely. This drove me to develop the habit of meeting with God before anyone else awakens. It is a habit I am grateful God helped me to develop. Much wisdom in this post!
Kids will drive us to an awareness of our need for God. lol I’m glad it’s a habit for you, Joanne!
Beautiful encouragement to make time for God! I am not a morning person…AT ALL…but have established a plan, much like you’ve mentioned. It really helps!
Thanks for linking up with Woman to Woman’s Word Filled Wednesday!
Welcome, Jenifer. Glad to hear you have a plan even though you’re not a morning person. The more I do this (and go to bed on time), the more I become a morning person. Maybe that will change for you, too, in time. And you’re welcome. 🙂
Great encouragement and practical suggestions for spending that time with God!
Great to see you here again, Nicole! Blessings to you!
Girl, we’re again on the same page 😊 We need that daily #nourishment ! Thanks for all you do. Praying God increases your influence.
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Aww I so appreciate that, Sherry. I will pray the same for you. Love ya! 🙂
Kelly, I do the same. 🙂 I spend time praying before I get out of bed, then, my youngest is still in high-school, so I get up and help get him out the door. Then, I sit down my chair that faces east. I read God’s word and meet with him as I watch the sunrise. (insert dreamy emoticon.) — (Except weeks like this one where my husband is out of town, so I’m driving my son to school. We watch it rise together on the way. 🙂 — He thinks I’m crazy for caring so much, haha.) I do my Bible reading at the kitchen table when I get home. — Love this emphasis on studying the word, Kelly. It makes such a difference, doesn’t it? Thank you for sharing with #ChasingCommunity! ((hug))
Hah! A dreamy emoticon would be cute. Thanks for sharing what you do, Brenda. 🙂
Reading this makes me miss my morning routine. Tay has been having issues again and sleep around here has been off. I love this and your breakdown. Must mention I got giddy at Matthew verse. I have that verse on my new site (not public) because it reminded me of what my heart desires…solitude, not chaos. Thanks for sharing this God-given wisdom friend. Love you!!!
Oh, friend. I’m sorry sleep has been off lately. Praying for that. Solitude and not chaos sounds heavenly. 😉 Love you!
I love this, Kelly! I truly treasure my time with the Lord in the morning before my family rises, and it is so sweet to have that precious, uninterrupted time! (Sometimes it IS interrupted when the kids wake up early, but they usually sit with me pretty still for a little while!) It makes me think of that song, “In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.” Thanks for the encouragement to spur us all on to daily meet with our Lord!
Thanks for your visit, Christin. That’s wonderful that they sit with you. Perfect way to train them up. 🙂
Kelly- I don’t get up early because Ethan still wakes multiple times a night. I do my bible study time once Ethan is settled watching a show.
I usually just have a bible, journal, tea and a devotional.
My days go so much better when I begin with Him in the morning:)
#FreshMarketFriday
Oh I did not know that. Praying he will sleep thru the night from now on. I’m sure you’re so ready. Btw, I remember reading somewhere that you don’t like coffee either? #teaonlytribe 😉
I’m a night owl by nature. It took me years to become a “morning person.” I use that term generously! LOL But God has been so faithful to give me the will and the desire to do what pleases Him. All praise to Him! I don’t say that because I think morning is the only time that pleases Him, but I found that too many things press in later in the day. Thanks for sharing.
I totally agree, Donna!
Always appreciate your insight and diligence Kelly!
So sweet of you to say! Thanks, friend!
P.S. your site is one of my top favorite around the web
It is a blessing indeed when we finally settle into a comfortable place with our quiet time with the Lord. It sometimes takes awhile to figure out what will work (and seasons change that too), but once we do, it’s a joy. Thanks for sharing what works for you! We can all learn from it.
When the seasons change and adjustments need to be made, I just take the plan as a template. It definitely works. Thanks for stopping by, Lisa.
This is not only inspiring but something most people can certainly relate to.
Thanks for sharing this dose of encouragement. 🙂
It’s great to see you here, Lux! Blessings to you!
Kelly, I love your acronym! #SimpleTruthYet Powerful
Praying God continues to bless your daily time with Him to produce juicy fruit for you to live off of and more than enough to share with others.
Be Blessed & Refreshed,
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Thank you! I receive that! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’m a morning person by nature so it’s in the mornings that I have my quiet time. We go through stages of life, don’t we? I find that discipline carries me when nothing else will. But then I’m also a disciplined person by nature.
These days I find myself sleep-praying. I wake up in the morning but can’t seem to leave my bed – pray because it’s my habit and doze off. This is where I am. But I eventually make it out the bed for some real time with God.
Thanks for this post.
I’ve been there! Yes, stages and seasons. May our hearts think of Him first when we wake up and carry His presence throughout the day.