Rethinking Quiet Times in the Morning

Morning devotions

Morning Devotions

I’ve been a fan of morning quiet times since becoming a Christ-follower years ago. After all, Jesus prayed in the morning (Mark 1:35). Also, morning prayer is recorded in Psalm 5:3 and Psalm 90:14, among other scripture.
I get it. Soaking in the Word before a busy day begins sets the tone for the day. And did I mention I’m a morning person?

Playdates with GodBut what happens when we emphasize the time of the day we meet with God more than the actual time itself? Laura J. Boggess touches on this in the sixth chapter of Playdates with God…Having a Childlike Faith in a Grown-up World, entitled Super Soaker: When Life Feels Dry:

“When did we decide that the morning quiet time was the gold standard? Yes, Jesus rose early in the morning to meet with God, but he prayed at night, too (Luke 6:12). And Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. Do we get so hung up on the way our quiet time should look that we don’t meet with God at all? I wonder what would happen if we stopped trying to look like everyone else—if we embraced our own unique personalities in our spiritual lives. Some people love to pray as they walk their neighborhood, some as they climb mountains, some as they create paintings. Some might quilt—every stitch a prayer.

Invite him in. He wants to be with you. Yes, you.

You with the freckles and the spare tire. You with a quick temper who loves to sleep in. You, the one who learns in pictures and struggles to sit down and read. He wants to be with you. He knows the number of hairs on your head. (No matter what color they are.) And he probably counts the freckles for fun.” – Laura J. Boggess

Laura’s book and further prayer helped me to realize my perspective and more importantly, my heart was off. Do I still believe there are benefits in meeting with my Maker in the morning? Absolutely. But now I’m reminded that it’s the act of meeting with Him⎯and not the when⎯ that really counts.
Ready for a “playdate”?
Morning, noon, or night…it matters not. What matters, as you know, is making the time to meet with the living God who loves us with such an extravagant kind of love.
You’re Invited:
Whether you’re praying one stitch at a time or walking them off, what’s one new way you might try spending time with God this week? No other date will rival this one.
So, are you an early riser/pray-er or do you prefer another time of day?

 

 

Cathy Baker

Cathy Baker is an award-winning writer and author of Pauses for the Vacationing Soul: A Sensory-Based Devotional Guide for the Beach as well as Pauses for the Vacationing Soul: A Sensory-Based Devotional Guide for the Mountains. As a twenty-five-year veteran Bible instructor, she's led hundreds of studies and workshops. She's also contributed to numerous anthologies and publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Upper Room, and Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family. In addition, her poetry can be found in several popular anthologies. She and her husband, Brian, live in the foothills of the Carolinas where she one day hopes to have her very own Goldendoodle. Subscribe to Cathy's blog and receive a free e-book, Praying In Every Room of Your Home. http://www.cathybaker.org

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook - Pinterest

6 comments

  1. Great word, Cathy. Thank you for sharing thoughts from Laura’s book and your own. It’s so easy to lose sight of “Who” when we’re pursuing the “what” or “how.” I like your words, “now I’m reminded that it’s the act of meeting with Him⎯and not the when⎯ that really counts.”

  2. This sounds like a great book, Cathy. Thank you for sharing it with us. It is SO easy to get caught up in the “discipline” of a quiet time, that we forget about relationship. It’s hard to fathom that the Creator of the Universe not only knows our name, but wants to sit a spell with us and talk. Why, oh why, aren’t we totally head-over-heels with that thought? Just this morning I asked the Lord to help me return to my first love – those emotions of when I first met Him. I want to be consumed by His love once again.

  3. I love the phrase “Playdate with God”. It reminds me of a friend and wanting to spend hours of fun hanging out. I love that image. Me hanging out with God and spending hours upon hours talking. Thank you so much for sharing.

  4. I agree, Sheryl. That phrase reminds me of the joy found in spending time with God — no agenda, no pressure — just pure delight. Thank you for sharing!

Comments are closed.