Daily Quiet Time

      As an introductory post, I have decided to share what my daily quiet time looks like. Hopefully I'll post 1-2 times a week, on topics like modesty, Christmas, testimonies, etc. I hope you enjoy!

      Having a daily quiet time has never really been that much of a struggle for me. Being homeschooled, there isn't much pressure to get ready in the morning to rush out the door, so fitting it in isn't difficult. I suppose the ease (most of the time) comes from a want to do what God says, and to know Him more. And His will. Pastors always say that you shouldn't force yourself to do it, that it shouldn't be a to-do list item. Personally, I disagree. It's like exercising. At first, you have to make yourself do it, but then it becomes a habit. After it's a habit, however, there shouldn't be anymore forcing. You need to want to, you need to need to, which is sometimes a struggle for me.
      Now, let me just say that I'm not condemning those who don't have a daily quiet time. God doesn't tell us "every morning you must read 10 chapters in your Bible and then pray for an hour." God just wants time with you. My pastor said something about quiet time that got to me. It was something like, "A relationship with Christ is like a marriage. It is, in fact. We are the bride of Christ. Now, my wife doesn't care how many marriage books I read. She just wants me to spend time with her. That's like us with God. God likes it when we read the Bible, yes, but most importantly, He just wants time with us." I think sometimes we get so focused on reading the Bible, that we lose sight of other things we can do to spend time with Him.
      So, the real question I wanted to answer in all of this was, "Why do we do quiet time?" Simply put, we do quiet time because we want to know God better. Like a marriage, we need to spend time with God to know Him. This can be done in many different ways, which leads me to how I do my quiet time....

       Now, before I say anything else, let me just say that this routine I'm about to tell you about does not happen everyday, but usually 4 days a week. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, it doesn't really happen, to be honest. But on those other 4 days, this is what it looks like: My alarm goes off at 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45. I get up after that one at 6:45. I get my Bible, journal, and whichever book I'm reading (right now it's Crazy Love). Then I either sit at my desk or sit in bed, and I start reading the Bible. Generally, I focus on reading through the Bible, by reading 5 chapters a day. Right now I'm in Jeremiah, which has some pretty long chapters. After, I read whichever book I happen to be reading at that time. By this time it's 7, or 7:05. Then I journal, which I can talk about forever, I loooooovvvvvvveeeeee journaling. So much. It's my escape. Someone hurts me, offends me, or makes me happy, you can bet it's written in my blue journal. I also journal about what He showed me that day in my reading. But instead of writing, "Dear Journal," or "Dear Diary," I write, "Dear God," so it's, "Today You showed me....." I also have made a habit of listing 5 things I'm thankful for every time I write. Then after journaling, I check my email and Pinterest, and then I go eat breakfast and get a move on with my day.  Also, while I'm getting dressed or cleaning my room, I listen to worship music, so it's like an extension of my quiet time. So there. I said it. That's my routine. It takes about 30 minutes. I've never really told anyone what I do during my quiet time, and I don't know why. I've listened to many a sermon on quiet time, but never have I heard a pastor actually tell the congregation what his quiet time looks like. I always wonder if it's because they don't have a routine, but usually they just say, "It looks different for everyone. Find your groove, and stick to it." How am I supposed to find my groove if I don't know where to look? I hope, dear readers, that this helps you.

      Before closing, let me just say that this routine is new to me, and that it may not stick forever. Likely, depending on my stage of life, it might be different. But, right now, in this season, this I have just shared with you is how I'm pursuing God and taking up my cross and following Him.

- Emily
Happy quiet time-ing!