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Quiet Times:

How do you spend moments with Jesus?
Do you have a set quiet time?
If you have children, how has your time changed from when you didn't or over the years as they have grown?

"Having A Quiet Time" is a common phrase used in Christian circles. The importance of a quiet time is often stressed, but what is not so widespread is the how or why of a quiet time. To grasp the importance of a quiet time is to understand that what we are on the inside reflects on the outside. What we take in our hearts, comes out in our words, actions and attitudes. I love the verse Jeremiah 17:8 that says, "For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." What a beautiful parallel this gives to our spiritual lives. Our quiet times which are simply times focused on Jesus, whether in prayer, praise or reading God's Word, doing an actual shutting off of the constant noise and business in our lives and being still and quiet and focused on God. When we spend time in prayer and reading God's Word, this is like spreading out our roots. We soak in the things of the Lord. We absorb His love in our hearts, His attitudes of grace and compassion to others, His wisdom to make wise choices. During these times we choose His peace over our chaos, His comfort over our pain, His joy over our sorrows. Being rooted in His Word enables us to endure when the hard times come. Having these things in our hearts makes it easy to recall them through the day to encourage or uplift others, making us fruitful.

But, we cannot impart what we have not partook of. There is no substitute or shortcut to Christian growth. Quiet times can be viewed as an overflowing fountain. We receive from the Lord and shower these things into the lives of others. Then we go back to refill and pour out again, over and over. John 7:38 talks of rivers of living waters flowing from our hearts. As we mature and grow in the Lord it is a beautiful cycle of sharing what we have learned from our quiet times, but we must receive before we can begin to share.

Through a woman's different seasons of life, quiet times will change. As a young mother, I would wake up the same time my children did and attempt to read my Bible while jumping up and down for cereal, juice etc. I was reading the Bible, but not absorbing or retaining it and certainly not applying it in my daily life. Now that my children are growing older I purpose to get up at least an hour before them. This gives me time to have a quiet time and have some time to prepare myself for the day. My attitude is right and ready for the challenges the day may bring. My methods for quiet time change from time to time but currently I begin with prayer. I keep prayer lists and payer calendars close by, things like prayers for husband and children etc. Praying God's Word specifically over our loved ones is very powerful. Bible reading begins by reading by reading one chapter of Psalms or Proverbs. Right now I am using a daily devotion from our Sunday School, reading the verses that go along with the lesson each day and also read a portion of a book by Elizabeth George who ministers and encourages Christian women to grow in the Lord. There are numerous devotions geared to enable women grow in their Christian walk. I will share a few briefly that have made an enormous impact on my life. These can be found very reasonable on Ebay or at Amazon.

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  Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney


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  A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George


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  The Power of A Praying Wife, Mother and Woman by Stormie O'Martian

These are great Christian authors and there are many more that will encourage Christian maturity. Some other authors who bring rich teaching are Elisabeth Elliott, Frances Schaeffer, Beth Moore and Cynthia Heald. While no book written by an author can substitute reading God's Word, these books specifically designed for Christian women when accompanied by Bible reading, can bring practical ways to grow and mature in the Lord.

The most important aspect of quiet time is doing it. Mornings may work best, lunch break or evenings. It may be 5 minutes or 2 hours. It is not the time or the way of a quiet time, what it is important is what ever will work with your daily schedule is what is right for you. May you drink deeply from the richness and goodness of a time spent with the Lord and be blessed to be a blessing!