My Daily Inspiration and Hope

I guard my morning quiet time. Over the years it has become my lifeline. For so long, I looked at quiet time or devotion as a chore. Something that I had to do to be spiritual. Something that had to be done a certain way. At a certain time. For a required length of time to be effective.


I worked so hard at it. I got so frustrated when it didn't work out or I couldn't make myself sit still or stay focused. Guilt creeped in because I was working and striving instead of being still. I thought that in order for it to count and for God to hear me that I had to look and act a certain way or I had to pray and say certain things. Silly, right?


When I began my daily journal about 5 years ago, the first thing I did was write a covenant. I wrote that I was covenanting with God to meet with Him daily and to seek His presence. That was it. Anything else would be an added bonus. No time restraint. No formula or outline or method. Just me, my journal and God. I wrote a long journal entry that day pouring out my frustration. Asking for forgiveness for not making this decision sooner. As I wrote and asked God to show me what a daily time with Him looked like, I wrote the following sentence... "Did you not recognize Me all these years as you were just living your daily stuff?"


All those nights that I rocked crying babies. All those early mornings when I waited quietly for the rest of the house to wake up. All those afternoons that I was so exhausted that I was wondering if I would make it to bed time. All those times I was driving back and forth from my house to my parents house wondering how I could split my time and make everyone happy. All those times I thought the laundry room would explode because there was just not enough time in the day. All those times my heart ached because I was convinced that one of my girls hated me for punishing them. All those days that I said a quick prayer or called out in desperation or simply sat down and listened for a second.


He was still there. It didn't feel very quiet. I wasn't giving Him all my attention. I wasn't writing down my thoughts and prayers but He was still there. He heard me. He answered me. He loved me the whole time. He met me where I was until I could meet Him where I needed to be.


Some days I sit for 5 minutes. Some days I sit for an hour. Some days I read out of my devotion books. Some days I just read scripture. Some days I read nothing. Some days I cry out on my knees. Some days I just talk.  My schedule is easier to navigate these days so it is usually always around the same time every day. But that has looked different over the years. Whatever the time of day is or the length of time I sit or the amount of reading, writing, praying or listening I do, He always meets me there. Every single time.


So today I encourage you to put down your own expectations. Pick up a journal, a devotion book and your Bible. Stop for just a little while. Wherever "there" is... the carpool line, the laundry room, the kitchen table, your special place. He is already there and waiting. He will meet you there. Every single time.

"Lord, forgive me that I have so little time to spend on my knees. Raising children and running a busy house, I have to do most of my praying 'on the hoof' as it were. But, Lord, You know my heart is kneeling." 

~ Ruth Bell Graham