I am always trying to put God first in my life- first in my relationships, my finances, my dreams, my priorities, any and everything. But I didn’t realize that I was missing something so simple as putting him first in my day.
I’ve always heard my Christian friends talking about how they have quiet time with the Lord every morning for maybe 5 to 10 minutes. They talk to God and listen to see what his plan is for them for that day, they get encouraged or maybe even convicted.
I just recently started having quiet time with God a couple of weeks ago after I read O2 by Richard Dahlstrom. In the book, he reminded me that things such as silence and just listening for the voice of the Lord are hard disciplines to master, as we can get easily distracted with other thoughts about what we need to do. But he reminded me that it is so important to specifically make time for God during the day to listen to him and hear what he has to say.
Dahlstrom really inspired me because he said that even though sometimes he won’t hear anything from the Lord, other times he hears things that have a really big impact on his life. He said that impact wouldn’t be there if he hadn’t had the quiet time.
So I get up for school in the morning and get ready, and my mom drives me to school. I’m typically there between 7:25-7:30, and that’s when I have my quiet time. It can be from 5 to 15 or 20 minutes. I try to find a very quiet and empty place so I won’t be distracted by people or noise. I haven’t been doing this long and he hasn’t said anything to me yet but I feel inspired and a little more prepared for the day when I do. I’ll pray for my own needs and for the needs of others and do a lot of listening and waiting in between. I talk to him openly and honestly about everything I feel, I don’t hide anything from him. I ask for encouragement and for guidance throughout the day. I ask him if there is anything he wants me to do or to focus on or to remember.
It can be very difficult because I am so used to going to school and just starting to do whatever I feel like doing. It’s very difficult to put me second but I am doing it anyway. God should be first in everything, he will take care of us when we do put him first. So I am working hard, and learning to be very, very patient.
I know it will all be worthwhile.
cogs Said:
on October 16, 2011 at 5:21 pm
i agree with you. this is the thing that i’m focusing on in my life. i saw the above post that you’re really thankful, and i think that’s a great spirit to have, as well as humility. i hope both of us get better at listening!
Jennifer Clayton Said:
on October 17, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Thank you so much! I love getting your input. It’s very difficult to be thankful when you feel down, but I’m trying to remember that it’s important, anyway. God sees what we struggle with, so I think it’s okay to mess up as long as we are trying. So you are having quiet time? It’s difficult for me because I always want to do other stuff, but yeah you and I have to get better at listening. =) Being patient is such a difficult thing to do, but I’m working at it!
cogs Said:
on October 16, 2011 at 6:58 pm
lol i now see the humility posts below!
cogs Said:
on November 21, 2011 at 7:09 pm
i know, it takes discipline. when i try in the morning, i end up falling asleep. i was encouraged one time when i was walking outside, cause after i was praising him and thanking him, out of the blue, i felt he was speaking to me with that small voice inside. it was new to me, and made me know that yes, he can make himself known. it was just an idea about his kingdom, that’s really all i got. but it was enough, since i realize that the true importance in our lives is his kingdom within us. a little later, i felt, not as if someone was watching me, but the vast expanse of sky and how god can see everything in us (which made me scared). but i’m learning to trust that even though he’s all powerful, he has our best interest at heart. i can be scared, but still hope in that.
cogs Said:
on November 21, 2011 at 10:16 pm
lol i realized you could take that wrong… not scared cause he could see my inner thoughts, but scared because of his presence, like he’s bigger than anything.