Tag: quiet time

4 ways to grow closer to God

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Are you close to God?

Where are you in your relationship?

How well do you know God?

Do you spend time with Him?

Is God a regular part of your life or saved for emergencies only?

I have attended church regularly for the last 10 years, but it wasn’t until recently that I really started to develop a relationship with God. There is a big difference. After a few years of routine, I have found what works best for me. I hope these tips help you to grow in your own faith.

Read the Bible

There is no way around it – reading the Bible is vital in your growth.

I spent years reading devotionals, which are great, but I spent very little time reading the Bible. Sometimes I would even skim the Bible verses in the devotionals.

Oops.

I started a reading plan a little over 6 months ago and I have really noticed a difference.

You can read my post about reaching day 101 here. This method works well for me. There is no right or wrong way. Simply open your Bible and read. Stick with it. Some parts are more interesting than others, but they are all important. The benefit of this habit is immeasurable.

Pray

Of equal importance…prayer!

It can be a challenge for me because I get easily distracted. I am guessing many of you can relate. Some days are easier than others. Again, there is no right or wrong way to pray. God is always available and isn’t concerned with fancy prayers. He already knows what is in your heart and your head, so just say it. He won’t be surprised or upset. If anyone can handle, it, He can! I think honest prayers are the best. If prayer is a new thing for you, just talk to God. It is truly that simple.

Bookend your day

The way you start and end your day is very important. Over the years I have transformed into a morning person, which now works well for my life. I get up early to have some quiet time and avoid rushing out the door. About 30 minutes before bed, I try to unplug. Sometimes this is HARD. But it is well worth it. If I don’t spend a few minutes each morning prepping from my day and a few minutes at night unwinding from my day, I suffer. I will be less patient (I am not the most patient person in the world to begin with, so this is a biggie for me) I will be less tolerant – little things become big things and irritate me.

Finding a few minutes each morning and night to remember the things you are thankful for is an important part of the book-ends.

Re-evaluate your morning and evening routine to see what you can change. If you are not currently book-ending your day, be realistic and start small – add 5 minutes of deep breathing, thankful reflection, quiet time, or reading to your morning and evening.

Get quiet

Get quiet.

What does that mean?

Set aside a few minutes each day to be quiet with God. Remove distractions and noise, and just be still. This one is a toughie for restless people like me. So I am starting VERY small on this one and still working to develop this habit. I like to do this in conjunction with reading my Bible and prayer. Morning works best for me, because once the distractions of the day take over, I have a hard time clearing my head. I tried this in the evening, but it was a fail. I ended up replaying the day in my head, thinking about the next day, or falling asleep! So I adjusted to what works best for me. Consider what works best for you before implementing this. I suggest having a paper and pen handy to make notes on anything that comes to mind. Without the ability to write things down, I end up trying too hard to remember them, and then I struggle even more to just BE.

Any positive changes you can make are a step in the right direction!

Don’t make a change too complicated. Just begin.

The Importance of A Healthy Morning Routine

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The kids are back in school and summer is winding down, which means my mornings are a bit more hectic. I had these extravagant plans to utilize my extra summer morning time with some yoga or a run, a few minutes of quiet prayer time, and an early work day. I did yoga once or twice, went on a few morning walks, and spent a handful of quiet moments thinking, praying, and reading. Early work days didn’t work out so well because the kids typically woke up before I left and mom duty delayed me more than once. Some mornings I spent the extra 30 minutes sleeping, which was not a full waste of time. Our summers are jam-packed with sports. Each August, I reach a new level of exhaustion, so the few extra hours of sleep are beneficial.

With the changing of the seasons and the return to routine, I like to refocus on starting my day the best way possible. For me, that includes a handful of things:

1) Waking up thankful

II think I have finally trained my brain to wake up with a thankful thought. Before I even open my eyes, a quick “Thank you Lord for another day.” Because really, just waking up and breathing are simple blessings we take for granted.

2) Hold the phone

I used to wake up and immediately grab my phone. Check my email. Check Facebook. Check the weather. Scroll aimlessly. Now I give myself a few minutes to adjust. Pet the dogs (who are usually snuggled up next to me even though they
aren’t supposed to be on the bed.) Take a few deep breaths. Just sit and be still, even if it’s only for a few seconds. How often are we truly still doing nothing? I like to ease myself awake without the bright lights of my smart phone.

3) Read and pray

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

I like to read a devotional and say a prayer before I get out of bed. If I do this first thing, sometimes I fall back asleep (sorry God) Most people will tell you to do this first, and then get all of your other phone business out of the way, but I find the opposite works best for me. Gasp. I know, total rule breaker!! I like to look at Facebook Memories so I check those (these memories give me something else to be thankful for) scan my email, and look at whatever else is going to distract
me! My husband always sends me a good morning text when he gets to work, which happens shortly after I wake up. I feel less distracted if I read that first, knowing he is safe at work. I give myself 5 or 10 minutes for this type of randomness, then I read
a couple devotionals or the Bible. It takes discipline but I make it work. If all else fails, I move prayer time into the shower, but I don’t skip it! My mornings start off much better when I get connected with God for a few quick minutes. I hope He understands I’m a
busy mom doing the best I can!

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Jesus took time to pray in the morning- even more reason why we need to as well!

After steps 1-3 I get a few more minutes of peace in the shower, then the world turns chaotic because the kids get up. Usually some form of arguing ensues (It’s her turn to feed the dogs. That is my headband. I don’t want to brush my teeth.) The morning is never complete without spending 2-3 minutes searching for hair ties. This would be a good time to repeat step 1. Thankful thoughts.

While I’m getting ready, I drink a glass of water (room temp). This is good for your body and can help prevent poor breakfast choices. A donut and a Mountain Dew (a sample from my 1998 breakfast menu) is probably not the best choice! I eat a donut once in a while but normally opt for a protein shake and some fruit on a regular basis. What we eat and drink in the morning can also set us off in the right (or wrong) direction, same as what we think and read.

Once we get in the car, we act like a civilized family, read a devotional together, and say a prayer. You can read more about that and get some book suggestions here.

The way you start your morning will make a huge impact on the direction of your day. If you spend the morning watching dreadful news reports, complaining you are tired, and immediately
connecting yourself to the outside world, it will be hard to start off on the right foot! Instead, start off connecting yourself to God and thanking him for another day. It only takes a few minutes and has a big payoff!

What are some of your favorite morning routines?