Why Quiet Times Don't Cut It

Source: citytocityaustralia.org.au

I'll never forget it--I was in a ladies' Bible study, and we had split up into small groups to go over a few questions from the weekly lesson.

Several of the ladies were discussing their "quiet times"--the devotional time they set aside each day to pray and read their Bibles.  And suddenly, the question was posed to me--what did my quiet time look like?  How long was it?  What did it consist of?

Now, there was a time in my life when this question would have been a straight-forward one to answer.  I would have told them that I woke up at X o'clock each morning, spent approximately X amount of time reading the Bible, and approximately X amount of time praying.  I could have even shown them a gold-star sticker devotional chart (yes, I made one of those for myself in high school!), and a sizable stack of completed Bible study workbooks.

But at the time of this ladies' Bible study session, I discovered that I had no real answer to that question.

In truth, it wasn't because I was never in the Word, or that I was rarely praying.

No way.  

It was because I was no longer aware of when I had ever stopped.

You see, I had three small children at the time--one in diapers, clinging to my hip, the other a rough-and-tumble toddler, and the oldest in pre-kindergarten.  I read my Bible and prayed nearly every day (for small snippets at a time!), and I was faithful to bring the Word before my children each morning around the breakfast table.  I was keenly aware that I needed the strength of Jesus, His wisdom, His patience, and His joy every moment of every day.

That's why I couldn't really answer the question posed to me at the ladies' Bible study.  My "quiet time" truly had no start time or ending time.  I felt that I was in a posture of prayer all throughout the day.  My prayers were not confined to a list.  Any moment of any day could bring me straight to the throne room of God, lifting up a prayer for a child, asking for help with a decision, crying out for patience, and mercy, and grace!

I don't remember exactly what I said to that women's group that day, but what I've wanted to express to that group of women since then is that I lived and breathed the Word, prayer, and Jesus, and that I hoped that they did, too.

My children are much older now, but life is just as full--fun at times, challenging, trying, and wonderful--but I have just as much need (arguably more!) for Jesus and the truth of the Gospel, every minute.of.every.day.

I think that this phenomenon--this living and breathing God and His Word, every moment of every day--is what Brother Andrew speaks of as "practicing the presence of God." (A fantastic, and mercifully short, little book, if you are interested in a great read!).  I read that small book in college, but I don't think I totally understood it until about a decade later.

That's okay.  God uses it all.

Now, please don't misunderstand me--I don't disapprove of the concept of having a "quiet time" or discussing them in church circles.

As I've written about before, I read God's Word and pray every day as part of my morning routine.  I am a huge fan of Bible reading systematically through the year.  I am almost always in some kind of Bible study workbook.

I absolutely make time for a "quiet time."  I just know that this time will never be enough in the life of a believer.  Life is just too hard, too full, too challenging, too chaotic to get a "dose" of Jesus in the morning and cruise on through your day.

You can faithfully read the Bible and pray each day, but your life won't be radically different until you know and walk in the full understanding that Jesus is your oxygen--the only reason you live and breathe and have any meaning or significance in your life.

He ought not be the top priority of our lives.

He is our lives:

"When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:4, emphasis mine

Do you want to be radically changed by the Lord--to experience His comfort, patience, peace, and joy, every day, no matter the circumstances of the day?

Then you've got to have a mindset shift--having a quiet time will never be enough.  If you don't know what it is like to experience God's presence every moment of every day, then call out to Him, dear friend!  Never be away from the Word of God (I have many Bibles scattered throughout our home, in my car, on my phone, so one is always within reach!).  Grab a copy of Brother Andrew's book and take it in, talk to me, talk to a trusted pastor or friend, and reach out for MORE.

Don't be complacent with a filled up gold-star sticker chart, a completed Bible study workbook, or a checked off prayer list, and miss the boat in the process!

Let us live and breathe for Christ in every moment of every day, because He IS our life!

**(Don't just take my word for it, dear one!  A cursory internet search brought up a few more articles on the subject, in case you are interested!  Check out this one from a fellow mom, and this one, from a pastor).