I had it all planned out to find a “quiet place” to be with Jesus yesterday. I was going to get filled up after two days of running errands and catching up on work this week. I had planned to blog and answer questions about finding time to be with Jesus so we can balance full lives that leave us lifeless and find life-to-the full with Christ.
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, I was going to get out of my bed and go to a quiet place where I could pray. (Mark 1:35) Then I’d drive Andrew to school, come back and read, and talk to God and listen and journal. Then I’d go running, listen to my favorite worship music, come back to shower, and do some writing for my book proposal.
Now I know all that freedom with no people sounds like a tropical vacation. Alone time is something many women would almost kill to have, and you just might want to hate me at this moment, but don’t. I have to block out chunks of time to sit and soak in lots of Jesus, then read and write what He shows me. Otherwise I can’t do what God’s called me to do at home or in ministry, which includes working on a book for now. Anyway, it’s a great plan but rarely does it happen like I planned and sometimes it frustrates me and makes me not want to plan it.
Like yesterday. I woke up early and was praying in a quiet place – my bed. I was telling Jesus how much I loved Him and how I was looking forward to snuggling up in my favorite chair with Him and my Bible and my journal. And just as my feet were about to hit the carpet to go do that, my husband came in to see if I was awake. He said he was taking Joshua to school soon, and then he was going to come back to get breakfast and hopefully get some time to read His Bible.
Here I was gonna hog up a whole day with my Bible in my quiet place and this dear man was just hoping for some time. Well, you know what happened, don’t you? God told me to get myself out of bed and set aside my dreamy plans so I could take Joshua to school. Then JJ could have an unhurried quiet time in a quiet place with Jesus. I wanted that for him. I’m so thankful my husband wants to spend time with Jesus, but selfishly I didn’t want to give up my dreamy plans. I knew that once I was in carpooling momma mode, my day would be in motion and my quiet place would be noisy because I’d be thinking instead of being.
When I got back from an hour of carpooling, I spent time with Jesus. But it was shorter than I hoped. Jesus had other places for me to be. All throughout my morning while I wanted to sit and seek, He prompted my heart to serve. A friend called and wanted help with something. Another friend had something to give me, which was very kind, but it meant going to meet her somewhere. A thought to encourage another friend came to me, which meant a phone call to make. A co-worker needed some direction and advice on a challenging situation.
My extended time in my “quiet place” didn’t happen until very late in the day. I was tempted to be frustrated, but for some reason I wasn’t as much as I normally am. Maybe God’s making progress with me and my ways. I guess He’s teaching me that my “quiet place” to pray will sometimes be just as I planned. But sometimes it’s won’t be what I envision, or what I long for. I know God wants me to be with Him – to pull away, to set aside, to plan ahead. But sometimes He rearranges the furniture in my “quiet place” and it becomes more of a place in my heart than a space in my home. A place where I simply abide in Him.
1.to remain; continue; stay.
2.to have one’s abode; dwell; reside.
3.to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, last.
Maybe it’s in the pulling away, the setting aside, the planning ahead, that we are positioned to give Him our emotions, our thoughts, and then invite His perspective and plans to invade ours. And then we can continue in that attitude – so it lasts – as we try to follow where He leads us physically, all the while remaining in Him spiritually and emotionally.
I’d love to know what your quiet place, or not-so-quiet place, with Jesus looks like? Does it frustrate you when you plan time with Him and then life or little people interrupt? Do you keep trying or do you give up? I’ll be back to share a few things that have helped me, but first I wanted you to know it’s a struggle for me, too.
Abiding still,
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you have got an incredible blog right here! would you prefer to make some invite posts on my blog?
Amen Sabrina! I love how you encourage us not to give up or get frustrated and wait for a better season in life to find a quiet place.
You are so right when you say, “Quiet Place is essential in our Christian walk. This is our time to have a one on one with our Father – get it whenever and however you can.”
Off to sit in my quiet place with Him. We’ve got a lunch date today!
Having quiet place is what I truly call a treat. Being a mother of three sometimes four (husband) makes having quiet time with God a juggling act. It had gotten so bad that I had to find my quiet place in the bathroom taking care of personal business (LOL) but you have to do what you have to do. At times I get very frustrated because the distraction sometimes come in a way where you know the enemy is trying to throw you off balance but knowing this is the case; I perservere at all cost. Even if it’s in the middle of the night or in my sleep. I have found myself praising God or having talks that I sometime do not remember the specifics when I wake up; however, I have the inner peace I sought for in that Quite Place. I say all of this to say that having a Quiet Place is essential in our Christian walk. This is our time to have a one on one with our Father – get it whenever and however you can. Amen?
Amen Sabrina! I love how you encourage us not to give up or get frustrated and wait for a better season in life to find a quiet place.
You are so right when you say, “Quiet Place is essential in our Christian walk. This is our time to have a one on one with our Father – get it whenever and however you can.”
Off to sit in my quiet place with Him. We’ve got a lunch date today!
Having quiet place is what I truly call a treat. Being a mother of three sometimes four (husband) makes having quiet time with God a juggling act. It had gotten so bad that I had to find my quiet place in the bathroom taking care of personal business (LOL) but you have to do what you have to do. At times I get very frustrated because the distraction sometimes come in a way where you know the enemy is trying to throw you off balance but knowing this is the case; I perservere at all cost. Even if it’s in the middle of the night or in my sleep. I have found myself praising God or having talks that I sometime do not remember the specifics when I wake up; however, I have the inner peace I sought for in that Quite Place. I say all of this to say that having a Quiet Place is essential in our Christian walk. This is our time to have a one on one with our Father – get it whenever and however you can. Amen?
On weekdays, at my kitchen table watching the sun rise and having it shine on my face, looking out the patio doors and watching the birds at the birdfeeder. It’s so theraputic! I learned at a journaling workshop to have a notebook next to me to jot the “to~do”s so they don’t distract you…and I often write my prayers to keep focused.
On the weekends, whenever i can steal away. Usually Sunday afternoon when the guys are out working,and Kayla is off with her fiance, I get quiet time.
Sometimes at night, I will curl up on the couch with my journal and just give thanks for all the blessings that day. It’s a good way to end the day.
I like the walking idea, but in WI only half of the year 😀
Again, I think you live my life!
My quiet place is either up very, very late or up very, very early. I sit on the couch in our children’s retreat room by a lamp. I am always reinventing this particular space so I have a little nest on which to sit and be quiet!
In order for me to do what I do in life I need lots and lots of soaking and seeking time too. My first breakthrough came when I got rid of everything but necessities…then God called me to give up sleep! When times get super busy, I arise at 4:30 to meet with Him in an unhurried, quiet way. He always shows up and it’s awesome.
I do think the more we abide in Him, the more we actually live. I like how you said He just rearranges the furniture in your quiet place. My heart gets this.
Great post Renee! You’re on a “writing role”, great time for your proposals! God’s timing is always interesting, and perfect. He’s been working on my heart in these same areas. When the Lord changed directions for our family in remaining in Ohio, we did some “rearranging”, furniture that is. There’s an area in our loft that became open, and I simply got a vision of a devotion area. In praying and looking for a God-deal, he led me to the “perfect chair”, it’s red, it’s comfy, but not too comfy, and it fits perfectly in the space. Complete with a lamp and nightstand we already owned, a shelf not being used in the basement, and a picture I found for $5, the space was complete. It’s the perfect place to curl up with him, to be quiet, listen, and journal just as you described – very much a blessing.
Though the space is wonderful, it does no good if I don’t use it 🙂 Got to spend the weekend with Karen Ehman (yea!) and in listening to her speak about time, it was such a confirmation to me in the joy that can reside in following God’s lead through the day. I too like to plan, though my frustration too resides in the unexpected changes that occur to thwart my plan (I really can be strong-willed in following through no-matter-what.) Like you Renee, I know he’s making progress when somehow those interruptions don’t bring the tension that I myself can get uptight about. It’s fascinating to watch Him change my course, yet still bring me back at another time to complete what I had set out to do. In this, I’ve learned to become more flexible in when that quiet time comes in my day. And you know what, many times I found myself reading or hearing just what was intended based on the events that He allowed in-the-meantime. Thanks for obeying Him as an example and encouragement for “us”. You go girl!
I too have such a hard time when my plans are interrupted. However, I am reminded that those “interruptions” are important too. Normally, it is my 2 year old son, my husband, another family member or friend who call upon me for help. They are important priorities so I try to keep that in perspective. Still, I often find myself sighing before I carry on. It’s so refreshing to know that I am not alone in my struggles. Anyway, everyone seems to talk about getting up early to do devotions, pray and meditate. However, I am not a morning person at all. I am way more keen at 8:30 or 9pm…after my son goes to bed. That’s when I do my daily Bible reading and pray. I think everyone should know that there’s no right or wrong time of the day to spend time with the Lord.
I also work part-time so on those three days I spend my lunch break reading my Bible. I also try to sneak in little tid-bits on my day off when my son is napping in the afternoon. I pray continually throughout the day…without taking a break from my chores and work.
I think it’s important to take the time when the opportunities arrive…even if only short amounts of time. We often feel like there are so many other things that we just have to accomplish in the time alloted when really many of those things can take a “back seat” to a little time with the Lord. We must keep our priorities straight. Thank you so much for the very honest, very helpful post!