No Time for Quiet Time (by Dusty Alexander)

I was recently talking to a brother who asked me how my relationship with God was going. I told him it was not where it should be, even though I was studying the word daily. I was sure that increasing my study of the word would resolve the issue and he asked me how my quiet time was going.

I told him I didn’t have quiet time and he challenged me to try quiet time for one hour a day, seven days in a row. If I didn’t make the seven days, I would start over. He told me that I would get a taste of God that will leave me hungry.

I was willing to try quiet time but I knew I wouldn’t last for an hour, I was just too busy. I started with 15 minutes and by day 20 I was up to 45 minutes still feeling like I could do more. I started waking up an hour and a half earlier and I sustained this for 20 days. Some days I didn’t even need an alarm, I woke hungry for time with my Lord. This isn’t legalism, I just want that time with God no matter how tired I am during the day. After quiet time I feel prepared for the day more so than my rested self without quiet time.

What did my quiet time consist of? I didn’t really know what to do so I started reading the bible and using what I found as my prayer topics. This soon opened a flood gate of topics to pray about, to thank God about and just enjoy Him.

I am no less busy, but this time is not a burden on my day. I heard a quote from Martin Luther once where he said, “In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” I thought this ridiculous the first time I heard it but now I cannot wait for 3 hours of quiet time with the Lord.

Every day that I wake up late, I am sad for the missed opportunity with the Lord.