I love God but quiet time is hard.
Because I follow so many wonderful believers on social media, it’s easy for me to compare my walk with theirs. I’ve known God all my life but it wasn’t until high school and college that I started to develop my own relationship with him.
When I got to college I started making an intentional effort to spend more time with God and read my bible. At first, I tried to read at night before bed, and that didn’t work out because I would fall asleep (don’t act like it hasn’t happened to you). Then I tried to set my alarm insanely early to read and have quiet time, and that didn’t work out either because I would hit snooze until I had to get up for class.
It was easy for me to beat myself up about it and feel bad for neglecting God, but I just had to find out what works for me. And honestly, I’m still figuring it out. There are weeks when I’m on a role and can get up and get my word and sermons in for the day, and finish up my day with journaling. There are also weeks where I can barely get a gospel song going and I forget to say my prayers in the morning.
It’s not that I’m okay with the inconsistency, because I’m not, but I know that I’m trying. I know that I’m improving, and I know that there is grace for me. I still envy those that are more consistent than I am at times, but I’m getting there and I’m taking joy in the journey.
If you’re struggling with your quiet time and want to spice it up a little bit, here are a few things that have been working for me lately.
I color.
I love arts and crafts and coloring so I found this amazing bible verse coloring book that I use in my quiet time and even in my not so quiet time. Coloring is soothing for me so even when I’m bored and not intentionally talking with God, I’ll pull out my coloring book and start coloring the Proverbs. This keeps his word in my head and brings me peace when I need it.
I write.
Even if I haven’t said my prayers that day, I always feel comfortable pulling out my journal and writing. I always write in a letter form to God, and I don’t worry about spelling or handwriting. My goal is to just get everything out that I have to say to him. I ask questions, I vent, sometimes I even complain. It’s a great outlet that is practical for me.
I watch sermons on YouTube.
This is a huge one for me. I love starting my days (and sometimes restarting my days) by watching YouTube sermons. My favorites are Transformation Church, One Church LA, and Heather Lindsey. Sometimes, if I’m struggling with a particular issue, I’ll type that exact issue into the YouTube search bar and click the first video that catches my eye. Starting my day like this or even having it playing while I get stuff done around the house keeps me reminded of God’s promises and gives me new perspectives on issues I may be dealing with.
I also want to remind you that no matter how long you’ve gone without talking to God, no matter how many days you’ve missed on your Bible App streak, no matter what you've been getting into, you can always come back to him. He’s waiting on you. When I get off track and run back to him, he has always been there ready to pick up where we left off. I want to remind you that he loves you, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it. Happy quiet time!
Peace, Love, and Soul
