Do You Struggle with Quiet Times? Don't Miss This!

We’ve been talking for the past few days about all of those things that “start fresh” in the new year. We set goals, we resolve to live healthier, we pull out fresh clean planners, and so on. And for those of us who are believers in Christ, “quiet times” are a key entry on some of those lists.

For many of us, they’re a key entry on the list of goals or resolutions that we fall short at, over and over and over again. And it’s easy to get discouraged. So this post is for you, my sisters (or brothers), who are discouraged and feeling inadequate because you just keep trying and it just never seems to work.

A Clean Slate

First things first: I want to encourage you. It’s a new year. You’re starting over with a clean slate. Even more than that, the Bible tells us that the Lord’s mercies are new every morning! So even if you blew it again, just yesterday, today you get to start fresh. 🙂

So if you’ve messed up, don’t give up. We’ve all been there. I can’t remember the exact quote, or even who said it, but somebody famous said something to the effect of: “We don’t fail by falling. We fail by not getting back up.” God knows your heart, and sees your perseverance, so just pick back up and try again.

And when you do, try these tips to help stay on course and/or battle the discouragement that comes when you get off course.

Tip #1: Attach Your (Intended) New Habit to Something Else

If you don’t already have a habit ingrained of setting aside this time, it will be easy to just plain forget. One great way to work at a new habit is to “attach” it to something you’re already doing (something that’s already a habit), and let that serve as your trigger.

If your alarm clock already goes off every morning, that might be a trigger (assuming you’re not too asleep in the mornings to think/remember!) If you have a daily workout, that could be a trigger. Or dropping the kids off at school, or getting ready for bed. Hopefully you get the idea. Tie it to something that’s already part of your routine, and you’ll be less inclined to forget entirely.

Tip #2: Choose a Time that Works for You

Yes, if you can spend time with the Lord first thing in the morning, that’s great. But some of us aren’t morning people. I can’t focus that well when I first get up. My prime time is at night, or just after lunchtime. Some of you will find that mornings don’t work well with your schedule, but some other part of the day will work just fine. Do that!

There is no law that says your main devotional time must be first thing when you get up, and God will be more pleased with having your full attention at lunchtime than token attention in the morning. The first thing we do in the morning is not necessarily the thing we prioritize the highest. (Most people take a potty break pretty close to first thing in the morning, but I don’t know anyone who would say that using the restroom is one of their top five priorities in life!)

Tip #3: Choose a Bible Reading Plan that Doesn’t Stress You Out

Now don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying don’t push yourself. I’m not saying just read one verse a day and that’s really great. (Although if that’s where you’re at, that you’re not doing any Bible reading at all, and one verse is a stretch for you, that is good, at least for now. Take that baby step and you can work at growing it a little later.) I’m just saying choose a plan that doesn’t send you on a major guilt trip over the slightest lack.

For me, a dated plan is like that. If I miss a day — one day — Auughhh! I’m behind! If I should miss two or three, I’m really stressed. And lose track altogether for a little while? Might as well give up!

BUT. I can use a plan that’s intended to be used daily and just doesn’t have actual calendar days on it. Every day I just read the next thing. Obviously, I’m aiming for not missing days, but if I do miss a day, then the next time I read, I still just read the next thing. There’s much less stress this way because I don’t feel like I have to scramble to catch up. I am caught up, wherever I am.

My personal preference for the past several years has been an adaptation of the Horner Bible Reading Plan. It’s the same basic idea, just a bit less aggressive/intensive for a mama with lots of young children at home full time. (I can only read for so long without major interruptions!)

Here’s what I do: I have these bookmarks that I print out (just on regular paper). They’re not fancy; they’re not even all the same size! But each one is labeled for a day of the week and includes a box for every chapter in that segment of Scripture. I keep these in my Bible and read 3 chapters a day from that day’s list. (Theoretically — that’s the aim.) Then I can mark them off directly on the bookmark and know where to pick up the next week.