5 Resources for Your Quiet Times

I don’t know about you, but I go through seasons. Sometimes I am so great about getting up and spending time with the Lord (like when I am at camp and have to wake up at 4 am for that to happen) and other times I am struggling to even make it to work on time (at 8 am). I am currently in the later season and it is lasting far longer than I would hope. It is a cycle – stay up late, get up late, rush all day, stress about everything and all things and stay up late to “get it all done.” My shoulders are constantly stiff and my mind is constantly running – and I don’t even have a good reason for all the overwhelm.

As more days go by without being rooted, without drinking fresh water, without laying down my burdens and taking a lighter yoke – I get weaker, and overwhelmed, and less likely to feel the need to pick up my Bible. During Bible Study, we were talking about abiding and nurturing our relationship with the Lord, this quote stood out to me in HUGE (& convicting) ways:

Dear child of God, let us never say, “I have no time for God.” Let the Holy Spirit teach us that the most important, the most blessed, the most profitable time of the whole day is the time we spend alone with God. Pray to the Lord Jesus, who in His earthly life experienced the need of prayer; pray to the Holy Spirit, who will impress upon us this divine truth. As indispensable to me as the bread I eat, and the air I breathe, is communion with God through His Word and prayer. Whatever else is left undone, God has the first and chief right to my time. Then only will my surrender to God’s will be full and unreserved.- Andrew Murray

I’ve made a commitment to get back into the Word because it is the most profitable time of the whole day AND whatever is left undone, the Lord has the first and chief right to my time! I know quiet times can be hard/ intimidating. We don’t know what to read or what to do even when we sit down for some time with the Lord. Here are some resources to help us get back into time alone with God.

CLASSES
 The Influence Network has several classes that are focused on spending time in the word. One that I love on art journaling through scripture and another on getting into the Word. Take advantage of the communities out there that are encouraging you and helping keep you accountable! Great resources!

ABIDE JOURNAL
I get this one every year from Naptime Diaries. With scripture readings, prompts, and journaling space – studies like this are a really great resource to get into the word. You just do one entry a day. It is organized, it is planned, and all you need to do is show up and engage! If you are interested in this one, grab it now for 30% off with code: oakandoatsabide (you can also use it on anything in the shop!)

WOMEN IN THE WORD
She Reads Truth is packed with great daily studies but I am currently loving and so encouraged by the Women in the Word study. It is an 8 week daily study through scripture designed to get you in the Word everyday and meet the women of the Word. I cannot express how helpful for me it is to have resources like this – organized with scripture and room to process. The best part about this study is that all the scripture is written out in the book so you don’t need to carry your bible around when you are doing it! I’ve spent the last mornings on my pack porch with just this journal on my lap, a cup of coffee, and a pen!

JOURNAL
This one is an important one especially if you are not following devotional with room for writing. So often I can read (skim) a chapter in the Bible and “be done” without really thinking about or processing what I read. Writing verses, prayers, thoughts, and questions down helps me to communicate and connect. The repetition of rewriting a verse helps me to remember it as I go into my day. Also, it is always fun (sometimes embarrassing) to look back and see how far you have come and how the Lord has answered prayers!

THE PSALMS
Recently a older (and wiser) friend of mine was talking about having quiet times. She was saying that sometimes it is fun to dig deep and really do Bible Study in our devotions but most of the time we just need to sit with Jesus. She encouraged us to read through Psalms and take time in the morning just meditating and sitting with the Lord. You can read the psalm out loud, journal on it, rewrite the verses, or just sit and dwell on the words you have read. It is a great starting point if you know you need to spend time with Jesus but don’t know where to start.

What resources do you love and use? Do you have any advice and tips for spending time in the Word even if you are tired or hungry or busy?