Trying to fit in your quiet time, but can’t seem to get motivated?

You yearn for that communion with the Lord, but just can’t seem to get up before your children?

First, of all STOP feeling guilty! We have all been there before! And for me personally, I still have seasons when it is much more difficult that other mornings. And you will, too.

Especially, when I am pregnant. Sleep takes priority and everything else is somewhere in between. Thank God for pop tarts!

This week I want to share with you some tools and ideas that have enhanced my quiet time with the Lord over the years.

When I became a Christian in 2000, I did not own a Bible nor did I have a clue about that man who was swallowed up by a HUGE fish. If they had a Bible for Dummies, it would have been written with me in mind. My prayers were memorized prayers that I was taught as a child.  I did not have any concept of what it meant to have an intimate relationship with the Holy One and certainly did not know how to earnestly pray except in times of distress.

And you might be exactly where where I was 12 years ago or might have gotten out of the habit of intentional devotion, but I want to encourage you to embrace the presence of our Heavenly Father daily.  An intimate relationship with God is imperative to live out His calling in our lives.

The Holy Spirit will change you, so be prepared!

It doesn’t just happen,  I must be intentional.  This needs to be a habit just like taking my vitamins everyday.

However, this redeemed sinner didn’t change over night. I give credit solely to the Holy Spirit who has encouraged me to be INTENTIONAL during my quiet time and to use my time diligently.

Over the years, I have put together a disciple notebook that has helped me maximize my mornings, especially when I have little ones, my alone time is limited. This notebook is not imperative, but has helped me stay organized, so I do not have to be looking all over the house for my prayer requests and bible study at the crack of dawn. You need to decide what time benefits you the most. It might take a few weeks or maybe months for you to make that assumption, but be patient and be willing to flexible. Just because I endure my time in the morning doesn’t make it a desirable time for you. No where in the Bible does it say that we have to resume quiet time before the sun rises.

I use a white 3 ring binder for my disciple notebook and switch out the cover periodically as time permits. I have dividers with the following tabs:

• Prayer – prayer notebook page
• Scripture Memory
• Bible – bible plan and notebook pages
• Ministries – all my outside ministries information, for example, my nursery duty calendar with lists of number in case I need to find a sub, etc
• Sermon Notes – ones that stand out to me
• Misc – any poems, articles, or personal notes that have special meaning to me

I am sure you can think of many more tab ideas, but these are the ones that I have used over the years.  Be Creative!

One of the pertinent steps that has guided me to be intentional each morning is to be prepared the night before. I make sure my coffee is on auto-set (a must for me) and I have my Bible, Disciple Notebook, and my MP3 player on the coffee table.

I always start my date with the King with at least 2-3 praise and worship songs. My husband loaded a gazillion songs on my MP3 player solely for this purpose. It greatly stirs my heart and prepares my mind for intentional worship. I have also used my laptop with head phones.

I can’t wait to share my thoughts on prayer and my notebook page that has enhanced my prayer time with you tomorrow.  Subscribe by RSS feed, twitter or Facebook, so you don’t miss any of the 5 Days of Intentional Quiet Time.

Sharing with WFMW.