Can you keep a secret? Good. I need help. This message has nothing to do with any of my secrets. Rather, it’s an inquiry: what is your secret to securing time for a quiet retreat? To allow yourself time to take a break from the daily pace in your life-race? How do you rejuvenate your essence?
This got me thinking and I asked my dogs “How are my friends taking time for self?” In return, they offered me adoring eyes with wiggle butts and just sat there waiting. Staring at their adoring eyes it dawned on me. It wasn’t an “ah ha” moment. Rather an “oh hey, duh!’ I then asked them a question I have asked a thousand times: “How did Jesus take a time out every day?” He may not have had the same concerns as we have in modern day, but He was in the public eye all the time and had tons to be troubled about. He was a human with the demands of that time. There are many examples of how Jesus took time to recharge, especially surrounding major events, throughout the New Testament.
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ ” Matthew 26:36-38 NIV
He was intentional and sought out solace for a variety of reasons. From this passage, we gather He wanted to pray because He was filled with sorrow. But He also wanted to be with His Father, and He desperately needed respite from the troubles that He faced. Other, more obvious, reasons for reprieve would be His need for sleep, food, and shelter and don’t forget He had close friends He loved to hang with. I bet sometimes He just wanted to be Jesus, as Himself. Makes me a bit weepy when I consider the demands He dealt with every hour.
Here’s my dilemma.: It’s extremely important to me to avoid overscheduling. In my realm, this means carefully considering what to say “yes” and “no” to. Thankfully, my husband is the same way. He affectionately refers to me as the “CoE”, as in, the “Center of Everything”, in our home. And as the appointed CoE, I have made a practice (my boys call it an obsession) of managing our family’s calendar. This feeds directly into my love for organizing. I try to block time for pretty much everything! Uhm, Maria….Jesus stopped everything and took the time.
If you know me socially or personally, a fair depiction of me is that I am an extrovert—gregarious and sociable. However, I am not that entirely. My oomph comes from being by myself, in the Word and with Jesus. My heart delights in this time. Unfortunately, I fall short, bigtime, when it comes to making and/or taking time to just be me, in the quiet, with Him. The struggle is living in the lie that I tell myself. Reality is, there is always one more task and I can’t seem to get out of my own way. I’ve been a believer half my life and I am familiar with the” how to.” I simply don’t know how to at this particular juncture in my life-race.
Whatever your personality or time management style, I know for a fact Jesus’ example is possible. We have heard time and time again “take time to exhale, disconnect from the hullabaloo, and inhale the quiet.” It is to our benefit when we set aside a time for prayer, allowing ourselves to re-center and focus our heart, mind, body and soul on Jesus, before facing whatever comes next.
So back to my question: “What is your secret to securing time for a quiet retreat?” If you are following His example and have honestly figured out a way to STOP and BE, in the midst of your daily life-race, I would be forever beholden to you! Kindly take a minute, or two, and share.
Thanks friends. Y’all are the best!
My Dear Friend Maria,
I wish I had the answer. I struggle with consistency in this area. I’ve tried at the end of the day and currently in the early morning. My husband finds me and begins sharing about ministry, family, work and life in general. I have to laugh. Even though he sees me with my Bible and other materials sprawled out before me he’ll say I know this is your quite time but just one thing. Before you know it I’m off track and thinking about everything I need to do on that given day. I also struggle with being silent and just listening for God. Being silent may last for a few minutes before my mind begins to wander. I’m in awe at those who don’t have these struggles. The times that I am able to get through my quite time without any interruptions or distractions have been such a BLESSING! I find I’m more at peace and better equipped for the challenges that I may encounter in that given day. My husband will soon be leaving for a mission trip. I am already praying and looking forward to a week long silent retreat with the Lord. Lately when I find myself rushing or distracted during quiet time I ask myself the question ” how would you feel if God was preoccupied, distracted or didn’t have time to listen to you.” That question alone makes me think about how I treat God.
I need God’s wisdom, guidance, peace and direction in my life and for those in brings into my life. Therefore I will continue to try and carve out time at the beginning of each day God gives me.
His workmanship in progress.
I go through “seasons”. When I’m “in season” I will myself to find time, usually in the morning, will myself to pray and will myself to focus and allow Jesus to wash over me and direct my steps. Sometimes my seasons last a full week! Unfortunately, I am “out is season” more than in season. However, I do not believe God wills us to be just like Him! We can’t be! He made us each unique. So my usual quiet time 95% of the year consists of getting up late, putting the needs of my self and my family first, and throwing some prayers upward while I’m driving to the gym and eating a banana. And of course my ADD kicks in and before I know it I’m thinking about my grocery list. But I’ve kearned that that is OK! Talking to God through out the day is my goal when those quite times are lost. And, there are times when I can’t pray. I just can’t pray when there’s cancer, suicide, illness, dementia touching me deeply. That’s when my prayer partner takes over and prays for me. Not just for me, but for me(in place of me). I get a prayer pass; a break. And I feel those prayers in my heart and in my gut. And when the crisis is settling down, or not, I creep back to Jesus and do the best I can.
Kris, your secret was exactly what I needed to read today. I am glad to have you here with us!
All you prayer warriors out there remember to pick up the slack when your girlie friends are at their tipping point.
Thanks Kris.
Kreis, your secret was exactly what I needed to read today. I am glad to have you here with us!
All you prayer warriors out there remember to pick up the slack when your girlie friends are at their tipping point.
Thanks Kris.
DEAR MARIA,
I AM BLESSED TO HAVE THE TIME TO WAKE UP…PUT THE COFFEE ON AND PREPARE TO SPEND AN HOUR
IN QUIET PRAYER AND MEDITATION….A GIFT I GIVE TO MY SELF DAILY NO MATTER WHAT TIME I WAKE UP.
THIS WAS MUCH MORE CHALLENGING WHEN I WAS RAISING MY FAMILY OR WORKING FULL TIME.
IT IS IN THE SILENCE THAT THE MESSAGES ARE REVEALED!! HAD I KNOWN THE POWER OF THIS HOUR WITH
GOD I WOULD HAVE MADE THIS MY DAILY PRACTICE BEFORE I RETIRED FROM A BUSY AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER. ADORATION IS ALSO A PERFECT AND PEACEFUL WAY TO BEGIN THE DAY BEFORE “LIFE HAPPENS”!:)
IN THE MEANTIME, MARIA KNOW THAT YOU ARE A GIFT, BY EXAMPLE TO THOSE OF US WHO LOVE YOU! XO
Hello Mimi. My heart sings a joyful song of praise to Him that you are spending time with Him. Thank you so very much for your encouragement. You are right…I need to make it a priority now. Hugs.
My secret for securing quiet God time. The only and best way for me is to open each day with love and praise and thanks to God for the day to come. Living alone makes it very easy to do this. A cup of coffee and lots of Jesus in word, prayer and those special feelings in my soul.
There are times when words won’t come, prayers fail me, but the Holy Spirit steps up and is my constant helper. If for some reason I’m out of bed and don’t start with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit……my whole day is lost.
God gives me new mercies everyday, and I love to spend the beginning of everyday with Him, He refreshes my soul…
Thanks, Peggy. I know exactly what you mean when you said your whole day is lost when you start your day without God. The daily life-race isn’t worth running if I don’t have Jesus with me. A little coffee and a whole lot of Jesus is a great way to start the day. Praying your cup always runneth over my friend.
Maria,
I, like you, know in my heart that time spent with Jesus is something I am lacking. And I, like you, don’t quite know how to achieve it. I tell myself that the occasional few minutes I spend in the car talking to God, or the couple minutes I spend praying to Jesus before I fall asleep is better than nothing, but I know in my heart that it’s just not enough. I am thankful for your blog post today because it has helped remind me that I just have to keep trying. Let’s keep working on it!
Praise the Lord! Truly is a blessing to read your message. I praise Him that He spoke to you through me and visa versa. Thank you for reading and replying. Yes, Amy, keep me accountable and I will do the same for you!
Ah, so well stated, Maria! It’s funny the timing of this…I was just saying to my small group last night how I am not good at slowing down and taking time to just meditate on God’s Word and simply “be” with Him. God’s timing is perfect – thank you for this reminder! I do best if I am intentional with my time and block it out, then I have to fight for that time to keep it and not let any distractions come in. Thanks for your encouragement, my friend!!
Let’s keep blocking that time on our calendars and sticking to it Jennie! God is telling us something and we better listen. Praying you too take the time to be with God in your busy day to be with Him!
I try, whenever possible, to make it to church on a daily basis. It is here that I feel safe and at peace. It gives me quiet time to meditate and then of course to listen to the daily word of God. I feel fufilled and embraced by the love of God when I am in church. It’s one of my favorite ways to take time for myself.
Maria, I was thinking just like when I got to the gym, I should go to a quiet place, like my churches beautiful sanctuary. It will be a change in routine but one that will be worth it! Thank you for reading and sharing your quiet time secret!
Lovely. I enjoy my quiet time. I
Also feel closer to Jesus when I am doing things I know he would do even if I’m busy. So the volunteer work etc makes me happy. It’s not quiet time per se but it keeps me close to him.
Thank you, Kelly. Yup… Like Paul said in his letter to the Colossians (3:17) “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”