“Don’t Check the Box!”
Lately, I’ve felt drawn to share a struggle that I suspect others might be experiencing too. Summer often brings a slower rhythm-children sleep later, mornings feel quieter, and there may be more time for Bible reading and prayer. But what happens when the opportunity is there and the desire isn’t?
That’s where I’ve found myself-wondering where that desire had gone. Not because I stopped loving the Lord or valuing His Word, but because I couldn’t understand why I was waking up without an eagerness to meet with Him in the same way I always had, and that left me wondering….Was something wrong? Was my faith still strong? Did I really love and honor Him? Those thoughts rolled around in my head each time I missed yet another opportunity to read and journal, and guilt took its seat beside them.
What was going on with my walk with The Lord? I still held the relationship near to my heart. I knew His Word was true and a source of strength, but heavy thoughts like, ‘why haven’t you had your quiet time today’ and ‘you’re not doing enough,’ left me sheepish with The Lord.
I stepped back asking myself, “have I walked into a different season of life that carries a different rhythm?” or “am I avoiding the quiet time because I don’t want to spend time examining areas?”
To be honest, it was both. I had entered a new season of life. Coffee with my husband and an early morning workout were things I looked forward to as I inched my way through my forties and took more time to reflect. Yet, I also felt the Lord awakening my heart to stop putting my quiet time in a box to check and instead consider what communing with Him throughout the day might look like. I hadn’t realized how big of an expectation I had placed on early morning Bible time-hot coffee and open Bible with no interruptions might equal an extra good spiritual feel. A dozen interruptions with a wandering mind and a boring chapter might equal a Debby Downer feel. The idea of reading my Bible outside the allotted morning timeframe had somehow grew into a foreign thought….
After examining my heart with those two questions I began to gain a little perspective…..the fifteen minutes spent waiting in the car could be used to memorize that Psalm I always wanted fresh on my heart. Those endless chores could be reminders to speak gratitude out loud to let my children hear of God’s goodness. Guilt had been keeping score and was causing me to shrink back if I couldn’t perform. Yet, The Lord was opening His Hand offering a better and brighter outlook.
My morning coffee with my spouse had fostered a deep sense of gratitude and connection, but the enemy wanted me to believe that if the box wasn’t checked, then a tally mark was made against me. The invitation to stop checking a box and allow my heart to carry Him into all areas was drawing me back in.
To be clear, I wasn’t being given permission to neglect God’s Word. I never want to diminish the glory that can only come from His Word. But I was gently reminded to stop measuring my faithfulness by a checklist and to recall pursuing His presence all day. Our relationship with The Lord is much more than a time slot. I believe there is tremendous value in opening the Bible and sitting quietly with Him, but also love being reminded that His guidance isn’t restricted to a chair at a specific hour.
Are you looking for an easy to carry journal and Bible reading plan to dive into any time of the day? Email or DM me for a great one I had the privilege of helping design with fellow sister in Christ.
