It's not that I doubt the importance of it or think that I don't need to spend alone time with God, but it has been difficult to do it every day.
Over the past few years I have had my quiet times at different times of the day. I would have it in the morning so that I could think about what I read throughout the day, I would have it at night because that's when I prefer to have it, I would have it at night and recap in the morning, I would have it at random times of the day, or I would neglect to have it at all. Recently we had a lecture on time management and one of the points was about giving God your first fruits. This also applies to your time and doesn't necessarily mean that because it says first fruits you must spend quality time with your Father in the morning the moment you open your eyes, but to give Him your best time, when you are most alert. As a night owl this is definitely at night for me. I also much prefer night time as it is quiet, there are less distractions as there probably won't be anybody coming to talk to me (just in writing this post I have been interrupted four times) or anyone running through the house. This comes with other distractions though as this is also my most creative time, the time when I want to paint or write or create. This is also the part of the day when if I have had a busy day and am tired I just want to watch a movie or simply sleep.
Over the past few years I have had my quiet times at different times of the day. I would have it in the morning so that I could think about what I read throughout the day, I would have it at night because that's when I prefer to have it, I would have it at night and recap in the morning, I would have it at random times of the day, or I would neglect to have it at all. Recently we had a lecture on time management and one of the points was about giving God your first fruits. This also applies to your time and doesn't necessarily mean that because it says first fruits you must spend quality time with your Father in the morning the moment you open your eyes, but to give Him your best time, when you are most alert. As a night owl this is definitely at night for me. I also much prefer night time as it is quiet, there are less distractions as there probably won't be anybody coming to talk to me (just in writing this post I have been interrupted four times) or anyone running through the house. This comes with other distractions though as this is also my most creative time, the time when I want to paint or write or create. This is also the part of the day when if I have had a busy day and am tired I just want to watch a movie or simply sleep.
Somebody brought up the fact today that in ministry you can feel like you are spending the whole day talking about, thinking about or serving God, yet these can't replace your time alone with God. Even though these are all good things and I think that they can help you to abide in God and be mindful of Him, your relationship with Him comes first before the service. You can do good things but it is hard to do them out of love without spending time with God. I thought it was interesting to compare that to human relationships. You can spend time with someone in a group of people and get to know them, and enjoy spending that time, but it won't be as meaningful, or as special, and won't develop as deep a relationship as if you were to spend time with that one person. Groups just have a different dynamic, and preparing lessons, having lectures, talking or teaching about God are like that group time. I think they will teach us more about Him and can help us to fall more in love with Him, but not without that deep relationship which comes from focusing on Him alone.
So that is my challenge to myself at the moment, not to get so busy and distracted by everything else I want to (or need to) do and set aside time each day to have alone time with God.
