Greetings My Friend,
A quick check of the calendar shows me that the next week is going to be a lot of running. Right away my mind starts looking at the times of our appointments because I don't want to miss my quiet time with Jesus. I ask God to help me get up in time so I can have time to write in my journal about what is on my mind, talk to God and then read the days message for read through the Bible in a year. He has been faithful to show me how to fit my time in the Word in, sometimes I get part of my journal done then I finish up later in the day. Other times God wakes me earlier so that I have time to wake up in the Word because it will help me deal with my day better. I am grateful that God helps me stay on track with my quiet time. I also recall when I was first starting to read and pray before work that God somehow made the time I had available work, I would panic thinking I was running behind schedule then I prayed, read the Bible and it worked out perfectly and I was always on schedule. Lately God has been showing me that sometimes writing the first part of my journal entries when I get up and if time does not permit for reading I can do that later when I get home. Other times God wakes me up during the night so I do my entire quiet time before going back to sleep. I am learning these variations help me process my day better. Like when I am not able to sleep God's Word can soothe me back to sleep or if our day's activity was a bit over whelming His Word read when I get home settles me down. When I learned this method of writing a journal as I read the Word of God I was instructed to write several headings, the first one is titled "What is on my mind today?" By writing about what is happening in my life, what I am concerned about I find my thoughts clearing. After I write this page I enter the next heading "What can I talk to God about today?" Sometimes my concerns turn into a prayer, there are times I am grateful so I spend time thanking God for all the wonderful things in my life and other times I talk to God about what is bothering me and thanking Him for all His goodness in my life. When I finish talking to God I am ready to study the Bible so the title of the heading now is "Scripture - What does God say?" I jot down the passages I am reading and begin to read, when something sticks out I write the passage out, sometimes I may have a passage from the OT, one from the NT and one from one of the wisdom books like Psalms etc.. After those are written down another heading is "What does the Holy Spirit say?" At this point I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts, by the way, I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me as I start reading Scripture too. I jot down what I hear the Holy Spirit telling me then I move to the last heading "How can I serve others today?" Many times what the Holy Spirit teaches me becomes my answer to the what the Holy Spirit tells me. I love my time in the Word and talking to God, I never want to live life on my own again, it was not fun. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
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