Focus on the Family Magazine - August/September 2020

Use quiet moments wisely
Complication is the enemy of consistency. The
more elaborate I made my plans to connect with
the Lord, the more prone they were to fail.
If I managed to wake up before the kids, to get
them all down for an afternoon rest or to stay up a
little later to connect with God, I sometimes found
myself reverting to scrolling on social media,
devouring a Netflix episode, paying bills or—my
personal favorite—feasting on chocolate.
There is a time and a place for those activities.
But after you have fought for that quiet time, don’t
fritter it away. Spend it on things that will truly
nourish your soul. Ask yourself this question,
What activity will leave me feeling most connected
with God when it’s over?
For me the answer is usually reading Scripture,
writing my prayers (because my mind wanders so
easily), sitting quietly and counting my blessings
or singing along to a worship song.
Make a list of the ways you best connect with
God and identify your favorites to help you get the
most out of your time spent on soul care.
Celebrate progress, not perfection
No matter how simple I keep my spiritual rhythm
plans, days will come when I will miss them.
Illness, business trips and even holidays can throw
off my spiritual rhythms.
When this happens to you, give yourself grace.
Remember that if you planned to spend 10 minutes
each day with God and you did it for only four out
of seven days in the week, that is four more times
than if you weren’t pursuing a quiet time at all.
My oldest son and the twins are now in college,
and my “baby” is finishing high school. Nobody
is fighting over LEGOs or asking me for juice anymore,
but I still need my spiritual tank filled on a
regular basis. Recently, my daughter recalled those
times when she found me in my bedroom on my
knees. It made an impact on her. She is now figuring
out how to connect with God during her busy
college routine. Pursuing quiet doesn’t have to be
complicated or hyperspiritual, but it does require
intentionally prioritizing spiritual rhythms. •
melissa spoelstra is the author of Dare to Hope: Living
intentionally in an unstable world.