7/24 tips

Over the past few weeks, Pastor Hosea has issued the 7/24 Challenge, a challenge to each and every member of the body of Christ to spend 24 minutes, 7 days a week interacting with God's Word.  I'm so excited about this call.  I'm excited about the growth that meeting this challenge will produce, both in my own life and in the lives of those around me.  I realize though that a challenge does not come without it's obstacles...hence the word challenge.  Duh.

If you're anything like me, having the desire to spend time with the Lord isn't necessarily the issue (although I, in my flesh, can sometimes be quite unmotivated and uninterested).  The real challenge lies in getting started and then sticking to it.  With that in mind, I thought I would put together some tips that I've found helpful for starting and maintaining my quiet time with the Lord.  So, here are some ideas:

1.  X marks the spot.  Determine a specific place--a quiet closet, a comfy chair, a front porch swing, the kitchen table--to go to every day.  For me, it's the overstuffed chair in my dining room-turned-study.  The important thing is finding a spot that you are distraction-free, at rest, and able to focus on the Lord.

2.  Rise and shine.  Morning isn't necessarily my favorite time of day, I'll just go ahead and admit it.  However, I find that when I intentionally start my day in the Word and seeking the Lord, my attitude, thoughts, actions, and words align more with Him.  Getting up earlier may be a drag at first, but after a few days, your body will adjust, and you may just end up becoming a morning person.

3.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  The best recipe for success in many endeavors includes a large dose of persistence.  Consistency is the key to developing any kind of routine.  Spending time with the Lord is no different.  Make it part of your daily routine, just like washing your hair--only more essential--and stick to it.

4. A-tisket, a-tasket.  Next to my quiet time chair sits a basket that houses everything I utilize in my quiet time:  my prayer journal and pen, notecards for memory verses, my study Bible, a couple of different devotional books, and a prayer guide.  Having everything together in one spot helps keep me consistent and focused.

5.  Pencil it in.  On days that my routine changes, like the weekend, I find myself with a to-do list a mile long.    I've developed the habit of including "spend time with the Lord" in my list, just like I would "call Kristin" or "meet up with Rachel".  Seeing that item written on my list helps me mentally block off time for meeting one-on-one with the Lord so that it doesn't get put on the back burner.

6.Try, try again.  Let's be realistic.  We're human and at some point, we're bound to fail.  What do you do when you fall off the horse?  You get back on, right?  Yes.  If you miss a quiet time, don't sulk or marinate in your guilt; just get back on track for the next time.  The beauty of serving an omnipresent and omniscient God is that really, you can meet with Him at any place and at any time.  So if you miss your "scheduled appointment," there's nothing that says you can't reschedule for another time that day.

There you have it:  a few tips that I've found helpful for getting in the groove and having a steady devotional time with the Lord.  What about you?  Do you have tips to share?  Add a comment and leave a tidbit about what works for you!

Be blessed and encouraged today!