Quiet time was something that I never really made time for back home. If I ended up with some free time, I would maybe decide to spend some time with the Lord, but I wouldn’t carve out specific time to spend with Him on my own. I used to always think that spending time with the Father should look like reading some verses or a chapter, journaling, and praying. I never really wanted to do it like that, so I just didn’t do anything.
During the first month, our leaders set a 7 am wake up call for morning devotions. Kind of like church camp, right? This quiet time was more of just hearing how each of the squad/team leaders used their time with the Lord. It was really interesting to hear how everyone does different things with Him. Some people just talk to Him out loud. Some people do a gratefulness journal or they just paint and pray at the same time. Some people go in with an agenda, and some go in with no plans at all. Some people don’t even say anything and they just listen, resting in the Spirit. Of course it’s important to spend time in the word and to keep diving into scripture, but it was so cool to see that it doesn’t have to look like the same, boring routine everyday for me.
I have loved this past month of just diving into what quiet time looks like for me now because it’s different everyday. There are some mornings I don’t even open my bible or journal, and I just talk with Him out loud and walk around our base. Sometimes I just paint with watercolors and pray, and I just sit in His presence. I have also started a gratefulness journal just to help me process the day before and to think back on all of the little blessings the Lord gave me. It has been so sweet to spend time with Him in all sorts of new ways(:
There was one day in particular that I was having some trouble processing with the Lord, so I decided to get up before the sunrise. I wanted to get up and have lots of time with Him before everyone else started waking up, so I set my alarm for 5 am! It was beautiful. The sun rose right behind the mountain you can see from our verandas, and I just sat on the railing talking with Him.
Since then I’ve been getting up somewhere between 5:00 and 5:45 in the morning to have my coffee dates with Jesus. They are very quickly becoming my favorite part of the day.
I hope you all start getting excited for your dates with Jesus!
all my love, Kate
Kate, I am so enjoying your posts. I know this is a time that will impact your life forever, but I wanted to let you know that your adventure is challenging me in my relationship with God, too
A great reminder for us all! God is teaching you things that many, many people (including myself) can’t always slow down enough to learn.
??????
Watercolors. I would sure love to see those. I suppose they’re private. So you don’t have to. But you did show us the cool foot drawing plus beautiful text in your notebook… It’s up to you, but this alert reader would love to see your worship in watercolor. And I keep praying for you!
You have given me inspiration and encouragement for my devotional times.
Thanks for sharing! So glad to hear how you are enjoying your time with Our Lord!
I love the variety with my time too! Spent time singing to worship music while journaling (more like making a “joyful NOISE” on my part as I’ve not been gifted in the voice department like you). Been journaling for years but bringing music in is a new thing for me. Will definitely be more of that in the future:)
What a beautiful description of time with Jesus. I am challenged to step out of my worn out routine of coffee in my cozy chair and just reading my “read through the Bible in a year” section of scripture. Oh the business of life in the USA.