After skimming through this book recently, I’ve been wondering & thinking on the idea of ‘spending time with God’ and the expectations of how this is to take shape in our lives. I’ll say first that I truly do believe that time set apart and specifically dedicated to pausing life and listening for His voice has a place in our lives.
However, I’ve been challenged in my thoughts.
The author asks the question: have we come to believe that God is only found in the isolated place? That His words of direction, of wisdom, or of comfort can only be heard when we’ve walked away from our daily rhythms and secluded ourselves?
I enjoy quiet. I find the most energy, emotional fuel and yes, spiritual renewal from being alone for a bit, and then I can more fully enjoy the company of others. So the time spent in quiet moments, I protect and relish {and they are sometimes few in a our full family life}.
But what about when this cannot always happen?
Should we feel guilty that we didn’t have a ‘quiet time’ with the Lord? A secluded, set apart & daily practice? I cannot tell how many times I’ve led women’s Bible studies and heard from numerous voices the shame, the guilt…the pain felt of not living up to a particular standard.
And my heart would shudder some at the possible ripple effects of this thinking. Thoughts I’ve battled with as well.
I’ve been pondering the past month. God speaks to me so much in the everyday :: His voice and presence are all around me as I accomplish the tasks of laundry, enriching little hearts and minds, and changing diapers. He’s in my everyday practices and wants to meet me there as well. I believe his desire is for my eyes to see the ‘living parables’ as the author puts it, in my routines.
No separation of the sacred and the secular. No guilt. Only listening closely and watching carefully for Him :: in the everyday.
So, while I’m not up for debate, I’m open to your thoughts. Similar or otherwise. Or the thoughts of others if you think there’s interest; feel free to link to this post.
You are so right Daniele. This is the path I have been trying to walk these past few weeks as I feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit. As I walk this way I find that my schedules are coming together, my family life is becoming smoother and yes it does feel good to have a plan. Now I just need to follow it as I walk with God listening to Him throughout my daily duties. Thanks for posting this. I will definitely link to this post. It is worth sharing.
Jenn
Jenn
I agree. I have pondered the monks who secluded themselves from society, and then I thought of others like St. Francis and Teresa, for example, who found God in the everyday, menial, tasks of life. They dedicated these ‘little’ tasks to Him, and found profound spiritual insights. I think folding laundry can be every bit as meditative as yoga or tai chi!!
~Jen @ Visions&Verses
Hi Danille, I wrote a post about, “Everyday Life is Prayer,” and your post reminded me about why I wrote it. Feeling guilty at times of being neglectful of my time with the Lord alone in prayer or just reading his word. Until I got very ill and from then on nothing was quite the same, Hubby time, children time, work, household chores, missimg church, bible studies, Prayer time etc..
But the Lord always reminded me that he was there with me at all times, in everything I did or could not do,or attempted to do,his mercy and grace, and understanding goes far beyond what we can ever imagine them to be,we can be so hard on our expectations of ourselves and our time. Thank you for sharing this post..
Blessings Lorie
No, no separation between sacred and secular.
Luminous post.
That is the crux of it.
It is all is a one-piece life.
Thank you, friend…
Ann
Never feel guilty. I think that our ‘special’ time with God can in fact become works. As in, check, check, check; I read my scheduled plan, prayed, journaled, etc.
God simply wants us to be in communion with him, continually, throughout our days. When women are in the season of life with several young ones, it is more challenging to have that time alone with Him. The main idea is to be fed on a daily basis. Leave several Bibles in an opened position in key areas of your home. As you are folding laundry, etc. read a verse or two. Meditate on that verse for awhile. Keep talking to and thanking God as you go about your tasks all day, everyday. Relationship. Feed on His word any way you can, even if it is one verse at a time. 🙂
By the way, I finally added you to my blog roll today! 🙂
Many blessings! 🙂