Happy Wednesday, friends! It’s time for this month’s LET’S LOOK!
If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!
So far in 2024, here’s what we’ve “looked at”…
In January, we looked at HOW WE CLEAN OUR CLOSETS.
In February, we looked at LITTLE THINGS WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
In March, we looked at WHAT’S IN OUR GROCERY CARTS.
And today, we’re LOOKING AT OUR QUIET TIME/PRAYER TIME.
This is a topic that I’ve covered many times over the last almost 17 years, but one that I don’t think I can cover enough (and based on your DMs, emails and blog comments, it’s one you want me to cover more this year!). I’ve shared before MY DAILY QUIET TIME and I’ve shared QUIET TIMES FOR KIDS, so today, I thought I’d just give you a little “this is what I do right now” for those looking to add a quiet time to their life/improve or change the one they have and of course, so that those of you already having a daily quiet time can share your own resources/tips/words of wisdom with me as well.
First, some of you might be asking “What is a quiet time?”, so I thought I’d start there.
This is a popular phrase that means “Bible study time, prayer time…the time you carve out daily to read God’s Word and pray”. Thanks to an amazing youth pastor growing up, I started doing my daily quiet time when I was 15. Even though I saw my parents doing theirs each day (and often my grandparents too), for me, it took the encouragement of a youth pastor to really get me to dig into spending time with God each and every day.
People can do their “quiet times” whenever they want, but for me, doing it very first thing in the morning has always been the most ideal. Here’s why:
#1: If I do it first thing in the morning, I can’t ever get “too busy” doing something else to do it. It’s first. I’m not busy doing anything.
#2: My house is quiet and there are no distractions. Whether I was a teenager, living in a college dorm, a brand new mom or like now, raising four kids…first thing in the morning is always the quietest time of my day with the fewest distractions.
#3: It sets the tone for my day. This is the #1 reason why I do it first thing each day. I want to give God my first minutes. I want to start my day in prayer, I want to focus and get aligned for the day starting with God. I don’t want to be in the middle of parenting or being an employer and then start praying, I want to have already prayed over all of that (and then, pray more should I need to throughout the day).
Everyone is different, but for me, first thing in the morning is absolutely the most ideal time.
So, where do I sit to do my quiet time?
Well if can obviously vary if I’m traveling…
…but when I’m home, I’ve always liked to have one spot where I know I go to study God’s Word. If I have one spot, then I know I have a place for my coffee, my pens are nearby, my reference books are within arms length, and I won’t have to stop and start to get up and grab things. My “places” have changed in my home over the years but…
…my chair in my office is my “norm” most days.
What exactly do I do?
There is no formula nor right or wrong way to have a quiet time, and honestly, over the last 30 years, mine have all been similar but also looked just a tad different too. Different life stages have made for different versions. Right now, I give myself one hour each morning for my quiet time. Whether it’s a weekday or a weekend, I’m at home or on vacation, I always set my alarm allowing for myself to have 60 minutes for this little routine.
Here’s what I do:
#1: I start my day by reading my Bible Recap chapters for the day, completing my Bible Recap study guide, and listening to her podcast episode for that day. Depending on what that daily reading/podcast is like, this can take me anywhere from 20 minutes to 35 minutes. Some days, the reading is longer, and I pull out a commentary or study guide and dig deeper into a topic and other days, it’s shorter and simpler. When I’m done with my Bible Recap, if I have time that day, I like to do a Bible study too. (So the Bible Recap is reading through the entire Bible in 365 days while my Bible studies are to dig deeper into certain topics).
#2: Above is the Bible study that I’m currently working my way through. It’s divided into days and weeks, but since this is in addition to my Bible recap, I don’t stick with that and instead, each day, I do as much or as little as time allows. Some days, I’m so invested in my Bible Recap that I don’t need to open my Bible study, but other days, I have time to do both. How do I decide? I just kind of know. I don’t want to rush anything, so I’ll read/study as much as I feel lead that particular day. The Holy Spirit always has a way of telling me when to dig deeper and when to keep reading.
After I’m done with my Bible reading/studying…
#3: I pull out my prayer journals. Everyone is different, but you know me…I’m a writer, so I like to write down my prayer request. The journal on the right is where I list alllllll of my prayer request. I have pages dedicated to people with cancer, pages dedicated to people I know, pages dedicated to worldly events/leaders/things like that, I have a page for my husband, each one of my kids, and of course, I have pages dedicated to you guys. When I tell you I’m praying for you, I literally write it down in this notebook.
I use the one of the left for my daily prayers. I started this particular journal last January, so currently has about 15 months of daily prayers. I write the date and then any specific prayers happening then. I spend this next bit of time praying over my daily things and then also opening my prayer journal and praying over those as well. My prayer time looks different each day as well. Some days, my heart is really heavy about certain things, and I’ll spend a lot of time just on that, while other days, I feel like I can “cover more ground”. I don’t set a timer on how long I pray, I just know based on that day what I should be praying for…maybe it’s 5 minutes, maybe it’s 15…it is what it is.
So, after all of this stuff, with whatever time I have remaining, I always do these two things to wrap up my little hour of quiet…
#4: I love to read something inspirational (like one of those Francophile books) or maybe I’ll grab a health and wellness book and read a few pages (like Outlive) or I’ll read a few pages from whatever book I’m currently reading on my Kindle. If it’s a weekend morning, I’ll give myself extra time here, but on a normal weekday morning, I just squeeze in as many minutes as I can.
Want to know what I always finish with though?
#5: Sudoku 🙂 . I love Sudoku and consider it a vital part of my mental wellbeing. Sometimes, I only have a minute, but it’s a minute I love.
Don’t forget, on Saturdays, I also…
…get out my SATURDAY GRATITUDES list!
And that, my friends is my DAILY QUIET TIME 🙂 .
Don’t forget, coming up this year…
…next month, we’ll have our SUMMER CLOSET STAPLES!
Okay, I would love to know if you do a daily quiet time and/or what yours looks like too!
Don’t forget, if you blogged along with us today, please link up below.
I’m headed home from Boston this morning, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Have the best day! xx
Elspeth says
I started having quiet/prayer Time in college and it has truly put me in the right state of mind before I start the day. I always take some time for prayers and journaling and some residing too. I love doing it first time before the day get busy!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Dana P says
I love this! It made me tear up to think of you actually praying for us. 🥹 I know you’ve told me that before and there really is something special about knowing someone is praying for you!
I’m a visual learner, but listening to the Bible and podcasts has helped me learn so much as I go about my day. I love listening to our church in the US (Trinity River Baptist Church), Priscilla Talk, Counseling Talk, and Pastors Talk. I’ve also been listening to the book Crucial Conversations-it’s excellent!
Sheaffer says
I’m so glad you shared. Your quiet time will be an inspiration to so many!
Kristen Hardison says
Hey Shay! I loved this post today! When you said you do Sudoku daily, it made me think – you should download the free NYT games app! Daily they have: Wordle, Connections, Tiles, Mini Puzzler, Letter Boxes, and even 3 new Sudokus that are various levels! You can play right on your phone! It’s what I do sometimes when I have to wait in line somewhere but I feel like it keeps my mind sharp. There’s a new one called Strands but it’s in Beta testing and isn’t on the app yet but if you google “NYT Strands” you can play it daily also. Check them out! We sometimes do them as a family by mirroring one of our phones on the TV in the family room. It will stretch your mind to think of words in so many different ways! 🥰
Mix and Match Mama says
Well, hello?! You’re right! I need this in my life. Thank you, thank you!
Dana P says
This is my favorite, too! It took me a little time to figure out the mini crossword (start by filling out the words you know for sure), as well as Connections. Connections is sometimes like being a mind reader, but it can be really fun! I need to go look up sodoku…Wordle has become a favorite part of my day!
Laura says
I love that you set aside a whole hour! That sounds wonderful. I’m most intrigued by your prayer journals because that’s where my quiet time really falls by the wayside. So one notebook holds all your prayer “requests” and the other is where you actually write down your prayers, getting your ideas from the first one?
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! The one on the right has names and small notes besides them. For instance, if a blog reader named “Jane” were to tell me she has breast cancer, then on my cancer pages, I would write Jane, breast cancer (so not a lot of words which means that I can fit a lot on those little pages). In my daily prayer journal, I will write more words and specifics about that particular day.
Angela says
I LOVE this post!!! Quiet time has been apart of my life since I was in high school, too. My quiet time with the Lord is almost like eating a piece of dessert to start my morning off… It’s truly one of my favorite parts of my day. I love studying the Bible and thank you for suggesting The Bible Recap. I started it this year and it has been a great addition to my quiet time. I’m also a writer so I’ve written a Bible study that I’m close to publishing and I cannot wait for that to be out… My heart is to encourage others to seek the Lord more and for people to really truly love reading the Bible.
Oh, how grateful I am that God is so good and faithful! ❤️
Mix and Match Mama says
I love that simile! I will remember that often.
Katie says
Hi! There was a book that you recommended on parenting (teens in particular) a few months back but I did not write it down. What would you say are your top parenting books that we could incorporate into our quiet time. Thank you and I love how intentional you are with your time with the Lord. It is inspiring.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes!! It’s so good! It’s called Feeding the Mouth that Bites You by Dr. Kenneth Wilgus.
Paula says
I love this post. Spending time in God’s Word is my favorite. I typically get kids off to school, do a little clean up, sometimes work out and devote my afternoon to studying the Word until I pick the kids up at 2:30. I, as well, start with Bible Recap and then movenonto another study if time allows. I also end up in deep dives on certain scripture or just historical facts.
As encouragement to others, no quiet time, Bible study or prayer life is perfect. It’s not a competition. That time is between you & the LORD. Any time, however you choose to spend it studying and praying is precious to Him. Also, the more you talk to the LORD, the more comfortable you get, like any relationship. It takes time, so don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t look like someone elses. Just focus on your time with Him. These conversations I have with my teen twins.
Thank you for always sharing and pointing others to the LORD!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes, yes and YES! Thank YOU for such wise and encouraging words, Paula!
Sue says
I love this post. My quiet time can be all over the place. This gives me hope that……yes I can do better! Thank you!
Ramona Puckett says
Thank you, Shay, I need to do better with my daily reading of the Bible. I pray in the morning and throughout the day for my family, friends and dogs! I pray for the people I said I’m praying for you, I can’t always remember the names but I know GOD does. Thank you for praying for us and know I pray for you and your family. ❤️
Erin says
As a lover of Jesus first and foremost and also a pastor, I love that you share on this.
I also want to strongly encourage looping in silence as part of our routines. No reading, no praying, nada. Silence for even just a few minutes to bring ourselves into God’s presence. Our silence is surrender and an opportunity to allow the Lord to form us. He may speak, He may send peace, He may bring direction- He’s in charge when we bring ourselves quietly with no words. It can be hard for some at first, but even 5 minutes is so powerful! Don’t give up if it seems hard. 🩷
Silence is completely counter-cultural. But then again, so is our King!
Marae says
I LOVE my study/prayer time too. And, I agree, making it the first part of my day sets the tone for my whole day. About 3 years ago, I started following the She Reads Truth studies (shereadstruth.com). This study changes throughout the year, usually follows a 3-5 week study, then switches to a different study-sometimes it’s a study on one particular book of the Bible and sometimes it’s a a topic. Right now the topic is The Presence of God. Each day’s reading is followed by an explanation and inspiration gleaned from that day’s reading. There is also a podcast based on the week’s reading. For anyone who might be looking for a Bible study, this might be something to try. God has just the right way of reaching each one of us at exactly where we are and moving us to a closer walk with Him.
Kelly says
Love that you shared this- it is very similar to mine, and I also am blessed to have grown up witnessing my parents so the same. The best legacy. So I would also love to see how you store your books, journals , pens, etc… I have had bags (when I went to Bible study groups it was handy to have a tote with everything together), to a basket beside my chair, and now have an ones rolling cart . It is feeling a bit overwhelming now because I have so many pens, and books etc… so I would love to see how you have yours! I need some inspiration, and it seems that you have refined the amount you have 🙂
SC says
Never Alone looks interesting. Buying it now. Thank you so much for sharing!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s SO GOOD!!
Erika Slaughter says
Happy Let’s Look Day! Love getting to share with you monthly!
Jess says
Thank you Shay! Your openness encouraged me to be much more open and now one of my best friends who lives 1,000 miles away and I are doing the same study and texting about it daily. It’s been a wonderful way to start the day and had the benefit of having a deeper relationship with a dear friend.
If you want a recommendation for lifestyle books, anything on danish hygge (the art of coziness) has been fun for me.
Also thank you to your travel team and Clare in particular for helping our family rearrange around a changing destination wedding for our wonderful cousin. She’s the best!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwwww! Thank YOU for letting us be a part of your trip! We are always so blessed by that!!
Lori Taylor says
Hi Shay,
Love your content so much. Love that you pray for your followers. Please add me to your prayer list.
Thanks so much!💕
Lori
Mix and Match Mama says
I am adding you right now. Sending you so much love!
Amber Vance says
Is it bad that I just took notes reading this post? Thanks to you I am now on my 3rd year reading the Bible. It has been on my heart to start a prayer journal, a prayer list and now a gratitude journal! I’m working on them now. I’m so thankful for you and your family for sharing your faith.
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s not bad, that’s amazing! I’m so thankful for readers like YOU!
K.K. says
Shay, what a GREAT post! I had a busy morning, so just getting here and so encouraged.
My quiet time has become more inconsistent since getting married in December and forming new habits, BUT this is inspiring me to think of some ways I want to make sure it stays a daily thing in this new season! 🙂
Heather says
I love this and thank you so much for sharing! What EC notebook are you using for your prayer journaling?
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s just a basic lined one. Super simple!
Janet Teeter says
I use the Bible app and at the beginning of the school year, I start another round through the Bible. This year I’m using The Bible Project to give me insight into the books and other topics as I read. My dear friend gave me a Vera Bradley bag that I keep all of my Bible stuff in (pens, journals, Bible study, etc.).
Shay, thank you for recommending Legacy Bible Rebinders. I just had my 40yo Bible rebound and it’s so beautiful!
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m so happy you used them too! I still get giddy when I look at my “new” old Bible.
Amy Bishop says
Do you have the links to your two prayer journals? I need to get better about adding prayer and journaling to my quiet time and love how you do it!
Mix and Match Mama says
One is just a very basic spiral from the grocery store. The other, I bought at erincondren.com and it’s a blank notebook.
Catherine says
I think it would be interesting for you to touch on your wealth and humble brag/boastfulness in regards to being a Christian. Just for a bit of transparency. Why do you feel that Jesus has blessed you more than others? And continually so? And doesn’t the Bible talk about excess of material items? You just redid your kitchen… Three years after the last time. You can’t deny you aren’t materialistic and try to impress, you are hardly relatable at this point. But don’t hock Bible studies when you aren’t practicing what you preach.
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t for one second think the Lord has blessed me more than anyone else. I think I’m a sinner who isn’t deserving of His grace and mercy. I am forever thankful for the Cross and that because of it, my sins are covered by His blood. I would LOVE to send you a Bible study or if you’re interested, The Bible Recap. You can email me, and I’ll send it right away. mixandmatchmama@yahoo.com
I’m happy you’re a part of this community, and I’m going to pray for you right now. I am sending YOU much love. xx
Whitney Greenlee says
WOW. You are my absolute favorite “blogger” and I read all of the comments on your blog as well. You are so graceful in your responses to these nasty comments. Its such an inspiration on how to deal with others and giving grace. I rarely comment (even though I read daily) but after I have seen at least three disgusting comments, thought you should know how inspiring you are. Keep doing what you are doing!
Nancy Le says
This post reminded me how big God is ❤️❤️❤️ and how he cares about all the little.things. we care about. God is SO good!
Christin says
I love seeing the behind the scenes of how people do life! I tend to get caught up in what I’m reading and then don’t get to what all I’ve planned. You do a great job at hitting all the things you like to do each morning. I was wondering if you set timers or alarms to keep you moving to the next thing in your quiet time routine?
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t set timers any more, but I have it down to a science of when I must get up or else I’ll be late to my class at the gym/working out at home. Even though it’s so hard to stop what I’m doing, I remind myself that if I don’t get moving right then, my whole day will be off.