How do I have a Quiet (God) time?
Our pastor was asking this question today and I've been thinking about what a question it is. I wish I knew what other people's inner dialougs with God sounded like. I watched Jonathan playing with a toy house and his stuffed animals today saying, "I go quiet time" "bye, bye" and putting his little panther in a room by itself. I guess he wonders what we do in quiet time too.
When I ask Dorathea what God says to her it is usually a vision that she draws. "Mommy this is fruit God showed me.", Me-"Those are grapes on a vine. Did you know God says, 'I am the vine you are the branches, remain in me and you bear much fruit'?" "No" Me to myself; "Thanks for the teachable moment God, you totally set up that slam dunk by giving her that vision." I bet the whole world of people have a kalidoscope of ways they talk to God. So here is my version.
Even though I try to have a conversation with God all day sometimes life gets frustrating (like this weekend as I was trying to convince a little boy that going potty is fun), and then it gets harder to hear His voice (over his crying and my whining). I use quiet time as a tune up, to tune into that quiet voice that gives me peace and helps me do all things, especially potty train.
Lately as I feed kids, clean, and teach little ones during the day, I watch the backyard and bide my time till I can steal away a few minutes in it.
When I get there I let the thoughts that have been taking over my thinking float to the surface. "Am I potty training the best way?" "Is this the right time to train him?" "Why am I so irritable?" Then I close my eyes and try to see God. Sometimes he is on a throne, or sitting in the grass telling me to lay down and be still, or in a big easy chair asking me to climb up and sit with him.
For a while I would see Him, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus sitting around a dining room table telling me to sit down and eat a meal they made for me like a chorus Italian grandmothers. "Eat. Manga!". This may have been inspired by teaching The verse John 8:14 in Sunday school. I led the kids in covering their eyes and imagining that they were in a house God had made for them.
Allison Keys |
Last fall as we were losing our house, I saw myself lying in a hammock during my quiet time. "Why am I in a hammock?" I asked him, getting right to the point.
"I am cradeling you but you don't feel me" "You you are swinging free and feel vulnerable, but I am still holding you up, and I won't let go". I was having my first back yard quiet time at this new house when I realized the hammock I was sitting in, was the same hammock he showed me in my vision. Not only did he have me in his hand, He knew exactly where I would be six months later.
That's what quiet time is for me. Quieting my own inner whiney voice and spending time being with my Father in my minds eye. I have had enough "hammock" moments to have confidence that it is Him I am hearing and seeing. If the voice sounds critical or hard, it's never Him. My Father is soft and soothing and strong, and his few words have a wisdom my own futile reasoning can't summon up. After I spend time just being with him and enjoying Him, my questions are easily answered, "You are doing a great job with Jonathan, I'm proud of you. "You are irratable because you're working harder as a mom then you realize." "Keep going, he will learn and you can do it!".
Thanks Dad I needed that.
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