When Quiet Times Are Intimidating - Focus On Quality Over Quantity {Women in God's Word - Day 3}

We are at day 3 in our Women in God's Word series. Today I am excited to bring you my sweet friend Traci from TraciMichele.com. I've known Traci through blogging almost since the beginning of my blog. She has helped me with my blog designs and answered tons of questions when I needed help. Her heart and passion are beautiful. Please help me welcome Traci!

When Jenifer asked me to be a part of this Women In God’s Word series, I was humbled.  I love God, and am passionate about His Word, but I often go through periods of time where I struggle with making time to read His Word and pray.

I remember as a twelve year old girl falling in love with the scriptures.  They came alive as I read them, and the Holy Spirit moved across the pages and into my heart.  I enjoy studying and teaching His Word to others, but almost feel like a hypocrite when I go weeks without even opening up my Bible.

This busy life as a wife and Mama to three young children is more crazy beautiful than I could have ever anticipated.  I’m not a morning person and would stay under my covers and be lazy every day if I could.

I don’t have one special spot that I sit at to have my quiet time with the Lord.   Maybe some day I will, but I don’t in this crazy season I’m currently in.  Most days my quiet time starts with desperate pleas from underneath my comforter.

Heavenly Father, give me strength today.  I’m so weak and so tired.  Fill me and control my with your Spirit that I may be the wife and mother you’ve called me to be.

I often pull out my phone and read His Word on my Bible app.  I find that I enjoy reading the same few chapters over and over to really mediate and process what God may be trying to teach me that particular day.  This past week I spent time in 1 John and it was so encouraging.

As I’m doing the dishes or cleaning up, I often like to use the audio Bible and listen to God’s Word as I’m doing things around the house.

Posting scripture on flashcards to memorize and meditate on has always been very helpful to me.

I think it's also great for our kids to see us with our Bible open right in the middle of the every day chaos.  As the toys are flying, lego creations are being built, and they are screaming and running around, let them see us diving into God's Word, even in the midst of it all.

My quiet time usually looks different for me day to day, or week to week.  I strongly believe that we need to be getting the meat of God’s Word, and not just the milk… but I’m so encouraged that God sees my heart and my busy days, and He loves me just as I am.  If I can connect with the Lord, and abide in Him throughout the day, I find my perspective is right and I’m not as easily distracted by the things of this world.

Quality over quantity is what I’m finding works in this season of life.  I don’t want to ever avoid God’s Word because It doesn’t have the picture perfect atmosphere.  I’d love to be sitting on a wraparound porch, with my  warm cup of coffee in hand, listening to the birds chirp all the while overlooking a picturesque mountainside, but that just isn’t my reality.  It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s righteous, because I’m seeking Him first where I’m at, with all I am.
                                                                        

Pray with me?  May we all desire to be in God’s Word each and every day.  Maybe, like me, you feel like an utter failure most days when you lie your head down on your pillow, and realize you haven’t even opened your Bible.  Don’t let the enemy throw condemnation at you and keep you in that rut.  Get up.  Get up and start fresh today and abide in Him!

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5

About Traci: I'm a curly-headed dreamer. I love coffee, chocolate and chips but attempt to eat primarily Paleo. I love a good romantic comedy and I cry reading sappy Hallmark cards in Target. I'm part of the proud left hand club. In high school I hid behind science, math and computer classes to avoid any part of reading, writing or speaking. The irony of it? God is weaving it all together for His plan and purpose in my life today. You can run,  but you can't hide from God! Connect on my blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

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