Quiet Time: a 'Christianese' term for a time set aside reading the Bible, praying, and listening to God; being quiet in His presence so that we can hear from Him.
I try to have a QT every day. Why? Because it's a moment focusing simply on the relationship I have with my Creator. It centers me. It reminds me of Whose I am and who I am. When my life is in order, I usually get up early before the kids in the morning to do it. When my life is not in order (which is most of the time), I squeeze it in during nap time or during breakfast, doing it in front of the girls while they eat. It looks different every day. Some times I just read, just write, just pray, or am just quiet before Him.
Last Monday I spent it soaking in the lyrics of the Christmas song, O Holy Night. Some powerful lines that popped out to me: The weary soul rejoices. His law is love. His Gospel is peace. In His name all oppression shall cease.
I then moved on to study the lyrics of my all-time favorite hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. What makes it my favorite is the story behind the words. Have you read about it?
The gist is that the writer endured many trials. His 4-year old son died of Scarlet fever. His heavily invested real estate properties were completely destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. His wife and four daughters set sail on a ship that collided with another, resulting in the death of his girls. He received a telegram from his wife that said, "Saved alone." Upon hearing this news, his heart cried out and he penned the powerfully written song. The first verse is amazing, considering it was the ocean waters and storm that overtook his daughters.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Chorus:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Pretty incredible, right? No matter life's circumstances, I want the echo of my heart to be "Praise the Lord, O my soul." (Ps. 146:1)
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