When my five children were young, I not only didn’t have a “room,” I rarely had private time! To remedy the problem, I would rise early, before I woke my husband at 6:15 for him to ready for work, and close myself off in the bathroom. I did it that early, because with five small children, even bathrooms were not private!
As my children grew, it still seemed having the time to call my own, became more and more scarce; and even now, since my husband retired. Now that seems unlikely, but getting up early, before my husband stopped happening. I couldn’t get out of bed without waking him. Once he was up, it meant coffee and—no quiet time! I would have to squeeze out my “faith moments” whenever I could.
Good habits are easy to break and bad habits hard to change back into good ones! We travel a good bit now, creating its own set of circumstances that alter what I’d always done. While all this is changing, I found myself clinging to those moments I spent with the Lord in the morning, even if the moments weren’t entirely mine, and then again in the evening before I retired for the night.
My quiet place with God, I’ve discovered doesn’t have to be first thing in the morning (although that is still my preference), but can still have profound impact, even if I find myself stealing away for only a few moments! When I can, I get on our exercise machine and while I’m working my body, I’m also working my heart and spirit, as I commune with God. I have prayer requests written in large letters on card stock paper and set up so I can see them while I work out! The machine has a timer (or I could use my phone or other source), so I don’t have to worry about the time or counting. I can focus on my conversation with Jesus!
My point to all this is simply that we don’t have to have a specific place to read and pray. While it may be ideal, it isn’t necessary. God hears our hearts and knows our minds better than we do. He even knows our motives and deepest desires. He wants a relationship with us regardless of our environment!
God walked and communed with Adam and Eve in the Garden. He talked with Moses through a burning bush, used dreams and even a whale to have conversation with those who were close to him, or were committed with a job to do. Sometimes God just talks to us in our heads, perhaps like he spoke to Noah. Sometimes he uses his Word, but he does communicate and wants us to listen!
A quiet place is helpful since it helps eliminate distractions. But God can speak to us during a loud gospel music concert, a thunderstorm or any way he chooses. Our personal relationship with Him is way more important than creating the ‘perfect’ room to meet.
Share with us about your ‘war room” or special place to communicate with God.
(Picture credit) https://www.pinterest.com/pin/459015387013405118/
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