Growth happens when we nurture, fertilize, water, and allow the soil to rest.
Dearest Reader,
In my last post, I shared with you how and why writing in a journal transforms me. This week, I want to expand on that and share how and why we should implement a daily quiet time with God. This post is not meant to make you feel guilty in any way, but to point you to grace. There are different seasons of life and quiet time will look different in each season.
Journaling revives and rejuvenates my relationship with the Word and transformation takes place. First, I must go to the Word of God and spend time with Him.
Why?
Jesus, himself, modeled this for us.
“Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.” Luke 5:16 (CSB)
“During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12 (CSB)
How do we get to know someone intimately if we do not spend time with them? We spend time on social media, plan date nights, and girlfriend time and none of these are bad things. So why not set aside time to spend with God? Without planting His Word deeply within us, we will not experience spiritual growth. The Sacred Text is not a drive-thru where we flip through a few Scriptures and quickly move on. The Bible is so much more than this, and yet we are willing to pass over it, spending time in other ways.
“Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15: 4-6 (CSB)
A branch cannot produce its own life; it must draw life from the vine. “Remain in me,” is actively seeking, cultivating, and nurturing time alone with God. Digging deep into His Word
Just as the branch withers and dies, we are at risk of being separated from God or worse spiritual death. We are meant to live fully in Him, experiencing everything He has for us. We are commanded to bear fruit.
We are meant to grow and bear fruit.
How?
- Set aside a daily time to read your Bible, pray, and listen.
- Have a consistent time, unless you are in a season (babies, small children, caregiving for someone) where flexibility is necessary. Grace, Sweet One! Grace.
- Pick a cozy and quiet place to meet with Him each day.
- Have a journal, notepad, or paper and a pen to record Scriptures that speak to you.
- Be consistent.
- Be patient
- Rest: resting in His Word and the quiet.
- Have a devotional nearby to enhance your Scripture reading.
Spiritual growth will happen when you invest time alone with God and time in His Word.
“Sacred time invested in His Word will always yeild return.” from Mornings In The Word
“So my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” Isaiah 55:11 (CSB)
What does your quiet time look like in this season of life?
Gifts of Grace
PS: One of my favorite resources is Jen Wilkin’s book Women of the Word.
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I’m blessed to serve you in this place, to share with you the Gifts of Grace as I journey through the wilderness. I picture you across the table, hands wrapped tightly around your cup, sharing life, and laughter, and tears. As I share with you, my daily struggles, I long to hear what yours may be. You can do that by commenting below or reaching out to me here.

Excellent post and perfect, I might add!
Thanks!
XO
Thank you for sharing these thoughts that are so necessary! I think it’s easy to forget how much God WANTS us to spend time with Him. He knows that we need that time with Him, but He is so interested in relationship with us. Blessings to you!
P.S. I am excited for my order of your book to get here! 🙂
You are so right, Bettie! I pray Mornings In The Word blesses you! Thank you for ordering!
XO
Finished your Book last night. It was wonderful. Wish i had bought some to give to my friends. Will re order some to
give away. Think i will start over again tonight. Very peaceful to me. This i do need.
I thank God for all your talent. How Blessed i am to have a daughter like you. A mom learns from her daughter……
Have great week end and love all.
Mom
Mom, we can get you more! 😊
Love you!
Tammy, very good post and suggestions. Each morning as I spend time doing my devotions and writing some thoughts, I also wonder how they will be read when I am gone. I have begun writing with that thought in mind. Journaling not only helps me to grow now but perhaps one day, will continue to speak truth to family who may read them. Grateful for the reminder to spend time in God’s Word each day and to journal. Have a blessed Thursday!
Yes, Joanne! You are leaving a legacy. My fifteen-year-old granddaughters are fascinated with my journals and have asked if they could read them when I am gone. I told them; “They are yours!” This Nanna’s heart is happy to share them!
Tmamy, thank you for sharing today over at #HeartEncouragement. Daily quiet time is so important. Blessings to you!
Thank you, Stacey!
XO
I love Jen Wilken’s Women of the Word! I like your analogy of not treating Scripture reading like a drive-through. Great balance between the very real need to spend time in the Word yet allowing for grace when that time isn’t perfect.
Thank you, Barbara!
XO
Love reading these over and over. Reminds me of so many things. Things we have gone thru as a Family.
We have made so many new steps, that i thought would not be possible. The Great Savior has brought us
thru soooo many things. I can sit back now and we have come a long way…. Hope to continue to make progress.
Can never give up. Can’t wait to visit or a visit from you Guys. Graduation is May 9TH. Looking forward to a Family
Gathering. Love all and ready to visit.
Mom