quiet time...

...is something that I have come to value greatly. And it isn't too hard to get.

I woke up really early this morning. I guess it isn't all that surprising since I fell asleep really early last night, but I digress. Early mornings are my favorite because I get time alone in the quiet. Well, for now anyway. My husband is sleeping, and the only noises I hear are some household appliances that are running and my tapping on the keyboard. Glorious.

Quiet time is wonderful. There is so much noise and hub-bub going on that sometimes getting a little peace and quiet is a gift. No TV. No music. No conversation. Just me, my thoughts, and a the ability to enjoy some time with God.

The noise of the world definitely drowns out the voice of God. But here, in my quiet time, I can hear Him. I can feel His divine hand in my life, especially when I feel my little miracle of a daughter rolling and moving around in my belly. It will be so strange when I don't have that connection with her anymore.

Quiet time allows me to read the Scriptures and reflect on what God wants me to learn. Today I read Matthew 16 as part of a 100-day reading challenge our church gave to the congregation. In Matthew 16, the message I took away from it was that sometimes there are trials and discomforts that we must face in our walks with God that the world may not want us to endure. Our call is to persevere and not allow the comforts of the world deter us from facing those trials and becoming stronger on the other side as a result. Peter tries to tell Jesus that he shouldn't have to face the end-of-life trials he foretells to the disciples, and Jesus' response? "Get behind me Satan." To Peter. The man He calls, in verses just prior to that, the Rock of his church. The cornerstone on which the future Christian movement would be built (check out Acts 2 for one of Peter's finer moments in living out this calling...the Day of Pentecost).

It is a blessing to have some time to collect yourself and do something meaningful in the quiet. What will you do to take advantage? How can you be still and find some solace in the silence today?