The alarm goes off. I roll out of bed. It's cold, and I'm tired. I go to the table and stare at my Bible and notebook as I lift up a prayer (being careful not to close my eyes so I don't dose off) I want to hear God speak to me. Silence. I know that I need God's Word, but I'm not exactly sure where to start. I would love it if a heavenly light would shine down on the perfect passage that the Lord wants me to ponder today. Nothing. I'm tempted to flip to a few random favorites, but I know I need more than just a quick "shot in the arm". I need some focus, and if I'm not careful, a couple days like this one will leave me wondering if this early morning Quiet Time is really worth it.
Maybe you can relate to the struggle I often face when I'm trying to establish a Quiet Time routine. I don't want it to be a waste of time, and I don't want to act like it's some "magic pill" that I should take so that God will bless my day. God's grace is not dependent upon what time I get up in the morning. I want to be intentional, but I can easily feel a little.....lost.
I've found that reading a book durning my time with God can be just the thing I need, especially if I'm jumping back into a regular Quiet Time. First, having a book to look forward to helps get my feet onto the floor. Knowing that I'm going to have my heart challenged and encouraged pulls me out of bed. Also, until I'm used to the earlier waking time, I can use something to keep my attention focused so I don't fall asleep. If I'm not careful, I'll start thinking about what I'm going to pack in lunches that day and end up in Dreamland. Sad, but true.
But not all books are created equal, and not every "good" book is worthy of Quiet Time status. I am very careful to choose books that:
-Point me to Christ and biblical principles. I'm not looking for something to be a substitute for Bible reading. I want something that will enhance my Bible reading. I'll often look up the scripture references used in the book in my own Bible so I can take notice of context, read the study notes, and underline verses I want to be able to easily find again.
-Challenge my heart. It isn't enough to have a self-help book, even a Christian one, that will simply make me feel a little better about myself. Growth is the goal, and conviction is usually a necessary ingredient.
-Are written by a trusted author. Please, do NOT walk into a Christian bookstore and choose any 'ol book off the shelf. Know who you're reading. Some of my favorite authors are Carolyn Mahaney, CJ Mahaney, Ginger Plowman, Jerry Bridges, Elisabeth Elliot, John Piper, John MacArthur, Ted Tripp, and Paul David Trip.
Here's some truly good books to get you started:
Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney. This is the book I'm currently reading during my Quiet Time. Even though I've already been through it several times, I always learn something new and am reminded of timeless biblical truths. It contains lessons from Titus chapter two on being a godly woman.
Heaven at Home by Ginger Plowman. This book is full of humor and a healthy dose of humility and grace. All of her books are great, but this one really challenged my thinking on how I view my home and my role in it. The last couple of sentences sum up the focus of the book, "...a peaceful home is measured by the extent to which Christ reigns. In other words, the less there is of us and the more there is of Christ, the more heavenly home will be."
Disciplines of Grace by Jerry Bridges. This book changed the way I viewed God and His act of grace more than any other book I've read. As a matter of fact, I don't think I understood an ounce of what the grace of God was about until I read this book (although I still struggle with the concept!). Bridges says, "Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace." Maybe I'll pull Disciplines of Grace out next. I need lots of growth in this subject!
Photo credit: tribalslamdance
Branding Company