Life is busy. My calendar is full. When I get to work, the phone calls and emails seem to never stop. My time – your time – is valuable.

I don’t think any of us would admit this, but we sure have evidenced this in our decisions – I don’t have time to spend time in devotions.

There I said it. It seems so unChristian to admit it, but most of us live lives that are so busy, we don’t have time to stop and read our Bible and pray, especially in the morning. We barely get up in time to get out the door to start the day.

But think just a minute with me…. don’t we make time for things that we see the benefits? We have time to check our email (several times an hour), because we know how important it is to keep up on conversations. We have time to take a walk or exercise, because we know our health depends on it. We take time to take a 15-minute break at work, because we know it is important to step away from stress for a few minutes before we crack.

So maybe instead of being too busy to pray, we are too busy not to pray!

So I thought I would share with you some of the benefits I have found in a daily Quiet Time with God. Just a few minutes at the beginning of my day to read the Bible and pray.

1. Peace

You receive peace by refocusing your attention on God, rather than your problems.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

2. Joy

You receive joy because the source of your strength becomes Christ rather than your circumstances.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)

3. Fulfillment

Spending time alone with Him fulfills the heart like nothing else can. I’m a check list guy. I feel like I’ve accomplished something when I can check it off on my ‘To Do’ list. When you spend time with God early, you can check off the #1 most important thing you could do that day.

4. Direction

Spending time with God enables Him to give you direction when you need it. You are giving God a chance to direct your paths.

5. Power/Strength

God will give you the strength you need to do the things you need to do.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

6. Stabililty

I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. (Psalm 16:8-9)

7. Success

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

8. Answered prayer

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing… If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:5,7)

There are many problems you will face when you first attempt to have a quiet time. It may be discipline (consistent daily), boredom (dry), concentration, or discouragement.

The main thing to remember is to always pray and ask the Lord to help you. Then commit yourself into doing what He has asked. Then just do it. If you miss then do it the next day. Don’t be committed to the schedule but the purpose.

The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day. -Henry Ward Beecher

It is said that Andrew Bonar, a great man of prayer, had three rules: (1) Not to speak to any man before speaking to Jesus; (2) Not to do anything with his hands until he had been on his knees; (3) Not to read the papers until he had read his Bible.

What benefit have you found in a daily Quiet Time?