The struggle is real. I feel it every single week. Almost every time I sit down to read my Bible and pray, I feel a vortex of distraction coming at me from every direction. Can you relate? Having a focused and consistent quiet time is a battle most Christians face. If you’re in a place of struggle right now, this post will be really helpful for you.
As Christians, we know that the Bible is our source of truth, wisdom, and direct access to the voice of God…but even with that, we find it hard to sit down and be still in His presence. In my personal opinion, I think the problem is two-fold:
- We don’t value God’s Word enough.
- We allow bad planning and distraction to steal our time in the Word.
The first problem is a heart issue.
For this, we need to be more intentional to pray that God would give us a deeper love for His word. We need to read Psalm 19 and ask God to help us love and treasure His Word as the Psalmist does. We need to take time to read helpful books like Women of the Word (Jen Wilkin) or A Place of Quiet Rest (Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth).
Staying stuck in a place of apathy toward the Bible isn’t going to help us have a consistent quiet time. This needs to be addressed first. Then, as we address our heart issues, we need to take steps to address our practical issues. That is what I’m going to focus on for the rest of this post. I personally believe it’s the little things that often get in the way of having a consistent quiet time. I’ve seen 4 specific problems arise in my own life plenty of times, and I’m guessing you’ve seen them in yours too. By overcoming these routine obstacles, we can greatly improve the quality and consistency of our quiet times.
4 Reasons You’re Struggling to Have a Consistent Quiet Time:
1. You don’t make a plan the night before.
The most “successful” quiet times always begin the night before. Rather than turning out your light and hitting the sack, take 3 minutes to look at your calendar and decide when you’re going to have your quiet time the next day. When you find a good spot, add it to your calendar or write it on a note. By planning the night before, you will set yourself up for success the next day.
2. You don’t have a good Bible reading plan in place.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever sat down to read your Bible, only to stare blankly at the pages? Guilty! This often happens when we’re not sure what to read or study. The desire is there, but our lack of planning causes frustration and confusion. Prior to sitting down with your Bible, decide ahead of time what you’re going to read. Maybe you want to read through the entire Bible? Maybe you want to study one Old or New Testament book? Maybe you want to read through the Psalms and Proverbs. Whatever it is, come up with a good plan before you sit down.
For some additional ideas on how to read your Bible, check out this post: 5 Helpful Ways to Study Your Bible Each Day
3. You don’t have regular accountability.
There’s a reason people hire personal life coaches to help them succeed in difficult areas of their life. One word. Accountability. Just knowing that someone is going to consistently ask you about a particular area of your life is enough for most people to stay consistent. You need this for your quiet time too. Is there anyone in your life asking you how you’re doing spiritually? Does anyone know about your personal quiet time routine? This needs to be a priority. Whether it’s your mom, a mentor, a woman a church, or a mature friend — ask someone to hold you accountable in this area of your life.
I personally believe that having a mentor is one of the best ways to gain consistent accountability. If having a mentor sounds like a great idea to you, I would personally love to mentor YOU over the next 8 weeks. Bethany and I actually created an 8 week online mentorship course and we would be honored to have you join us for it. Registration closes on March 6th (the mentorship program begins March 9th), so grab your spot soon if you’re considering joining us. Learn more here.
4. Your phone distracts you from concentrating on your Bible.
Technology can be the biggest blessing and the biggest curse. Amen? My phone has been the cause of distraction far too many times during my quiet time. Just this past week I asked the ladies in my Church small group to hold me accountable to not getting on my phone until after my quiet time is done. This has been so helpful for me! I can’t encourage you enough to do the same. In fact, just leave your phone on silent in a different room during your quiet time. Do whatever it takes to give yourself undistracted time for the most precious part of your entire day — time with the Lord.
The struggle is real, but it doesn’t have to overtake us.
- Which of these 4 areas have you seen hindering your quiet time lately? Share your thoughts with me below!
For some additional insight into what mine and Bethany’s personal quiet times look like each day, check out this video: What We Do for Our Morning Quiet Time. And for helpful tips on how to pray consistently, you’ll love this post: How to Pray Every Single Day
PS I really hope you’ll join me for the 8 week mentorship course. I truly believe this program could be a turning point in your spiritual life. Registration closes March 6th, so grab your spot soon. Learn More.
