Friday, December 7, 2018


All to Myself
By Jeannine Sawall

"I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”
Hosea 6:6 (NLT)

A few years ago, some friends and I were talking about our quiet times with the Lord: when it works best for our schedules (morning versus evening) and how having routine quiet times impacts not only our daily lives, but our family’s lives as well. As we continued our conversation, the question came up about quiet times on Sundays. If you’re headed to church, do you need to have a quiet time on Sunday, or is your time at church good spiritual nourishment for the day. There were varying answers; neither right nor wrong. But there was an answer I loved the best. One of my friends said, “I still have a quiet time on Sunday because I love having Him all to myself.”

That answer has stuck with me.  Oftentimes, my quiet time gets pushed back in my day due to busy schedules and getting the kids off for school. Even Sunday mornings are gallant efforts to move everyone efficiently out the door to church, let alone have a quiet time before we go.  While I know quiet times are a vital part of my daily existence, sometimes they seem to be one more thing I need to check off on my “to-do list” before I can get on with my day. 

However, after hearing my friends answer, I’ve come to the conclusion that a change in my “heart-titude” will affect how I look at my quiet time. When I approach the throne out of dedication to “doing the right Christian thing,” yes, I get “credit” for having spent time with the Lord…and, more often than not, in His great grace, God fills me and meets with me, despite my “Quick! Let’s get it done” attitude.  But when I approach Him out of devotion, with the heart of one who longs to be with her Lord, I come away not just with enough to get me through the day, but I come away overwhelmed by His love and overflowing with His glory. 

The Lord desires our love over sacrifice. He wants us to know Him and love Him more than He wants us to do our duty to Him. Our heart attitudes should reflect the privilege He gives us when we come together. Rather than HAVING to have a quiet time, we GET to have a quiet time because there’s no greater joy than having Him all to ourselves!

GOING DEEPER:
1.  What does your heart reflect as you make time for your quiet time?
2.  How can you change your schedule to allow time to have the Lord all to yourself?

FURTHER READING:

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four great boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in several behind-the-scenes ministries at Oakwood and has a heart for those who are grieving.