“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” —Matthew 13:44 NLT
It’s not like I didn’t want to have a daily time of Bible reading. I did. It’s not like I thought praying on the run when I remembered it in emergencies was the best way to develop a rich prayer life. I didn’t. But how in the world was a busy mother of two children under the age of two supposed to find time for that? I didn’t even take time to shower some days. My husband was in the midst of intense PhD classwork and sympathized with my busy schedule as he drowned in his own. I’m afraid neither of us were much help to the other. Each of us too busy trying to keep our own noses above the ever-rising flood of responsibility we both faced. It was not the best of times.
I was a most unlikely candidate for the daily quiet time method I was about to learn. In fact, if my pastor’s wife hadn’t sweetened the invitation with a promise of lunch out, babysitting paid, if I accomplished the mission … I would not even have considered it. So there it is in print. I chose to begin a ten-minute, daily time with God for a free lunch out with adult conversation. I am not proud of this. But I do think most young, frazzled mothers of little ones without husband-support would understand. One is too bleary-eyed and weary-boned to think of tidy little times with God. One is merely surviving and hoping the children will thrive with a sleep-deprived mama trying to give good care.
Looking back on that period of time, I smile. Little did I know what a lifeline Lori was throwing me. As I began meeting with God, reading just a few verses each day, and praying for help for the day, I found peace in the midst of tired chaos. That little ten-minute time was an oasis. Now, many years later with my two girls grown and children of their own, that little time has expanded to a happy hour of sweetness as I meet with the Lord each morning. And I look back with the deepest gratitude over more than three decades of daily meetings with the One who made me and loves me most of all.
So. How did I fit in the quiet time? Ah. The secret is this. One never “fits in” a consistent quiet time. You don’t try to squish it into a spare minute. Nope. Spare minutes are not to be found most days. One must decide that time apart with God is like treasure in a field, the one most important thing and all else is put aside for that treasure. Jesus tells us in a one-verse parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field” (Matthew 13:44 NLT).
Practically, how does that treasure hunt work for a sleep-deprived mama of two tinies who really did need my almost-constant attention? My first available minute each day belonged to God. That blessed little break when one is sleeping and the other actually playing in her bouncer, when normally a mom would take a shower or start supper. That was when I sat down for my ten minutes. The shower waited. It was not the treasure. Dinner was delayed ten minutes. It wasn’t the treasure either. The treasure was preeminent and everything else had to fit around it. My babies weren’t neglected, but a whole lot of other things were put on hold while I met with God in His Word and in prayer.
A funny thing happened when I started making my time apart with God my treasure and the one thing I needed to do above all else. That time with Him, hearing His Word, and pleading with Him for grace for the day, enabled me to accomplish So Much More. Surprisingly, more than if I had not stopped at all. It centered me. Reminded me of a God who cares, who sees me and is with me and for me in my mothering. Day after day, I learned more of His promises and felt deeper reassurance that He was with me.
I have never looked back and yearned for the chaotic days of feeling guilty at not “fitting in” a quiet time. I’d rather go without the shower and skip dinner. Our God is the treasure. He is the only One who makes sense of this world and the only One who knows my future. All is better when I stop to be with Him.
I am so grateful that my mentor, Lori, did not suggest an hour set apart each day. That would have been overwhelming. I am so grateful she stuck with me, encouraging me when I faltered. After I managed to do 21 days in a row of quiet times using a simple method that kept me on track and focused, we celebrated big with lunch out. It was a wonderful lunch, but I had ceased to care as much about that. I knew what a true gift I had received by developing the daily habit of meeting alone with God.
Let’s not “fit God in” to a crowded life. Let’s shove all else to the side until we meet with Him each day. Let’s actually believe the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33 are true. If we seek first the kingdom of God, all the rest will be given to us as well. But seeking Him comes first. It’s the perfect fit.
Lord, You are my treasure. Help me to show my love for You in the way I allocate my time. I want to put You first in all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.