By Rhonda Stinson
My friends and I decided to embark on a trip to Red River Gorge in Kentucky. We packed up our tent, food, clothes, and hiking gear and excitedly drove to the mountains. As soon as we got there, we picked a flat place to pitch the tent, but decided we’d put it up after we returned from our hike. We were having so much fun sightseeing, repelling, and cliff diving into the water that we didn’t get back to the campsite until about 8:00 p.m. My friend unpacked the tent and we all helped in trying to assemble it. Nothing was coming together as easily as we’d anticipated. We were missing some rods and pegs, so we decided to just camp out without the tent. What a beautiful night under the stars… that is until the howling began; and rather too close for comfort I might add! Coyotes??? We unanimously decided to sleep in my friend’s car. Five girls trying to comfortably sleep in an old white Caddy was not exactly what I had in mind that night. Let’s just say we all learned from our experience to thoroughly check our gear beforehand and not procrastinate in pitching the tent.
Similarly, I find myself procrastinating in my spiritual life, putting off my prayer time and Bible study until evening. I’m more tired in the evening and find my brain has drifted into autopilot mode. Eyes are working, but brain is not. Some people function better in the evening or others in the wee hours of the morning. What is your peak time? The most vital part of our lives should be our “God Time”. When we put God off until later, just like my friends and I did when pitching our tent, it may be too late. Have you ever been so tired that you begin to doze off while praying or reading your Bible? Not the best time for devotion, is it? God wants to meet with us when we’re at our best—not when we’re going to sleep. There has to be two present to call it a relationship and God doesn’t want to be the Lone Ranger.
Quiet time with God is when He talks to you and you to Him, a time of refreshment, of filling, armoring yourself for the day’s battle.
Consider your time with God. Is it what you want it to be? If not, begin making changes. The time is now; don’t put it off until the coyotes begin to howl!
Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38-41)
“Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.’”
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’”
“Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?’”
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
