The big question is: How do we enjoy unrushed time alone with God every day?
Here are a few practical pointers that have been helpful to me:
Turn off your phone at least one hour before you sleep. Covenant with God not to turn your phone on in the morning until you have had unrushed time with Him in His Word and in prayer. This simple step will help you unclutter your mind.
Go to bed multiple hours before midnight to maximize your sleep quality.
Every night before you go to sleep, ask God to wake you up in the morning to have unrushed time alone with Him. God the Father awakened Jesus each morning to teach Him (see Isa. 50:4). This same God is ready to teach you!
When He wakes you up, get up.
Fall on your knees and submit all you are, all you have, your attitude and your electronics, to Christ Jesus as Lord.
Begin by thanking God for all He has done for you and praising Him for who He is: His character, His ways, His power (see Ps. 100:4).
Claim 1 John 1:9 as you confess your sins and receive God’s forgiveness and heart cleansing.
Ask God to give you the Holy Spirit to guide you into all the truth of Jesus as you prepare to read God’s written Word (cf. Luke 11:13; John 16:13).
Read God’s Word purposefully, searching the Bible for a fresh picture of Jesus (see John 5:39).
Capture your discoveries about Jesus in your journal.
Thank God for what He has revealed to you in His Word that morning.
Ask God what He wants you to apply to your attitudes and plans for the day from His Word (see Matt. 7:24). Examples of questions to ask of God: What is on Your heart for today? Who is on Your heart today? How could I bring You more glory today? What do You have for me to do urgently today?
Claim Jeremiah 33:2, 3: “This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to create it, He whose name is the Lord. Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (NASB).
Wait on Him (see Ps. 25:4, 5). It is often very difficult for us to slow down and seek God for direction, and then wait on Him with expectation. Psalm 5:3 instructs: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (NIV). God is just as able to speak to your mind as He was to His people in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
Test what you are hearing in prayer with the written Word of God. Isaiah 8:20 challenges us to test all things by Scripture.
Journal what you are learning, and act on what you have heard God reveal to you through His Word and prayer.
