Overflow
As you know, I like to keep it real on here. In my “Pruning” blog I confessed going through an extended season of living in the flesh. I think that issue is the main struggle that I constantly battle with. I know and believe that we should live and minister out of the overflow of our heart – that we should have a regular/consistent devotional life and daily quiet times, but I confess that I wrestle with doing that daily.
I’ve blogged in the past about “Noise” and “American Idol” - this isn’t anything new for me. Maybe you can relate? Life is so busy, so fast-paced, so digital and I find I’m consumed with work, family, emails and this computer that I’m constantly staring out blogging, Facebooking, Twittering, etc. I love those tools and technologies. I know God can and is using them and I teach on them, but another part of what I speak on and will be writing about in the book is the issue of boundaries and not letting the tail wag the dog.
God knows, like David, I’m a man after God’s own heart and I truly want to spend quality time with Him each and every day and serve and live out of the overflow, but that is not a regular reality for me. I’m ashamed of that. I’m frustrated with that. I’m not giving up. I’m just keeping it real and confessing. This is tough for me. I’m not a morning person and due to medicine that I take (see my blog “Weak”), I’m always in a rush to get to work each morning.
What are some creative ways that you’ve blocked out time for you and God so that you can serve and live out of the overflow? Am I the only one that struggles with this? Where are you at on this?
March 25th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Greg, you are definitely not the only person who struggles with this. As a bi-vocational pastor with small children, I also struggle with spending daily, quality time with God. I'm not a morning person either (unlike my wife). So for me, I will take a break on my day job to read Scripture (instead of blogs) online and then I do most of my study and sermon prep at night after the kids are in the bed. This can be a real discipline for me as I have several TV shows I love to watch on DVR. Also, my discipleship partner and I keep each other accountable in this area too. That really helps.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Cool. Thanks for sharing Willie.
March 25th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Big struggle for me as well. I wish I had a solution that I've found that worked like a charm, but not much really has. I'm still spotty about it.
March 25th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
spurts throughout the day…maybe look at the daily prayer offices and every 3 hours spend a shot with God…1 hour straight or 4 for 15 mins…don't think HE cares??
March 25th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
I am a morning person and fly out of bed with my highest energy levels from 5:30am – 1pm. I struggle with the same issues though because I'm so eager to get work done when my focus is best. I think many of us who work in ministry have the same struggle – we are working for God and in the process we realize our relationship with Him is not always what we know it should be. I'm very tied to technology too and am trying to utilize the Bible on my Kindle to read in spurts throughout the day. I guess the main thing is to keep on trying. It's good to know that I'm not alone in this struggle. Thanx for your transparency.
March 26th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Nope, you're not alone. I, too, like to read the Bible via my phone/technology.
March 25th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Greg,this was such a timely message for me. I myself am struggling with the same exact thing.. Finding and making time for God.. I know in my heart of hearts He should be number one in my life,heart and mind.. I believe God speaks to us through others and what you said has definitely hit home with me.. I know some people have their quiet time in the morning,some in the afternoon and some at night.. I think mine would work best in the mornings since I already have to wake up early to get my son to school.. I have found that if I do not eat breakfast until I read my bible that I am more motivated to do it.. We should nourish our Spirits in the same way we nourish our bodies.. "No read,no feed "…is what I like to say.. I pray you would be able to put your focus on God first and then let everything else follow.. Nothing more important then our personal relationship with Christ.. God bless you Bro!
March 26th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Cool. Thanks for sharing, Holly.
March 26th, 2009 at 5:59 am
I hear ya. I don't think we're alone.
March 26th, 2009 at 6:02 am
Nope, I don't either. It's not a legalistic thing or a sense that I must follow some rules. I just know that when I get that quality time with Him, I see more fruit and I have more to give (out of the overflow).
March 27th, 2009 at 4:58 am
College student here, and yes I do follow your blog regularly. I struggle with it..even on a Christian campus where people are "suppose" to do this. I'm real..i need to have a quiet time. Evenings work best for me. Thanks for asking the question. Allowing me to open up. It's easier for me to find time to pray than to read my bible. Both are important though in developing our relationship with God.
March 27th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Hey Greg… great post. I really appreciate your transparency on this subject. When I was in bible college I would literally spend hours in quiet time/ prayer/ bible study. When I was in full time ministry it was great… because I got paid to set that time aside during my day and I didn't have a problem. Fastforward a few years… no longer in paid fulltime ministry, a wife and 2 little ones. Yikes… Quiet time not so much. I still haven't found a rhythm that works for me. Sometimes I fall asleep praying at night…and I feel bad. I often feel bad because I know my Father misses me and wants me back in his arms being silent before Him. So I just catch time when I can … sometimes duing my lunch break…. sometimes when i carpool… sometimes when I am in the car. I still want to figure out a way to carve out some serious time during the day… but at this stage in my life its very difficult. Let me know what you figure out !