The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (96 page)

Developing a Quiet Time

Using
The One Year Bible
—Called the Bible Bus

From
BibleBusStop.com
. Sign up for the daily “Wisdom for Women” audio devotional.

1. Begin with prayer. As you open God’s Word, pause and ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see wonderful things and to open your spiritual ears to hear his voice.
   
2. Remember, there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are on the Bus. Although I want to encourage you to protect your personal time in the Word every day, we all have our low times—we fall off the bus.
   
3. Hop back on. When you do miss a reading, whether for just a few days or for a few weeks, don’t try to catch up. Just start again with the current day’s reading, and keep going from there. You might have time to go back and catch up later, but do not stress over it. Remember, this is not a “notch on your belt.” Our goal is fellowship, not accomplishment.
   
4. Personalize the pace. Be realistic about your journey. If you are new to Bible reading, the mother of young children, or a student with a lot of homework, you may decide to read through just the New Testament portion this year. This reading segment will take just five to seven minutes. It is much better to be consistent with a smaller portion than to be overwhelmed with too much.
   
5. Keep paper and pen handy. If you write the date of your reading in a notebook, you have put yourself in the mode to “pay attention.” What you are saying to God and to yourself is that you expect God to show you something or say something in his Word that is worth writing down and remembering. When you write something down, you more than double your retention. Often as you write one thought, you will see other facets of it expand and grow to a sweet, deep understanding.
   
6. Set a time. Everyone has a personal rhythm. One is a morning person; another is a night owl. Buy an inexpensive alarm clock, and set it for a certain time each day. This small action can help you protect your “personal appointment with Jesus.”
   
7. Prepare a place. Keeping your
   One Year Bible
   , notebook, and pen in the same place all the time is a tremendous help. You can go right there and just jump in. You will find that you start viewing that place as special and holy.
   
8. Search for answers. A quick review of the following questions will help you anticipate and be excited about your reading.
   
   • What did I learn about God today in my reading?
     
   • What lesson about life did I learn?
     
   • What did I learn about myself, my attitudes, priorities, fears, failures, desires, mission, destiny?
     
   • Is there a lesson I can apply today?
     
   • What can I take from my reading and pray back to God for understanding, instruction, or help?
     

Building Your Life on the Rock

Additional Ministry Resources

• Innkeeper Ministries, Inc.
  (
  www.InnkeeperMinistries.org
  ): A ministry dedicated to providing services that encourage, support, and edify Christian leadership in their godly pursuits.
  
• Moms in Prayer International
  (
  www.MomsInPrayer.org
  ): Formerly Moms In Touch, this ministry impacts children and schools worldwide for Christ by gathering mothers to pray. Their website will give you information so you can find a group in your area.
  
• Healing Hearts Ministries International
  (
  www.HealingHearts.org
  ): The Healing Hearts study for women,
  Binding up the Brokenhearted
  , and its counterpart for men, entitled
  Wounded Warrior
  , guide readers on a biblical journey to healing from the wounds caused by abortion.
  The Hem of His Garment
  also leads to healing from other wounds, such as sexual abuse.
  
• Blessed Hope
  : A residential discipleship program for women seeking restoration from drug and alcohol addictions. You may contact them at
  ccbangor.org
  under the Discipleship tab.
  
• Answers in Genesis
  (
  www.AnswersInGenesis.org
  ): This website helps us understand and answer the tough questions about Creation, evolution, and the Bible. As a scientist, wife, and mother, Dr. Georgia Purdom offers information particularly geared toward women at the companion website,
  AnswersForWomen.org
  .