Quiet-time musings

 

 Just taking a moment on this January Monday morning to muse for a few moments about quiet times.  I've been wondering what others are doing this year. 

Last week I had the opportunity to ask a few ladies at church about their plans for spiritual growth in the new year.  Several planned on reading through the Bible, using various reading plans.  Some had a goal to improve their prayer lives and planned on starting a prayer journal.  A couple had purchased Bible studies they would be working through to begin the year.  Of course we do realize that attempting any of this in our own strength or determination would be impossible.  We must have God's guidance and help in this, as in all things.  Without Him we can do nothing.

I am personally reading through The Daily Walk Bible this year.  I've read through this several times.  In 2021 I journaled my way through all of the readings and devotional thoughts.  Last year I didn't read through the Bible.  I read in Proverbs every month and read through the New Testament a couple of times, but for 2023 I decided to read through the Bible again.  

I've done this a few different ways in the past, using a chronological Bible a couple times (which I loved), a plan that has you in both Old and New Testaments plus Psalms and Proverbs, other types of reading plans, and then a one-year Bible like this one.  I actually own two one-year Bibles, but the Daily Walk one is my favorite.

I'm also working through a Bible study from The Daily Grace Co.  I've done several of their studies and enjoy them so much.  They are not only well-written, deep dives into Scripture, they are absolutely beautiful and a joy to work on each day.  Currently I am working through their study on Lamentations, Between Grief and Glory.  

 
I am seeking to maintain a rich and meaningful prayer life in 2023, and my prayer journal is a wonderful help with that.  You can read much more than you may want to know about my prayer journal by simply clicking the "prayer journal" label in the label cloud.

Coffee is an integral part of my quiet time, and I'd like to share a fun little tip that I've recently tried. 

 We love flavored coffee, but the flavored creamers are not very healthy and the flavored coffees are sometimes artificial tasting.  I had the idea -- I'm sure I read it somewhere -- of adding a flavored tea bag to the coffee grounds when brewing. We enjoy the gingerbread coffee at our local supermarket cafe very much, so I tried adding a gingerbread spice tea bag to my coffee as it brewed.  It was very good!  Sugar Cookie may be up next.

The photo at top has really nothing to do with my quiet time -- in fact, it's from 2016 -- but it has a lot to do with my view right now.  We had friends over for brunch on Monday, and another set of friends over for lunch yesterday, and I brought out this gorgeous table runner and place mats for the first time this season.  I managed to snip some greenery to fill the heirloom pitcher, as I love the way it looks with these table toppers.  It makes me smile every. single. time I look in the direction of our dining table.  For many reasons -- the love of family, and friends,  the kindness of God to allow me to cherish some family heirlooms and to give me time and (admittedly limited) skill to create the runner and mats -- and also seeing the beauty of God's creation in the form of evergreens that symbolize growth.

We have so many wonderful resources available to us in 2023, including some that I haven't mentioned, such as Bible reading apps and a variety of excellent podcasts.  What is your quiet time looking like this new year?