By: Sarah Geringer
For
you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of
victory.
Psalm
32:7 NLT
When my children were little, I created a quiet time for myself each afternoon during their naps. Even now, as a mother of a teenager and two tweens, I still take an afternoon quiet time in my hiding place with God.
I go up to my bedroom, change into comfy clothes, take off my jewelry, and shut the blinds. I lay in bed sometimes with my sleeping mask on, sometimes with my eyes open. I block out the day's hustle and bustle and I lay still in God's presence.
Today I had a small envelope of time for quiet, right before heading back into town again this evening. I used that time to pray honest prayers, recounting my day with God. I was honest with him, saying things I can't say out loud to others, pouring out my frustrations to the One who knows me best.
Then I drifted off to sleep for maybe ten minutes. I felt refreshed from the quick nap, but even more refreshed from being myself in my hiding place with God.
Jesus needed time in his hiding place with God too. In Matthew 14:23, we learn that he drew away from the crowds and even from his disciples to spend time only with his Father. I find this passage encouraging, because as powerful and perfect as Jesus was, he still needed to draw away and be himself with God sometimes.
When my children were little, I created a quiet time for myself each afternoon during their naps. Even now, as a mother of a teenager and two tweens, I still take an afternoon quiet time in my hiding place with God.
I go up to my bedroom, change into comfy clothes, take off my jewelry, and shut the blinds. I lay in bed sometimes with my sleeping mask on, sometimes with my eyes open. I block out the day's hustle and bustle and I lay still in God's presence.
Today I had a small envelope of time for quiet, right before heading back into town again this evening. I used that time to pray honest prayers, recounting my day with God. I was honest with him, saying things I can't say out loud to others, pouring out my frustrations to the One who knows me best.
Then I drifted off to sleep for maybe ten minutes. I felt refreshed from the quick nap, but even more refreshed from being myself in my hiding place with God.
Jesus needed time in his hiding place with God too. In Matthew 14:23, we learn that he drew away from the crowds and even from his disciples to spend time only with his Father. I find this passage encouraging, because as powerful and perfect as Jesus was, he still needed to draw away and be himself with God sometimes.
Your hiding place with God can be anywhere you
like. Your bedroom, car, closet or
bathroom (I’m looking at you, moms of young ones) can be a hiding place. You
can make a walk through the woods a hiding place, or use headphones and
sunglasses to create a hiding place on your commute. Be creative!
Do you hide away with God every day? One of my friends enjoys time with God during her morning bath. Another friend focuses on evening prayers. I like to enter a hiding place with God in the early mornings, before anyone else rises. We all have certain times of day that work better than others. What is your best time of day to hide away with God?
If you don't withdraw to a hiding place with God regularly, what is stopping you? Can you rearrange your schedule to make it happen at least once this week? You’ll find greater peace by hiding away with him, even for just a few minutes per day.
What do you hope to gain from your hiding place with God? If there's one thing I always gain from my hidden time with God, it's peace. Today I had greater peace when I unburdened myself to God, who can handle my problems without being negatively affected.
Do you hide away with God every day? One of my friends enjoys time with God during her morning bath. Another friend focuses on evening prayers. I like to enter a hiding place with God in the early mornings, before anyone else rises. We all have certain times of day that work better than others. What is your best time of day to hide away with God?
If you don't withdraw to a hiding place with God regularly, what is stopping you? Can you rearrange your schedule to make it happen at least once this week? You’ll find greater peace by hiding away with him, even for just a few minutes per day.
What do you hope to gain from your hiding place with God? If there's one thing I always gain from my hidden time with God, it's peace. Today I had greater peace when I unburdened myself to God, who can handle my problems without being negatively affected.
If
you have a hiding place with God, please share in the comments below. You can
always share at my site if you have trouble leaving a comment here.
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Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings and God's peace to you,
Photo from Canva.com
Reflection questions:
1. Where is the best place for you to hide away with God?
2. Read Matthew 14. Which events in this chapter do you think Jesus talked about with God in his hiding place? What do you think He gained by going there?
My quiet place with God is at the dining room table, when everyone else is gone or asleep, usually in the mornings. I've found it so important to take this time even when we're hosting overnight guests or when I'm out of town.
ReplyDeleteI'm at my dining room table right now, enjoying quiet time with God like you do!
DeleteI love that you created a quiet time for yourself! My "hiding place" is my cozy chair in my kitchen nook. It's where I meet with God in the wee hours of the morning, sipping my coffee, reading my Bible, journaling and praying.
ReplyDeleteOh yes! I most definitely have a hiding place and quiet time with the Lord each day. It's typically mid-morning for me and often ends up being the highlight of my day. Thanks for reminding us to make this a priority, Sarah! I'll be pinning!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy hiding place with God is alone in my screen room. I love spending time with him there in the early morning hours.
ReplyDeleteMy hiding place changes with the time of day. In early morning, it's my kitchen table. Sometimes it's my car. I loved that you describe taking a 10 minute nap after your prayer time. Reminds me of a John Ortenberg quote: "Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap!"
ReplyDelete