Shattered Quiet Time

            I was in a hurry yesterday to get my Bible study done because I was behind. In my defense, I’m juggling two different studies so after leading the Sunday group in our home, it was time to get ready for the Wednesday study. I am embarrassed to admit I raced through two days of exercises and really didn’t get much out of it. Has that ever happened to you when you speed through your quiet time?

            I figured God understood because  I also had to take my son to school and needed to get out the door earlier than usual.

            Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

            “Two days done. Good!  Now it’s time to unload the dishwasher.” As I began to race through that process, I remembered I hadn’t prayed. Instead of going back to a place of reverence with God, I began to quickly run through my prayers as I hurriedly put glasses away.

            That’s when it happened. I had uttered two words of my prayer when I missed a shelf and a glass fell out of my hand and shattered into a million pieces all over the countertop, onto the open dishwasher and floor. UGH!

            As I began to pick up the countless pieces of glass, I realized God was sending me a message. I cannot hurry my time with him. Through the broken glass, he brought my rapid pace to a near halt and as I concentrated on making sure I did not miss one sliver, I realized that’s how I need to treat my time with him.  I don’t want to miss one sliver of truth he has to give me in the morning. I also need to focus on my prayer time with him just like I focused on each little piece of glass. Out of respect, I’m not sure I should enter his courts with a plate and a glass in my hand.

            There is a cross sitting on my bookshelf with the Psalm 46:10 written on it, Be still and know that I am (God). There is a reason I have it hovering over my kitchen table where I spend time with God most mornings. It’s because being still is difficult for me. I have to be reminded to slow down so I will get the most out of my morning appointment with my Abba Father.

            After I picked up the last piece of shattered glass off the floor, it occurred to me I should have gotten up a half-hour earlier rather than ten minutes later that morning. I would have avoided hurrying my time with God and most likely a broken glass because I wouldn’t have been in such a frenzy.

            How about you? Do you sometimes miss what God has to say to you because you race through your study simply to get it done? What does being still in God’s presence mean to you?