As a senior of faith, you might already have a robust morning quiet time routine. Or, it's possible that this popular routine among Christians never settled in with you, but you'd like to spend more quality time with God and Scripture or in prayer.
One of the benefits of moving into an assisted living community such as Broadmoor Court in Colorado Springs, CO, is that you're able to open up time during your day for the things you want to concentrate on. You can still enjoy the independence of your assisted living apartment, generally come and go as you please and join in on many community social activities if you like. But you don't have to prepare every meal for yourself, keep a house and lawn clean maintained or worry about other certain types of obligations.
If morning quiet time sounds like a habit you'd like to build, a comfortable assisted living community you enjoy making a home in can be a great place to do so. Here are a few other tips for making the most of this time.
Many people automatically default to morning quiet time when contemplating this practice, and there are some reasons for that. One of them is that by starting your day off with prayer, Bible study or just quality time with God, you can potentially set a more mindful, Christlike or positive tone for the rest of it. There's something to be said for putting God first in this way, certainly.
But morning quiet time doesn't work for everyone. One mom who homeschooled her young children thought that waking up before everyone else and getting some alone time would be a fabulous idea. Her blog post describes how she figured out that it wasn't all she thought it would be.
While residents at Broadmoor Court assisted living aren't dealing with small children, there are plenty of other reasons you might not get a positive impact from morning quiet time. Perhaps you're simply really not a morning person and you need to get up and moving before you can even think. Or, you might have a medical condition that makes getting going in the morning a bit of a chore. In some cases, like the homeschool mom, your schedule might simply mean you have to choose between morning quiet time and an appropriate level of rest.
Instead of forcing your quiet time into a morning-size hole, find the part of the day that works for you.
If you're not sure what to do during your quiet time or you feel like you've fallen into a bit of a rut, consider investing in a book. Options might include:
• A devotional with short readings and Bible verses you can reflect on.
• A book on faith or growth that you can read a little of each day and talk to God about.
• A Bible study workbook that helps you dive deeper into Scripture.
You don't have to have a book. There can be freedom in simply making a cup of tea and sitting quietly with God. But changing up the routine here and there with different readings can also help you explore various concepts during your study or meditation.
When you enjoy something, you're more likely to do it more often. So add some comforting or exciting aspects to your quiet time to help you look forward to it daily. Some ideas can include:
• Find a beverage you really enjoy, such as a unique flavor of tea or coffee, and only drink it during your quiet time. That's a little reward you can look forward to, but you'll also train your brain to begin thinking about certain things or settling down as soon as you take your first sip.
• Create a comfortable place. Have a favorite chair or blanket ready and ensure you have plenty of good lighting if you want to read.
• Settle into a ritual. It doesn't have to be fancy, but the act of going through the same motions and beginning to be present and mindful of God can help you get calm. You might wash your hands, turn on a certain light, set out your things or brew a warm beverage as part of the ritual.
Once you decide on the best time in your day, schedule your quiet time. This is an appointment for you and God, so don't feel bad that you prioritize it. Let others know when that time is so they are less likely to interrupt you with calls or knocks at the door.
Consider integrating journaling into your routine. You don't have to write a ton — you don't even have to write at all. You could type into a phone or computer or even make voice recordings. Record what you're worried about and grateful for as well as ways God has blessed you recently. Looking back on these things can help you see God at work in your life and your quiet time.
