“Come.”

The word jumped out at me from Isaiah 55 as I read the Bible late one night.

I’d rushed through a jump-from-one-activity-to-another kind of day. (I was about to add, “like a headless chicken,” but that image is particularly gruesome, so let’s just say I ‘fluttered’ around). I’d postponed my time alone with God and I’d raked up excuses for why it just wasn’t possible that day. Finally, just before my head touched my inviting memory foam pillow, I picked up my Bible and flipped to Isaiah 55.

“Come.”

The call flowed from God’s heart to mine. The invitation was beautifully vulnerable. That’s not a word I associate with a God of power, might, and magnificence. But it rings true as God invites us, again and again, into His presence. He invites us knowing that His call would be met by rejection and stubbornness and excuses. He says, “Come” — not because He needs anything from us, but because He knows we desperately need Him.

And yet we tend to ignore that gentle call. We say, “Not yet” and hurry to the next thing on our agenda.

The fact that you’re reading this post means you’ve felt a tug in your heart to invest in your relationship with God, particularly in your Scripture-reading time.

So, today, while I don’t have a magic formula, I would like to share a few practical tips that have helped me stay consistent in the Word.

1. Check In

Ever grabbed your phone because you needed to “quickly check” on something only to glance up 30 minutes later wondering what you’d needed to check on in the first place? (Someone please tell me I’m not the only one suffering from this acute phone-induced befuddlement.) Our always-on culture means that our phones are never out of reach. Checking my messages or email before I’ve checked in with the Lord usually means I end up postponing my time with Him. And the longer I delay it, the more likely it is to be shelved for “later” (which often translates as “tomorrow.”) No, this is not a legalistic requirement that we “should” come to God in the morning, but it just makes practical sense for many of us.

2. Pencil It In

Schedule your time with God. You may be reading this thinking, “Yeah, right. This lady has no clue about my toddler who finds his way into my bed thirteen times a night.” You’re right, I don’t know what your day looks like (and it would be horrendously creepy if I did.) But I do know that if it’s not penciled into your calendar, it’s unlikely to ever happen. Another technique that might help is habit stacking — something James Clear explains in his bestselling book Atomic Habits. It means attaching a new habit that you want to develop to an old habit that is already part of your routine. It may look like, “After I have my coffee (current habit), I will grab my Bible and spend time with God (habit you want to develop).” Of course, we’re not meant to slink off an extended guilt trip if we don’t get to spend time with God in the time slot we’d planned on. But setting up a time and place to meet with God ensures a higher degree of consistency. (And if there’s coffee involved then all the better.)

3. Lean In

This one might be obvious. But pray, lean into His presence, and ask God to meet with you through the pages of Scripture. Again, this is not a formula for a “successful” quiet time but simply an avenue to invite the Spirit of God into your time together and warm your heart toward the things of God. To use an exercise analogy, this is your warm-up before your workout. And just like fitness enthusiasts often describe exercise as me-time or self-care, view this as your getaway with God. Ask God to give you a love for the Word. This is a time you “get to” enjoy with Him rather than a time you “have to” check off on a to-do.

4. Dive In

As a devotional writer, I may be shooting myself in the foot here. Actually, I’m pretty sure I am. But I would highly, highly recommend that you read the Word (a Study Bible is perfect) without a middle guy/gal telling you how to apply it in your life. You don’t need an interpreter when you have the Holy Spirit. Let every additional resource be just that – additional. Close your Bible app (As helpful as it can be, I would suggest using it during a shorter “check-in” with the Lord). Leave your phone in another room because, dopamine. And connect with God directly from His Word. Choose one book of the Bible and simply get into it and read consecutively, staying in each chapter as long as you need to. Give God the space to minister to your heart. Write down what He speaks to you about. This has absolutely revolutionized my quiet time. Expect God to speak to you and He will. He speaks to you just like He speaks to any devotional writer or preacher. The question is, are we listening and expectant?

5. Live Out

Again, I’m going to borrow heavily from James Clear as he advocates identity-based habits instead of outcome-based habits. Identity-based habits, Clear says, are based on who you want to become rather than the goal you want to achieve. Friend, as a child of God, you already have an unbelievable heritage. The Bible says you share in the very nature of God. The yearning and discipline to read the Word is part of your identity. It is embedded in your spiritual DNA. Know who you are in Christ and live from that identity. Your new, redeemed nature draws you into His presence. That is who you are. Live it out.

Friends, we live in an age where distractions compete for our attention and affection. They are compelling in their urgency and promise to deliver fulfillment. But may we slow down and hear the gentle whisper inviting us to, “Come.” May we respond to that call. May we commune with Him in the Word.

 

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