Getting mad when someone interrupts your quiet time with God.
Oct 20th by Jon- Tagged in:
- Bible,
- prayer,
- quiet time
What? Who is calling me this early? Which one of my friends is up right now and not engaged in a quiet time, like I am? Sweaty heathen. And they’re calling me?
I’m not answering the phone. I’m in the middle of a quiet time. Come on, stop calling. I see your number, I know your name, we’ll talk later. I’m in the middle of a quiet, reflective moment with God. I need a prayer closet. No forget that, I need a prayer bunker. Possibly somewhere under ground. Maybe a prayer lair that spits on fog from one of the fog machines they use in youth groups. Fine, I’ll pick up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Yeah, I’m just doing my quiet time right now. What are you doing?”
Pause.
“Oh you’re driving to work? Cool, well it’s been good talking to you. I’m going to get back to this quiet time. I’ll call you later. No, seriously, I want to hear about the divorce you’re going through but I’ll give you a call after I’m done reading God’s word. Yeah, I gotta go” …
Wow, the nerve of that guy. I’m trying to learn about God and how to love people and build community and he’s totally interrupting me.
“Knock, knock.”
“Who is it? Oh, it’s you L.E., you need to go back to bed. It’s too early to get up. You know you need to sleep until 7 on a Saturday. And no, you can’t watch ‘Calliou’ or ‘Cry-ou’ as someone put it. That kid is afraid of air. Plus, daddy is trying to do his quiet time. I can’t play right now. I don’t have time, I’m reading the Bible. Stop knocking. Go ask mommy that question.”
Pause.
“Knock, knock.”
“Seriously, talk to your mother. I’ll be downstairs in a few minutes. I don’t know how many teeth a giraffe has and if they can run faster than a dolphin can swim. I won’t lie to you, it’s a legit question, but you’re not respecting the sanctity of the moment right now. Sanctity means, never mind. JENNY, can you please get the kids to go downstairs? I’m trying to worship God right now!
Comments
I totally flip on my mom when she interrupts me during this time.its not justified tho.
I like to have my quiet time before I go to bed at night. Usually I interrupt myself by falling asleep in the middle of 'talking' to God – I realize this when I jerk awake a half hour later and realize my Bible is reading me and my lights are still on. Or when my mind wanders to that problem I absolutely must tell God about and find myself examining possible solutions to it as I talk to him about it… I need Jesus.
It's not just you. I often do stuff like that
My self-righteousness is opposite. I have a chronic illness that doesn't allow any kind of schedule in my life, so I try to make my quiet time or time with friends or whatever work when I can. I take enough pride in asking God to allow this time that I really look down on people who schedule time out, or more specifically, people who are proud of that time and tell me I should do the same.
jon, your post made me think of a friend. she always got up early for her quiet time, and never realized what her kids thought. until one day while in a rebellious mood, one of her 3 says, "don't preach to me. i've never seen you pray or read your bible except for church or meals." she didn't know they thought "my parents don't have quiet time." so congrats to those who read to their kids when interrupted.
of devotions. i need the start to my day, but when i had young ones we had family devotions, and once or 2x a week, couples prayer. i know, sounds sketchy, but getting into bed and drifting off, praying about kids, marriage, made us stronger.
i think we have "seasons"
we need quiet time with God and His word, but it can be different for us, as we are different when we come to Him. sorry for the sermon, just something i've learned.
All I can say is, OUCH! you caught me.
ouch
"There is no holiness except social holiness." –John Piper