appointment with god

Sometimes the quest for mental health is a complex and arduous pursuit.  There are times when trauma, stress, affliction, illness, and complex family issues make the attainment of mental balance a challenge.  But there are also times when our mental health and perspective can be greatly effected by a very simple discipline:  having a daily "quiet time"...

When I was in college, the chaplain of our student Wesley Foundation took special interest in the Spiritual Formation of those who were regular participants.  In services of worship (and in private sessions of counseling) he emphasized the importance of building into our lives a 20 minute time each day for Bible reading and prayer. This twenty minute period of devotion was referred to in several ways:  our "quiet time,"  "an appointment with God," our "time with God."  Though twenty minutes doesn't sound like a long time; to a busy college student it at first seemed like an enormous sacrifice. But he assured us if we would spend 20 minutes each day in quiet devotion we would experience life, (and face challenges life brings), in a whole new way.  He was right!  I'm sure he was aware that little changes (20 minutes of prayer) could lead to big life changes so he constantly challenged us to make a 20 minute "quiet time" a regular feature of our life.  Quite frankly, for me the change was so significant that soon my 20 minute time of devotion turned into a daily hour of Bible reading and prayer.  

The exact time for one's "Quiet Time" is not overly important.  Some (early risers) prefer to get up early and have their quiet time at the very beginning of their day.  There is good precedent for this as we are told that Jesus "arose a good while before day break and went to a quiet place to pray."  But quite frankly, I've never been very good at "early rising."  For others having their Quiet Time at the end of the day seems to work best.  It helps them to "wind down" and review their day with God.  While in college the best time for me was actually the afternoon (usually around 4:00 pm.)  Having finished my last class for the day it was sort of a "transition time" when I could read my Bible, pray, reflect on the day and prepare for the evening activities to come.  It was during one of these afternoon times of pray and reflection that God revealed to me a "plan of study" that totally changed my approach to studying and organizing my college life.  Remarkably, as I implemented this plan of study I went from being a C+ to almost a "straight A" student.  It was all a result of my spending time each day with God:  time when I not only poured out my heart to God and shared my requests, but time when I also listened and allowed God to address the "matters" of my heart.  As I continued with this Quiet Time discipline my level of "life anxiety" was significantly reduced.  

People sometimes get upset when, in face of upset or distress, someone says,  "Just pray about it."  I would be upset too if someone said this to me  in a glib or uncaring way.  But I am convinced that having a regular time (each day) for devotion, Bible reading and prayer, can make a significant difference in one's mental perspective, emotional stability, and overall balance in life.  Quiet Times do matter.  If you are facing a significant mental, family, or emotional challenge, then by all means make an appointment with a mental health professional.  But in addition to this, Make An Appointment With God!  I truly believe it can change your life.