Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. My first thought when I opened my eyes this morning was of the Living God – because He’s my first Biggest Priority in this Journey called Life. He’s the Author and Perfector of my Faith. He’s the CEO of my Life, and His Word is my Instruction Manual. The Holy Spirit is my Guide. Considering all that He is to me, is it any wonder that I cannot wait to enter into His presence each morning? Time with the God of all Creation is the most Significant thing I’ll do today, and it will set the Course for the Purpose of this new day. Being willing to spend time with Jesus shows Him just how much I Love Him. It’s not possible to feel “small” or “insignificant” when we are “still” before the Most High God and when we are “still it doesn’t take long to begin Praising the One Who Created me for His Purpose…the One Who Calls me by name! Hallelujah! Just like everybody else in the world, there are plenty of other things I could choose to be doing in the early hours of any new day, but NOTHING compares to being in His Presence. His Word says to “be still and know that I am God,” and it’s that “still” part that feeds my soul the most. It’s when we’re “still” that He can drive a Message home, and it’s when we’re “still” that He can Speak directly to the Heart of His people with no outward distractions at all. So, “still” I am, day after day. Isn’t that the way you Prioritize your Life, too?

It’s interesting to hear how some people define their “quiet time” with God. Some people have a Bible reading plan to help them stay on track to read the entire Bible in a year, and they never venture off track on their own. Some people put on Christian music while they prepare breakfast for the family, and somehow, in the middle of morning chaos, they believe they’ve had quiet time with the King. Some people read a page or two from a devotional and call it a day. Some people dedicate time to homework for a Bible study they’ve committed to, and they label that as “quiet time” instead of extra credit. Some people read a chapter or two from a book written by a Christian author, and that becomes “quiet time” for them. Some tune into a sermon on TV or on the Internet, and they’ve sold themselves on the quality of their quiet time from their recliner. Some people multitask by listening to a spiritual message while they work out at the gym or take an early morning walk or run, and some pray on their way through rush hour. There’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with any of these things because each one is an effort to fill the mind and the soul with Good things. BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS can be defined as “quiet time,” and none of them leave room to “be still” before the Living God. None of them make room for those miraculous moments when God unexpectedly “shows up” in the quiet. Although God is always with us, and I’m sure He likes some of those attempts we take to fill our world with Him, I believe He likes it best when everything else in the world is set aside and tuned out and He gets some SERIOUS one-on-one time with His child in the quiet. Why would the God of all Creation be “content” with taking the backseat in our lives?

I’m just an average woman with an above-average Faith in the Living God, and the Priorities in my very busy Life are in order. He’s my FIRST priority, and it shows in all that I am and all that I do! It’s because of Him that I know how to Love others. It’s because of Him that my Faith is Unshakable. It’s because of Him that I Persevere no matter what. It’s because of Him that I hurt for the Lost ones, and I do my part to “save” them. It’s because of Him that I have a Future laid out for me that is more beautiful than the mind can imagine – a place where there is no more sickness, sadness, or pain. With all that said, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I NOT make time to sit in silence before the Throne of a Mighty God?

There is no doubt about Who my Heart belongs to, and there’s no competing with my time because my world Knows that He always comes first. I always have a mile-long list of things to do, and I’m (at least) as busy as the next guy, BUT before I get busy on any new day, I get “still” in His Presence, and in those “still” moments the world isn’t even a blip on my radar screen. He gets the One-on-one time that He tells me I need to live the Life He Created me to Live.

The King of all kings WANTS to spend time with His child, and there is no greater Joy in my Life because of it. I’m being still!

How about you?