A Quiet Place

When I imagine my ideal quiet time setting, there are certain things that are invariably part of the picture – fresh coffee, the smell and feel of my goatskin Bible, a comfortable chair, maybe a nice view of the sunrise from the patio or an open window. Some of these ideals almost always match reality, specifically the coffee! Most of the time I can find a comfy chair. To be embarrassingly honest, I often miss the sunrise due to my location, that is, I can’t see it from my warm pillow.

Another ideal I strive for with varying levels of success is to keep technology and screens at a distance during my prayers and reading. Often tech encroaches because I want to use my Bible app to look up another verse or look into some nerdy original details. More often than not it’s because I allow myself to be distracted with social media.

Besides that however, there are certain times I intentionally incorporate technology into my quiet time. There are two apps that I’ve been finding unusually helpful in centering my focus on prayer. One that I’ve been using for a while is PrayerMate. This free app helps me arrange and rotate my prayers lists in a way that is helpful and practical. If you ever feel guilty about losing track of someone you know you should be praying for with some regularity, PrayerMate is the app for you.

Secondly, and more recently, I’ve found the Lectio 365 app (iOS and Google) super helpful in centering my thoughts and prayers. It’s a daily prayer app that follows the pattern of P.R.A.Y:

Pause to be still
Rejoice with a Psalm
Reflect on Scripture
Ask for God’s help
Yield to His will in your life

There are any number of thoughtful ways to approach God in prayer, but this one is helping me right now to not simply read through a passage of Scripture or even study it, but to thoughtfully contemplate it. It’s helping me avoid a prayer pattern of only bringing requests to God (which is important!) and instead is steering me closer to communion with God in prayer.

One reading from last week was Philippians 4:5-7, and the meditations and prayers were particularly helpful as we navigate the challenges of our ministry in a pandemic environment – trying to faithfully process our fears, joys, doubts, plans, successes and disappointments. I’ve copied a couple portions below, but I encourage you to get the app and spend some quiet time with Philippians 4:5-7 yourself.

Prayer of Approach

Holy Spirit, when I feel alone, I am comforted because You pray with me. When I am silenced by suffering, I am grateful that You pray through me. And Jesus, when I feel helpless, I am strengthened because You’re with the Father, right now, praying for me. (Romans 8:34)

Ask

God, I’m going to try to see Your hand at work in the details of the next twenty-four hours. Let Your peace guard my heart… and calm my mind… Make me more aware of You in spite of my circumstances today.

I take a moment now to bring my worries to You, challenging myself to also share what I’m grateful for.

For those struggling with their mental health and maybe even falling victim to anxiety today, I pray on their behalf, Lord. Thank You for all the good things You have shaped in and through them. Give them Your peace which, ‘transcends all understanding’.