The beauty of shared quiet times is they don’t take much time. One can be done in as little as fifteen minutes – just inviting a friend over for coffee in the morning, or in the break room before the day at the office starts, or during lunch at a park.
Recently I was visiting a friend who was struggling to adjust to life with a newborn. Getting up at all hours of the night had demolished her previous schedule. As a result she was spending very little time in the Word. She was exhausted, discouraged, and feeling overwhelmed. But after we shared a quiet time together, there was joy! This was a gift better than any baby gift, advice, or even sympathy I could give her. As she came into the presence of the living God, sitting at his feet listening, it nourished her hungry soul.
And mine too! As we shared the treasure he laid on our hearts, the depth of our sharing became so precious. Even when meeting with old friends, if we take time to dive into the Word together, doing this at the start helps us connect at a heart level and make the most of the rest of our time.
This really is an excellent way to spur friends on, new as well as old, deepening your relationship with God and each other. In Matthew 18:20 Jesus says, “Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Can you imagine the joy this must bring Him?
