I first started using the term “quiet time” back when I taught kindergarten. QT time (as I liked to call it) happened right after recess and lunch — those high-energy, high-volume parts of the day. I’d dim the lights while 20-something 5-year-olds spread out across the room, laying on their mats, unwinding, and letting their little brains reset 
before we dove back into an afternoon of learning.
I need a designated quiet time. Maybe you do too.
The world has changed a lot over the years — especially with technology. The internet, social media, and smartphones have taken over. We’ve seen economic shifts, political division, and an overall increase in stress and chaos. Life can be overwhelming. Life can be exhausting. Life can just be hard. And yet, in the middle of all this craziness, we rarely take time to rest our minds and just be still.
I first discovered AQT (Adult Quiet Time) in my late 30s. I was new to my faith, a “baby Christian,” and had just joined my first Bible study. That’s when I was encouraged to set aside time every day — just to sit quietly and grow in my relationship with God.
Easier said than done.
At the time, my house was full of three energetic boys, all just three years apart. It was loud, wild, and nonstop. When I wasn’t homeschooling, I was breaking up fights, taking them on field trips, or driving them to and from sports. My days were packed.
But I knew I needed time with God. I craved it. So, I made a plan. Instead of staying up late, I set my alarm 30 minutes earlier than usual and got up before anyone else. The house was quiet— it was just me, my coffee, my Bible, and God.
During that time, I learned to pray. I studied Scripture. I reflected. I listened. I received guidance. And little by little, my faith grew stronger.
That time was life-giving. And honestly? It still is.
Remain in Me
My quiet time with God has ebbed and flowed over the years.
I want to meet with Him. I want to be in His presence. I want to feel His love and let Him pour into me. But too often, He’s getting my leftovers—not my best, not my full attention.
I’m tired. I’m rushed. I’m running late. I’m on vacation. There’s a meeting to attend, a growing to-do list, an overflowing inbox. I say yes to more than I should. You get the picture…
Can you relate?
In John 15:1-11, Jesus uses the word remain ten times when He talks about staying close to Him:
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…”
The word remain means to stay in the place where you already are. But if I’m not careful, I find myself remaining in all the wrong places—on social media, in front of the TV, buried in work, or caught up in endless commitments.
And the one place I need to remain most? With Jesus.
He Knows Our Heart
I don’t always get my quiet time right. I get distracted. I treat it like another task to check off my list. Sometimes I rush through it just so I can move on with my day.
But God knows my heart. He knows my intentions. He gives me grace (and He gives it to you too). He understands. And little by little, He’s opening my eyes to what it really means to remain in Him.
A.W. Tozer called time with Jesus “habitual, conscious communion” and said, “At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push into conscious awareness of His presence.”
I want to push into His presence.
Lately, I’ve been putting something into practice — something I learned years ago. It’s helped me slow down, quiet my heart, and truly be with God.
The P.R.A.Y Method
Have you ever heard of the P.R.A.Y. method? It’s simple, yet powerful, and has really helped me bring structure and focus to my prayer time. Maybe it could help you 
too.
P – Praise
Start by praising God. Tell Him what He means to you. Thank Him for the ways He has blessed you. Remember how He has changed you. Speak aloud His promises and acknowledge the prayers He has answered—or, in some cases, the ones He hasn’t answered (because sometimes that’s a blessing too). Praise shifts our hearts into the right posture as we come before Him.
R – Repent
Be honest with God about where you’ve fallen short—the words you’ve spoken, the things you’ve done (or failed to do), even the negative thoughts that creep in. Let Him reveal the areas in your life that need to change. This isn’t about guilt; it’s about coming before a holy and loving God with a humble heart, knowing He is always ready to forgive.
A – Ask
Paul teaches us in Philippians 4:6-7 to confidently bring our requests before God. Ask for His help, His wisdom, His guidance. Trust that He is capable of all things and that nothing is too big or too small for Him. But ultimately, surrender your requests to His will, knowing that He sees the bigger picture.
Y – Yield
To yield means to let go—to surrender our desires, our worries, and even our arguments. It’s about quieting our hearts to truly listen to God. To let Him remind us that He is in control. To trust that, no matter what, everything will be okay.
The P.R.A.Y. method has helped me be more intentional with my time with God. Maybe it can do the same for you.
Being in Two Places at Once
Still not sure if you have time to set aside for God? I’ve got a solution for you!
I once wrote a blog about multitasking — specifically, how it’s a myth. We think we can do multiple things at once, but we really can’t. Studies show that multitasking actually makes us less efficient and more prone to mistakes.
But here’s the good news: while we can’t multi-task effectively, we can multi-be.
Let me explain.
When Jesus tells us to remain in Him, He’s talking about having a constant connection with Him. And before you panic—constant doesn’t mean you have to be in full-on prayer mode 24/7. This is where “being in two places at once” comes in.
We can’t multitask well, but we can be in two places at once.
We can be at work and be with Jesus.
We can sit in traffic and be with Jesus.
We can change diapers, cook dinner, workout at the gym, fold laundry — whatever’s on our plate — and still be with Jesus.
Where we are, God is.
And where God is, we can be.
In those everyday moments, we can simply let Him love us.
God delights in being with us. And when we remain in Him—when we allow His love, tenderness, kindness, and grace to shape us—our thoughts become more like His. Our actions and motivations start to align with His.
And that’s when we become who we were created to be.
Some Final Thoughts
A few months ago, I did something simple but meaningful, and I want to share it with you.
I grabbed a couple of pieces of paper and wrote a note to God — actually, I wrote it twice. I taped one to my bathroom mirror and the other to my car’s dashboard.
Why? Because there are days when my quiet time doesn’t happen how I want it to. Some days, it’s shorter than I’d like. But even on those days, I can take a moment to refocus by reading this note throughout the day.
Here’s what I wrote:
I trust You, God.
I trust Your plans for my life and for my family. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know how everything will unfold. But You do. And I trust You.
Don’t let quiet time be part of your to-do list. Let it be a lifestyle. God loves to spend time with you — whether it be a designated sit-down or a quick conversation with God.
Before I go, tell me, where do you find yourself “being” with God most often? What are some things you can praise God for (past and present)? Read Philippians 4:6-7. What are we told to not do? What are the promised benefits?
Click here to listen to one of my favorite songs about being in His presence.
xoxo
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