I have been journaling for over 50 years. Every once in a while, I will pick up one of my older journals just to see what was going on that year. Some of them have a lot of insights that I have gleaned from my normal Bible reading and study or from something I read by an author that impacted me, or even a You Tube I watched on my computer. My 2015 journal reads like a devotional on many days as I shared what the Lord was speaking to me from His Word. Although many of the things I wrote out were similar to other seasons, I have come to appreciate how patient the Lord is with us. Sometimes He has to repeat something a number of times before it really sinks in or goes to a deeper level of understanding and application.

Underlying everything I have learned and meditated on over the last 50-plus years has been this deep hunger in my heart to really know the Lord intimately. I have read hundreds of books on prayer and intimacy with God and also the biographies of many of the saints throughout the ages who have impacted other lives because of their close walk with the Lord. I have spent time as well in the Word in my own pursuit of Him (and His pursuit of me!). When I reread something I may have written years ago, many times it will stir my heart afresh to continue to seek Him with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. We are on a journey and I have a hunch that death is only a doorway into the realm of eternal realities that we can only see dimly on this side. I think we will continue to have new revelations of different aspects of our heavenly Father forever and ever.

If you have never taken the scripture and personalized it, I would highly recommend that exercise. As I have stated before, I usually read in the Psalms and/or Proverbs every day and what better place to start. Both the Psalms and the book of Proverbs are full of insights that can be personalized. Let me give you a couple of examples from my 2015 journal.

I started in January and read Psalm 1. (You may want to read it quickly if you are not familiar with what it says). Then I personalized it: Lord, help me to delight in your laws and precepts, to meditate on them. May they bring pleasure to me as they did to the early Hebrews when they “reflected, pondered, moaned, muttered and contemplated through repeating — softly repeating with no other distractions.” When I meditate — I will bring forth fruit and my leaf — or outward life — will not whither and I shall prosper in everything. I also noted that there are over two columns of references in my Strong’s Concordance for “wicked, ungodly” — those who do wrong and are guilty enough to deserve punishment. They will not prosper but rather are unfruitful.

Here is another insight from Psalm 49. The Lord has a way of putting things in perspective (I was struggling with some potential offense because several people had taken advantage of me financially putting me in a difficult spot). Riches and wealth in this life are no guarantee for the things that are eternal and important. Death has a way of equalizing the rich and poor, the low and the high. Wisdom and understanding help differentiate what is really important (the redemption of souls — verses 7-9). Verse 14 — the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning (our own resurrection). God will redeem my soul (verse 15). Thank you Lord — I cannot trust in the little bit of resources I do have and worked hard for. If I lose everything — I still have You — and that is all I need. That understanding can keep me in perfect peace and joy unspeakable!

I have always enjoyed breakfast and wake up hungry most mornings so I eat soon after I have had a good strong cup of coffee. It is natural for me when I am the freshest, first thing in the morning, to also spend a little time in the Word, feeding my spirit man. Both parts of me are satisfied and ready to face the day. On days I don’t eat much, I am hungry all morning. On days I don’t take a little time to nourish my spirit man through communion with my Father and reading and meditating on His Word, I can also find myself short tempered, impatient, lacking in the strength to endure what the day may bring forth.

Your quiet time may look entirely different than mine but setting aside a few minutes before the rush of the day begins is even more important than eating breakfast (which I know many do not for any number of reasons). Eating breakfast sets your metabolism for the rest of the day. Partaking of fellowship with the Father does the same thing in the realm of the spirit and for the rest of our lives. Personalize your quiet time and it will never be boring or just a dry ritual. It will nourish you and strengthen you to face the challenges of your day with peace and with anticipation.