Faith Matters....How do you keep your spiritual health?

Hi Sisters!

My recovery time has been a good time to get back to reading my Bible and journalling again. I realized that writing out my morning prayers to the Lord really helped me to not subconciously blame my loved ones for not meeting my emotional needs. By having my "talk" with the Lord every morning, I feel much better and a little more "stable".

In the evenings after dinner, I have found it easier to clear the table, let the dishes soak, and sit in the recliner and read my Bible for at least 20 minutes before cleaning up, forcing the needed rest in between tasks.

I was wondering what you all do for your spiritual health, what works for you? What are some practical things that you do to get your quiet time shoe horned into your day? I am worried that once I go back to work, my new found time with the Lord will disappear.

Blessings,

hiberbear

I am a very devout christian and I love prayer. God has done many wonderful things for me. I try to attend church every sunday with my children and I feel recharged when I leave ready to start my week. God bless you. Denise.

Thank you Denise! I try never to miss a Sunday at my church either, though we go only for service and not for Bible Study (Sunday School). I did attend a ladies only Bible Study on Thursday nights, but found it was hard to rush home and have dinner and get to that on time. Along with a few other church volunteer things, I let that go as I did not want to demonstrate for my family that being a Christian meant leaving your own family in your "spiritual dust" as you went off to meet the needs of others. I realized that I needed to model for my now 16 yo DD what a loving wife and mother does since she is now forming those ideas for life. We do volunteer monthly at a thrift store, and door greeting monthly at church so service is still part of the model, but balance is key. I think the Lord would rather have great quality in a few things rather than poor quality in many.

Thank you for your perspective - this site is amazing.

Hi Kim and Denise

This is a post that has so much meaning for me.

I have been in Children and Youth Ministry for over 20 years. Part of our mission statement says that "... to help them grow in their faith." I mention that because I was sending a PM to someone who thanked me for praying for them and I now remember that I said this experience has helped me grow in my faith.

I have been able to pray for people on this site, revamp our ministry at church, start a proposal for a city-wide minstry and just get really close to GOD. I love the sisterhood that is established here. I have no biological sisters, but am feeling like me family has grown in a huge way.

Thanks for starting this post!!!!

Hi Kim
Isn't it wonderful to have the extra time to sit and read and pray without guilt and pressure to feel like you need to get up and do something? It can be hard to fit a quiet time into the busy day once you're back to your regular schedule. What I've found I have to do is get up a little earlier.

I cherish the early morning quiet and that special time to start my day by reading in the Word and praying for the day. This has meant going to bed a little earlier most nights, but now if I sleep through, I'm just so upset with myself. I hope you can find a time that works well for you too. Thanks for sharing.
's, Rita

You ladies don't know how much it touches my heart just to be able to come to this site and to be able to talk about God and faith. Without Him, I would not be where I am today. I need to find more time to read my Bible. I love to sing and most of the time I have a gospel CD on and a lot of my time is spent talking to the Lord one on one. You truly have inspired me to make myself read my Bible more. I also like to make people feel better. If I know somone in my community is not feeling well, going through hard times, lost a loved one or just to say hello and tell them how blessed I am to have them in my life. That and going to church and getting more involved has helped me more than anything. As well as the wonderful sisters on this site. Thank you all!!

Cang

Hi sisters! This is a good thread. I know how easy it is to get busy with the day to day cares of this world. Lately I decided to make a point to start the day a little earlier than usual as Rita does. I have not been able to do so each day, but don't kick myself if I can't. Remember that God is with us always, and we can talk to him just like a friend, at anytime, as we go about our daily tasks. He did say to pray without ceasing, didn't he? I heard one lady say that during prayer we GET to talk to GOD...wow, the power in those words!

Well, I too get up early in the morning to read my devotions, and that is my quiet time. Everyone else is still asleep. I also LOVE Christian music. I have it on right now on my computer. I listen to it ALL day at work. I am a youth leader in our youth group and I learn from the teens also. If you listen to them they can teach you!!!! Kind of funny sometimes!!! But also, being on this site I have gotten to talk to several ladies about my faith and that has been such a blessing to me and that has really helped me grow in my own faith. I think everyone grows differently and you really just have to find how God speaks to you personally!!!! There isn't any one right way or wrong way!!! And Luvmabug is right we can talk to God ANYTIME, AND ALL THE TIME, and that is SO POWERFUL!!!!! Blessings to you all!!!!

HI Sisters
Thank you for this thread. I am kind of stumbling around at moment. I used to have a sure and certain faith and then I walked away from it, I wont bore anyone with the details, but over the last few months I am searching for God again, but somehow feel uncertain. I am not certain about anything any more. I dont even have a bible to read but reading this thread has been encouraging, reminded me of what I used to have. It feels a bit like seeing an old friends photograph but I have lost the address. Does that make sense to anyone.

Sorry for maybe posting this in the wrong place, this is supposed to be about keeping your spiritual health, and here I am rabbiting about losing my way, but thank you all for sharing, it has helped me somewhat.
big hugs
Ally xx

Allyb91:dont feel bad about writing what you wrote on this thread, this is the perfect thread. this site is such a blessing for all of us.
So glad you are searching for God again, He is always there, with open arms, waiting for us. He is a loving, wonderful, awesome God. I just remembered, once I had a bumper sitcker that read.."if you are heading in the wrong direction, God allows U turns"...
blessings,