Attention Night Owl Moms! YOU Can Have Quiet Times TOO!
Confess it!
Do you struggle with making your quiet times happen? Are you a "Night Owl"
and the idea of getting up for YOUR devotions just does NOT happen for
you? How about a plan of action for night owls who want to give God the first and best of their time (which ISN'T in the morning)??? Keep reading...
It's 10:00PM.... Do you know where your quiet time is???
The best intentions of a morning devotional time, or any *other* time with God, often go awry.
For years I thought the only "right" time to have a quiet time was in the morning... Only one problem with this: I am NOT a morning person! But my days were so jam packed, once they got started I wasn't able to fit in a consistant quiet time at any other hour either. Does this happen to you?
For some reason I totally overlooked the fact that my most realistic opportunity to spend time with God was in the night. Actually it was my BEST time because that's when I'm really awake and can think and concentrate the best!
Could you make 15 - 30 minutes between the time you brush your teeth and the time you're asleep each night if it meant you could have a meaningful and consistent time in prayer and God's word? If so, Night Owl Devotions are for you and you can start tonight - all you need is your Bible, an inexpensive notebook, and a desire for time with God! I kept Night Owl Devotions short and sweet so even the busiest mom can learn all the basics and be ready to go by bedtime.
As a new Christian I was baffled about how to have a quiet time - a daily time of Bible reading and prayer. But I knew that I should do it, and I always heard that I should do it early in the morning... So here I am, not even knowing exactly what to do but being told to do "it" every day at a time when my brain isn't even "on" yet. What a recipe for disaster! It wasn't long before I gave up the idea of daily devotions as something super-spiritual people do -- NOT regular people like me!
After years of seeing devotions as something to struggle through and feel guilty about, it hit me that there had to be a better way. I thought surely God didn't want us to spend time in His word and prayer only as an exercise in spiritual discipline, something to grit your teeth and do just to be a "good Christian"!
The problem wasn't with the "what" (Bible reading and prayer) but the "when" (a time when I couldn't think straight) and the "how" (which was never really explained). I decided to try changing the "when" to nights, the time I'm alert and the house was quiet with fewer distractions. Then I experimented with the "how" until I had a simple and flexible but effective and purposeful framework that gave me not only a plan for a quiet time at night but a way to carry what I read through the next day with me.
Night Owl Devotions is what I ended up calling what I do when people asked me how often I had a quiet time and were suprised when I'd tell them "just about every night!"
Night Owl devotions will give you a flexible plan of action to make daily (or should I say nightly!) prayer and Bible reading a reality for you.
Once I gave up my idea that "real" quiet times had to be early in the morning and started having them in the evening when I'm at my best...
I started reading the Bible and praying every night because I wanted to, not because I "should." When I got consistent about doing it every night it became a habit. It's nice to have a good habit! Another thing that happened is I started remembering what I was reading, and when I remembered what I read, I could actually apply it!
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Testimonial I have never been consistent with daily Bible reading, because I never knew what I 'should' do. Whenever I asked others for help, I was just told to do what I felt I should, just spend time with the Lord, etc. This is true, but I needed a starting point to get the ball rolling so to speak. You have provided just that, and included other ideas as well to make this time our own time with the Lord. I also really like the notebook. I read the post linked to from the e-book and will be buying a cheapy notebook tonight (I get groceries after tucking the children in to bed--a productive night owl!) and start this immediately. Hillary |
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Testimonial
I just finished reading it through and I enjoyed it. I really like your idea of a catch-all notebook- I need to be more organized! Your ideas were great; especially the one to get your mind focused at the begining of our time with God. The only thing I do differently from my devotional time is to sing (or play on the piano) the song that God lays on my heart. It usually has to do with the verse He shows me but not always. I am going to add that to my left-side notes. Thank you again :) Tina
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"What Night Owl Devotions is and is NOT"
- It is not a rigid formula for having the "correct" quiet time. It is a flexible plan for you to use in the way that works for you!
- It is not a "devotional" or structured Bible reading plan, I help you with the "when" and the "how" - you supply the "what." BUT it does come with The Night Owl UnDevotional.
- It is not a book that bashes anyone who does enjoy early morning quiet times! It's help and encouragement for those of us who don't.
- It is not a written excuse for you to stay up till 3:00 in the morning, sleep until noon, and tell your family "well, I'm just a night owl" I do address finding a balance!
Night Owl Devotions will get you going with the essentials:
A time, a place, and a few things to gather - AKA your "stuff"
- Night Owl devotions will help you determine what time is best for you to have your quiet time. You will be able to use the amount of time you have - whether its a little or a lot, including a "back up" plan for those days when "life happens" and you've run out of fuel.
- You will find your best place to have your quiet times.
- You will be able to get started without spending a lot of money on "stuff" -- you probably won't have to spend a dime to start.
- Learn to use an inexpensive notebook to keep not only "your" verse from the previous night's reading and your reflections, but your next day's to-do's and schedule, integrating what you learn through God's word with the rest of your life!
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Testimonial
I just read through Night Owl Devotions and even though I do devotions in the morning, I found it helpful. It gave a simple, forgiving, non-demanding view of prayer and study which blessed me. I especially found helpful the idea of writing the 'ideas of the day' on the left side, and the 'to do's' on the right, so that all the gleanings are in full view through the day! Thank you for putting this together! Heather
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Night Owl Devotions package
Here's what you get:
- Night Owl Devotions E-book- A small but powerful e-book. 20 pages of no-fluff, right-to-the-point help, encouragement, and instruction for the night owl who wants to get started having meaningful quiet times *tonight.*
- Night Owl Devotions, audio version- Do you need to get things done today and don't have time to read even eighteen pages? You can download the audio version - all the basic content of the book in a format you can use while you wash the dishes, work out, run errands.... and *still* get started tonight!
- Bookmarks/Blank Bible Memory Cards printable - Pretty scripture bookmarks to keep your place as you read and help you remember the basics of having your quiet times, plus colorful "cards" to write memory verses on to post where you can see them as you go about your day... Bible memory by osmosis! = )
- Catch-all notebook video- A picture is worth a thousand words... how many are a video worth? Some things are easier to demonstrate than describe. Watch a short video on how to use a small spiral notebook to keep track of your devotions AND daily time management!
- The Night Owl "Undevotional," A Handful of Reflections for the Night Owl Mom (which may or may not be "devotionals") - Some musings and reflections from a lifetime member of the Night Owl Club and mom of five, ages 12 - 19, (18 pages)
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Testimonial I loved it! It truly was a breath of fresh air and grace for my soul. What a wonderful reminder that the Lord is waiting for us at all times of the day, that I am not a failure if I'm not an early morning 5:00 clubber, and wonderful practical tips and guideline of what a night owl devotion looks like. I especially love the idea of the catch all notebook and the encouragement that we need to have a plan or we will not succeed. Just saying I'm going to have my devotions at night is not going to happen unless I schedule the time for this to begin and have a quiet area set up with my Bible, prayer prepared heart and any other resources I may desire for this precious time with God. Thank you for sharing your night owl tips and journey with all of us. What a blessing. |
Love it? I do! I am so excited about this
little book.
Here's a recap of how to get started tonight!
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Give Night Owl Devotions a quick read through or listen to the audio version. Watch the notebook video if you get a chance, but don't sweat it right now.
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Set your time.
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Find your place. |
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Grab your "stuff."
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Go! Have your first night owl devotion and follow up the next day!
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Once you had your first night owl devotion, re-read the book, check out the links and resources, watch that video, and start digging in to your other goodies!
See ya! Get ready to make your nights matter!
Jennifer Schwilling
http://www.momsnochaoszone.com
http://www.daisychaindailycarnival.com
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