“My Quiet Time Law”

Reflect

I sat down at the dining room table with my coffee, Bible, Bible Recap devotional, and prayer journal—ready for my quiet time. My daily routine from 6:00 to 7:00 AM. It’s my time with God.

But I was interrupted. My wife had some important questions and needed to talk. I answered, but inside irritation rose: Why isn’t she respecting my quiet time space? As she got ready to walk our dog, Levi, I told her that our conversation threw my quite time off. She went silent. I didn’t care—because in my heart, she had broken my “Quiet Time Law.”

Afterward, I tried to push through with my routine—reading Numbers 8–10 (not the most exciting chapters) and forcing myself to pray. But my rhythm was gone. I felt dry, distracted, and resentful.

 Return

As I prayed, the Spirit exposed what was really going on: I had created a self-righteous law. My quiet time law. A law that demanded: This time is mine. Don’t interrupt me. Respect my rule because I am spending time with God.

When my wife unknowingly “broke the law,” I blamed her. But the sin was mine. I accused her unfairly. I made her feel guilty. My pride and self-righteousness showed up again—believing that my discipline, my rule-keeping, was the key to a fruitful morning with God. Instead of cherishing my wife and listening with love, I blamed her for breaking a law I had made up.

 Receive

But the gospel reminded me: my righteousness is not found in my perfect devotional rhythm. My worth before God is not secured by protecting my time or keeping my self-made rules. My righteousness is in Christ alone.

At the cross, Jesus gave me His perfect record of obedience—always listening, always loving, never blaming, never accusing. His flawless record is mine!

 Rest

So I don’t have to cling to a self-imposed quiet time law for my righteousness. Christ’s love for me is not bound by how well I keep my 6:00–7:00 AM routine. My identity of good Christian isn’t found in my quiet time. My identity has been transformed by the cross and the new life the Spirit gives me. And so, even when my plan is thrown off, I can rest in Christ righteousness for me and I know I belong to Him no matter what!

 Response

When Ruth returned from walking the dog, I apologized. I told her I had blamed her unfairly becasue I failed to keep my perfect “quiet time law.” She received my apology with grace and a smile.

What could have snowballed into a cold morning turned into a small gospel moment of reconciliation.

Again, I’m learning. It’s not about protecting my perfect spiritual rhythm. It’s about resting in Christ’s righteousness even at 6:00-7:00 AM and letting the Spirit shape me into a husband who can welcome interruptions … because I live in my Father’s house, always in His presence.