This Week’s Focus
What’s Quiet Time? Why it’s the best way to start your day.
There was a time when I bounced out of bed like Tigger on steroids each morning—brewing coffee, checking social media, and doom scrolling the news. Before I’d gulped down my first cup of coffee, my mind was racing, tangled in noise, chaos, and distractions.
Over time, I realized something was missing. I was busy but not centered—active but not at peace. The stillness my heart longed for seemed out of reach. Life felt out of control. Overwhelming.
Then I met Casey, the man who taught me the gift of “Quiet Time”—the first pillar of wholeness in the Divine Flow tradition.
Quiet Time is a fun term that captures the essence of stillness, so let’s unpack where the term came from and what it means.
A Short Story
At thirty, I was living the dream. I’d just made partner at my law firm. My wife and I had four small children, a nice house, and a minivan littered with Goldfish crackers and dog hair. From the outside, life looked picture-perfect.
In my gut, though, I was burned out—spiritually running on empty. Each morning began with coffee and chaos; each night ended in exhaustion. My mind buzzed with upcoming deadlines. My heart felt cold and hollow.
I’d built a successful life, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost my connection with God. The Divine had become an abstract idea—someone “out there” rather than a living Presence I could lean on for direction, comfort, and strength.
I missed the closeness with God I once knew as a child—talking to him, asking questions, imagining God as my superhero. But now, I didn’t have the time, couldn’t find the words for what I wanted or needed. I had no idea how to reclaim that playful, intimate sense of God I’d lost, somehow, somewhere.
After my promotion, I took a day off to celebrate. I packed a sandwich, drove to the shores of Lake Michigan, and stretched out on the sand. The sun was warm, the waves steady—but something in my belly ached.
I’d reached the goal I’d worked hard for, yet the satisfaction was as fleeting as the waves on the shoreline. Beneath the surface excitement, an emptiness stirred, a quiet whisper asking if success alone was supposed to make me happy, fulfilled.
I wondered, Is this all there is?
A few days later, I met Casey—a retired lawyer turned lay preacher who led our parish mission. His words carried wisps of wisdom that stirred something deep, even mysterious, within me.
After one evening session, I pulled Casey aside. My words stumbled off my tongue: “How do I grow spiritually? How do I connect with this God I believe in but can’t seem to feel anymore?”
Casey smiled, touched his finger to his lips, and said, “Quiet Time solves everything.”
I frowned. “How can Quiet Time solve everything?”
Casey leaned toward me like a coach sketching plays on a clipboard.
“Here’s how,” he said. “Tonight, set your alarm thirty minutes early. Tomorrow morning, get up, make your coffee, and sit in the quiet. No cell phone, no music—just you and God. Let silence find you. At first, your mind will race—that’s okay. Keep showing up. Over time, you’ll start to hear that still, small voice guiding you. That’s the Divine Presence coaching you from the inside out—helping you slow down, find your center, and remember who you really are.”
That night, I set my alarm for thirty minutes earlier like Casey instructed. The next morning, I made coffee, lit a candle, and sat in silence. No angels, no booming voice—just peace. I imagined I was having coffee with the Creator.
I kept at it for the next ten days. Some days felt holy, others humdrum. But gradually, something shifted. The quiet became familiar. Comforting. My anxiety softened. Clarity replaced confusion. It wasn’t dramatic, but it was real. I could feel God’s steady presence coaching me through the day.
That simple practice soon became my spiritual home. Thirty years later, I still start each day with Quiet Time. Life isn’t perfect, but it has a steady rhythm. Gone are the Tigger-on-steroids mornings—now I start in silence, where God quietly steadies my heart, offers gentle guidance, and nudges me to grow from the inside out. God has become a wise and loving friend, coaching me through the twists and turns of the day.
Casey was right—Quiet Time does solve everything. That’s why I call the first pillar of Divine Flow “Quiet Time”—the daily practice where you unplug from the world, recharge, and let God be your coach, your divine friend, your faithful companion on your life’s journey.
What is Quiet Time?
Quiet Time is an intentional space you set apart each day to be with God. No fancy words, no formulas—just you and the Divine sitting together in silence, listening, talking, and reflecting like you do with a loved one.
It’s where you live out the words of Scripture: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). It’s your daily oasis where your mind settles and your heart opens—where you remember who you are and whose you are.
The mystics have said for centuries that stillness is the language of God. When we unplug from the noise and chaos of the world, we can hear the whispers of love and wisdom that guide us through the day.
Did Jesus Practice Quiet Time?
Scripture tells us, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). Teaching his disciples how to pray, he said, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:6).
Quiet Time was at the heart of Jesus’ daily rhythm. He regularly stepped away from the crowds, noise, and chaos to reconnect with the Source of all love and wisdom. If Jesus needed it, I guess we need it too.
Have it Your Way
You might call Quiet Time, prayer, meditation, contemplation, or being still.
I use the term Quiet Time because it gives each of us the freedom to unplug in a way that fits our personality and lifestyle. The term doesn’t carry some of the spiritual or religious baggage we may have picked up—and maybe rejected—along the way. It feels open, welcoming, and refreshingly human, inviting us back into stillness without judgment or expectation.
There is no one-size-fits-all. Try these options and see what resonates with you:
- Sit in silence, listening for the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit.
- Ponder a short Scripture passage with an open heart and imagination.
- Take a slow walk in nature, noticing the beauty and rhythm of God flowing through creation.
- Stand in the morning shower, listening and talking to God as the water bathes your body, letting the moment wash over you like the flow of God’s love.
Quiet Time is about deepening our relationship with God the way we spend time with loved ones to deepen our relationships with them.
It’s different from ritual prayer, like saying the Rosary or the Our Father, and different from sitting in church with others—all of which are good. Quiet Time is an additional way to grow close to God and is about listening—training the ear of your heart to hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit.
And here’s the bonus: science backs it up. Studies show that regular silence and meditation can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, increase creativity, and boost overall happiness. Quiet Time helps both your soul and your nervous system. God designed us that way.
Your Turn
Try setting aside at least 5–10 minutes each morning for Quiet Time for the next seven days.
- Find a comfortable place to sit.
- Take a few deep breaths.
- Whisper a simple prayer, such as, “Speak, Lord. I’m listening.”
- Then rest in the comfort of silence. Stillness.
If your mind wanders, gently return to your breath or your prayer word. Let it be simple, real, and honest. You’re not trying to achieve something—you’re letting yourself receive something: peace, guidance, and the quiet joy of being in God’s loving presence.
More Tools for Your Spiritual Toolbox
If you’d like a simple framework to jumpstart your Quiet Time practice, you can download the free Meditation Practice Jump-Starter. It’s designed to help you get into the flow of daily stillness, presence, and connection with God—making it fun to show up each morning and allowing the quiet guide your day.
Click here to download it.
And if you want to read more about Divine Flow, including other stories about Casey and more spiritual practices for your spiritual toolbox, get your copy of my book, Finding Flow: Spiritual Practices to Reclaim Inner Peace, Balance, and Wholeness. It’s full of insights, reflections, and real-life examples to inspire your journey into Quiet Time and beyond.
Click here for the audio, Kindle, or paperback copy.
Next Week
We’ll explore the second phrase in our Divine Flow series: God Dates—intentional times of rest and solitude where you step away from the noise to be alone with the One who loves you most.
Have a blessed week filled with lots of “God Nudges” (we’ll explore that phrase in two weeks).
Your friend in the divine flow,
brian
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