Practical QTSample

 #2 Establish a routine

This is one of the toughest tips, but mastering it is very worthwhile.  Daniel had a daily routine: he prayed three times a day.

People knew about it.  I imagine his family and staff at home expected it and structured their lives around it.  We know his enemies knew it — they built their trap around the predictability of Daniel's prayers.

The routine was so well-established that Daniel didn't even think about changing it.  I imagine that even if he had thought about changing his pattern in the light of the king's decree, he would find himself moving on autopilot toward the prayer-room when the usual prayer time came.

I also imagine that the routine survived because it nourished and replenished him.  We don't easily sustain habits that don't add something to our lives.  (Even bad habits have a short-term pay-off even though there is a long-term loss).

There is value in getting a routine for your QT:

Try and make it the same time and same place every day.

Pretty soon those around you will respect that time and help make it work for you.  (There is the lovely story of a mother of three who used to climb into the playpen with her Bible while her boys crawled and played outside.  They used to bug her at first until they realised the the mommy who climbed out of the playpen after her QT was nicer than the one who climbed in!)

The routine puts us on autopilot to do the QT even when we're tired, depressed or out of sorts.  And, once it's done, we're glad we did!