Safeguarding Your Time with God

There are a lot of battles we face in life, but one that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves is the battle to protect our time with Jesus. It might not seem like a big deal in the moment; just a skipped morning or a delayed quiet time. But over time, it adds up, which is why carving out that space to meet with Him daily is a spiritual battle worth waging.

Now, we have to ask ourselves: When’s the best time for me to meet with the Lord?

That answer is going to look different for everyone. For me, I’ve always been a morning person. I love the stillness of those early hours, especially when it’s still dark out. It feels sacred. Before the emails, before the mental checklists, before anyone needs anything from me ... that’s when I like to meet with the Lord.

But I know not everyone is wired that way. Some of us need a slow start — we don’t even feel human until a couple of hours and two cups of coffee in. And that’s okay. For others, it’s the evening, when the day winds down and the house is finally quiet. The important thing isn’t when you spend time with God...it’s that you do. It’s about knowing yourself, understanding your rhythms, and choosing to give Him your best time, whatever that looks like.

Establishing a Safeguard

Years ago, a mentor told me, “Make appointments with God — and then keep them.” That stuck with me. I mean, we keep appointments with everyone else, right? Doctors, coworkers, hair stylists... why not treat time with God the same way?

So, I started doing just that. I made it a priority to meet with Him in the mornings, even when my kids were little, and sleep was a rare luxury. At first, it was just 15 minutes — sometimes with a baby in my lap — but that little bit of time began to grow. Eventually, 15 turned into 30, and then 30 into an hour. It became something I looked forward to, not something I felt like I had to do. That morning space became so important that we actually gave it a name in our house: “Mom’s Prayer Time.” I would retreat to our master bedroom and hide out for an hour (or more if time allowed). I even recruited my husband and oldest son to help make it happen. On certain days, they’d keep the younger kids occupied so that I could have that time of prayer. And when I did, I taped a note to my bedroom door that said, “In Prayer Time.” It ultimately remained taped there for years, as a running joke as the kids got older! But, even then, my kids learned to honor that space. To this day, they still know to honor “Mom’s Prayer Time.”

Protecting What Matters

Safeguarding your time with God isn’t about being legalistic or checking a box, it’s about defending something sacred. When we give God a set time in our day, just like we do with everything else that matters, we invite Him deeper into our lives. And let’s be honest, the enemy would love to distract us from that. A quick glance at your phone can spiral into 20 minutes of mindless scrolling. A text message, a phone call, even something harmless like playing with the dog — all good things, but they can slowly crowd out the best thing. That’s why boundaries matter.

So maybe it means putting your phone in a different room. Maybe it looks like lighting a candle, sitting in your favorite chair, and making that space your “meeting place” with God. Maybe it’s as simple as deciding you’ll open your Bible before you open any apps. However it looks, just know this: when we start our day by making space for God, we’re not only honoring Him, we’re seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness, just as Jesus asks of us. That simple act of prioritizing Him can transform everything that comes after.

God Bless You,

Carole