Five or ten minutes every day may be all we can tolerate. Perhaps we are ready for an hour every day, or an afternoon every week, a day every month, or a week every year. The amount of time will vary for each person according to temperament, age, job, lifestyle, and maturity. But we do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside some time to be with God and listen to him. We may have to write it on black and white on our daily calendar so that nobody else can take away this period of time. Then we will be able to say to our friends, neighbours, students, customers, clients or patients, “I’m sorry, but I’ve already made an appointment at that time and it can’t be changed.”

Suggested action:

Put ‘appointments with God’ in your diary/calendar for the coming week. It is better to have shorter times regularly than attempt longer times that are not realistic to keep to. If you haven’t already done so, sign up for a specific time slot on the 24/7 Prayer board in church.