How to Protect Your Daddy Daughter Time

The television was my nemesis. Not because I wanted to turn it on in the morning, but because it's part of my husband's morning routine. He will have it on in the morning as he's enjoying coffee, possibly preparing for his own God time, and beginning his day. I like to jump right into the word and my prayer time with hot tea and silence. Not long ago, I would stew in frustration as episodes blared while I attempted to organize my thoughts into prayer. My flesh was getting venomous and nasty, thinking that this was a purposeful plot against me and my God time. But the truth was, my husband was not my enemy. He was just unaware of my needs during that particular time. Once we discussed it, there was compromise and harmony and bitterness had no chance to grow. There is an understanding that when I'm preparing to open my Bible and prayer journals, the TV goes off. But I had to open my mouth and say something in order to protect that hour.

Not everyone has the opportunity to sit like that in the morning. All of us have different responsibilities, needs, and schedules. You may be in a season of life where you have to lock yourself in the bathroom for five minutes of peace, and even then, you're not safe from a barrage of loving intruders banging on the door. But the fact is that we need time with our Heavenly Father in order to have our souls restored so that we can keep pouring out for others and accomplishing the good works He gives us to do throughout our lives. And frankly, we need these quality moments because our first purpose as God's creation is to commune with Him. His desire when He formed us is that we would choose to be part of His family. When you intentionally spend time with your family, you give them your undivided attention. Should God have any less?

But how can we cultivate and protect sacred time with God?

Consecrate a Time

This will look different depending on what season you're in. If you're fighting for five minutes alone, don't beat yourself up because you aren't delving in like a Bible scholar, and the scriptures you remember right now are set to children's music. Don't be ashamed. Don't worry about what you can't do right now. Have the mindset that you will do what you can in those five minutes. The Lord hears the cries and groanings of you heart. He knows that you are living sacrificially on another level and seeking to steward those He's assigned to you well. Meditate on the Lord in those five minute increments. Thank Him for Who He is and what He's done. Sing a song to Him in praise and worship. Go over a small string of verses throughout the day when your mind clears between activities. Even if it's something familiar like Psalm 23 and John 3:16. You'll find yourselves singing and saying these things out loud in front of the little ones invading your privacy, and make a positive impact on them, because they will learn these things from you, and see you practicing Psalm 61:2, "When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Currently, I'm very spoiled. I'm in a season where I work from home and generally have the opportunity to wake up and immediately have God time. This was not always the case, and I am very grateful for the privilege. I like having my dedicated time in the morning and talking to the Lord throughout the day, but if night time or lunch breaks are better for you, do it then. Whatever time you know you will have minimal distractions, including those generated by you, choose that time. The longer you practice it, the more you'll find that you want to steal away throughout the day and do it more.

Communicate

If you're time is a bit freer and you are in a communal living situation, whether that be with a spouse, children, friends, extended family, or any combination thereof, let the people around you know what this time means to you and that you are not available during it outside of emergency situations.

During your Daddy Daughter Time, don't answer your phone or emails. Write the time down on calendars like it's a daily doctor's appointment. You wouldn't skip a trip to the doctor because the long term costs will be worse than the co-pay. Even ten, fifteen, thirty, or sixty minutes intentionally spent in God's presence can save you heartache in the long run because He is your source of life. He knows what you need. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). Don't get so focused on how much time you're carving out. Make that time count, regardless of the length. You may find that where once you were fighting to stay focused for fifteen minutes, now you're having to set a timer to remind yourself to stop after an hour.

Treating Daddy Daughter Time like an appointment will train others to do the same. People that I speak to on a weekly basis generally know that I don't answer communications until after a certain time. That established pattern keeps me accountable and encourages me not to break it. I don't want my phone to be the first and last thing I see every day. That doesn't give life to me. God does.

Other people are absolutely essential to your walk with God for so many reasons, and this isn't a hall pass not to assemble together. But you need to be able to seek the Lord for yourself and learn from Him in peace. "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly" (Matthew 6:6).

Get Creative

Sitting and reading your Bible in peace is essential and helps you learn about God's heart, but it isn't the only way to spend time with your Heavenly Father. Just like you don't eat the same thing for dinner every night, or go through the same routine every time you go out with a friend or significant other, your relationship with God thrives when you are able to change things up and include Him in the fabulous, the day to day, and the mundane.

My mom was great about this when I was growing up. She modeled sitting in God's presence, reading her Bible, and praying first thing in the morning, but she didn't stop there. She would pray and sing like David out loud in the house in the middle of dishes, gardening, and laundry. It normalized bringing God into everyday moments for me. I often sing to Him in the middle of vacuuming, and it reminds me that even though I don't like doing housework, I'm stewarding God's house that He entrusted to me. Sometimes, it takes putting on a praise album to help me stay grateful while cleaning our beautiful bathroom, which takes an hour on a good day. Let all you do be done as unto the Lord.

Your quality time may look like a prayer walk; sitting in the backyard, garden, or on the patio or balcony. Your car may be your sanctuary, a place where you freely sing, cry, and pour your heart out to the Lord and listen back for His still, small voice. Whatever stirs you and will encourage you to show up actively in God's presence, do it.

When something amazing happens in the middle of the day, thank Him for it. Include God in your thoughts and conversations. When something terrible happens, run to Him. Tell Him about it. A good father wants to celebrate the wonderful things and help right wrongs, whether that means straightening out the person who comes against you or sitting you down and showing you what you need to do differently. However you spend your time together the end goals are: knowing God, growing to love Him more, and resting securely in the fact that He knew, loved, and chose you before you were even formed. That's a relationship worth protecting.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.