A Key to Success: Daily Study

While in Prince George recently I had the opportunity to attend Timbers Community Church with family. The congregation are currently studying Rick Warren's book 40 Days in the Word.   The key point for the sermon I attended was on the study habit of taking time each day to pray and study.

I know for me taking time to study each day has been critical in learning to live the Principles in my life that matter - making spirituality more about doing, than wishing!  I have consistently started my weekdays with an hour of quiet study time for the past year.   This has been a goal for many years, and there was a slow evolution to form the habit (well-intentioned starts and stops:)

Some of the things I found that support this study are:

• A genuine desire to be disciplined and prioritize my time. As I get ready for bed I take the extra few minutes to complete tasks that may distract me from getting a start on my study in the morning (clear the kitchen counters, program the coffee pot, pick-up toys etc.)

• As I fall asleep at night I consider my gratitude list for the day and say a little prayer about how I am so looking forward to my study time in the morning!  As my alarm clock awakes me, I take a moment to acknowledge how grateful I am to have this time to study and pray.  I know, this is sounding a little idealised... but with practice the prayer becomes genuine, and in the meantime it distracts me as I haul my tired butt out of bed!

• I don't have a fixed agenda when I study, but I do have an idea of how it will unfold.

• Monday - My Bible Lesson, and prayer for church.
• Tuesday - Work on my annual Association assignment (assigned by my Christian Science Teacher.)
• Wednesday - My Bible Lesson, and preparation for upcoming Sunday School class.
• Thursday - My Bible Lesson.
• Friday - My Bible Lesson.

• I keep a journal. It's not a "Dear Diary..." type of thing, but it's pretty and it motivates me.  If I don't have a particular idea in mind to study, I choose an intriguing statement from My Bible Lesson and make notes in my journal about questions, or dictionary definitions that relate. 

• Don't turn on the computer, or check voice mail until after my hour alone - OMG, where did the time go?!  Also, my kids are not aloud to interrupt me if they wake up early.  They check-in and go find something to do until 7:30am (read between the lines... turn on the TV...)

Before I started this habit, I would wonder; "What's the point?" But, I guess the point is that a typical day can be inundated with needs, pressure, distractions... all of which transform from 'big problems' to 'opportunities' when I am in the right head-space. It only takes a few days to notice the benefits of morning study time, and about a month to solidify it into a habit.  I can't tell you what a positive influence this has on my days.

Joyfully studious,
Caz.