The Susanna Wesley Effect

The desire for a daily devotional time has been a topic of conversation recently. A group of ladies at Westside is studying A Place of Quiet Rest by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. The need for time with the Father is very close to my heart. My commitment to this began over 25 years ago. I really can’t remember when but I do remember the circumstances and they were a challenge.

My mornings began early because I prepared a full breakfast and lunch for my high school son who ran track and cross country. His school day began around 7:15 am which required that I rise no later than 6 am. When I made the decision to spend time each morning with the Father I had to be awake by 5 am. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it! If you aren’t a ‘morning person’ an early morning commitment is a definite challenge.

But let me share my ‘real’ reason behind my commitment…quoting from Nancy’s book The Quiet Place, Daily Devotional Readings, she says, “…children will often cultivate an appetite for what they are fed in their earliest, formative years and for that which they know claims the true affections of their parents.” She goes on to say, “…you can’t underestimate the value of children growing up in an environment where parents love God fervently and where they prize what is pure, good, and eternal.”

Thankfully, at some point, we, Barry and I, figured this out. Sadly, a lot of our understanding came after our boys were bigger and testing the independence waters.

Barry often told the story of Susanna Wesley, mother of John Wesley, who found time every day, sometimes multiple times a day, to pray. It is said of her that when she felt the need to pray she would sit in a kitchen chair and throw her apron over her face signaling to the children that she was not to be disturbed. Most of us don’t wear aprons when we’re cooking and we’re usually multitasking anyway so this technique wouldn’t work. But, the point is that the children knew that Mom was about the Lord’s business and she wasn’t to be disturbed. I know, right! I can compare this to the years that I worked in sales from home. My lifeline was the telephone but every time it rang it was like a signal to the kids that Mom wasn’t going to be paying attention so they could do anything and everything that came to mind, or they were supposed to interrupt my conversation to ask for something.

It all comes down to sacrifice…on your part. Not unlike Jesus’ willingness to sacrifice for us, we must be willing to sacrifice for Him. Parents are focused on training their children. Your quiet time is a sacrifice that you must make for them. Accept that you might be inconvenienced; that you might lose a little sleep; and that it requires planning on your part. The joy comes when you realize the ‘perfect result’.

‘Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King, and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.’ Psalm 5:2-3