A few months ago I heard someone on a podcast refer to their time with God as the “daily office”. I loved this so much that I have adopted it. “Quiet time” and “devotions” can both be valid, but time in prayer, bible study and meditation are truly the work of the Christian life. And my daily office is a top priority for me. I must confess that it usually doesn’t happen in a quiet house in a cozy chair while drinking my coffee from a pretty mug. That is – at this time in my life – a romantic dream. And it doesn’t always happen at one time for me. I try to attack prayer and scripture meditation before I leave the house in the morning and prayer again before I go to bed. Key word being TRY. And there are often short arrow prayers shot up throughout the day. And my time reading scripture? It sometimes happens on the treadmill or waiting in the pick up line at school. I have two part time jobs, 2 busy kids and a house to maintain. So I choose to make it a fluid part of my day. It’s what works for me.
It can be challenging to stay connected and engaged when the most important part of my day is often sliced up into bite sized chunks. But I have a feeling some of you might relate to a harried schedule. So I’m sharing my favorite Bible study tools.
My Christian Planner. I use the calendar pages to write out scriptures I want to memorize, to jot down prayers and to praise God for the thing I am most thankful for that day. It also gives me pages for sermon and bible study notes and anything else I need to write down that’s important. You can find one like it here. 
- The Echo app for my phone. This prayer tool allows me to record requests, descriptions, add an image and add a reminder of when to pray (such as a surgery or doctor’s appointment date). It also gives me the ability to mark a prayer answered or simply delete and has a prayer timer to help with this discipline.
- The Devotable App. I have had the privilege to write daily devotionals for this handy instrument. For days when time is running really short or I’m on the go, a short scripture, perspective and prayer keep me in line.
- The Blue Letter Bible App. The capabilities of this tech make me a much better student. I can search for scriptures by simple terms or exact phrases. It also contains a concordance, explanation of original word language, translation comparison, text commentaries and cross references.
- NIV Quest Study Bible: The Only Q and A Study Bible. This new tool may become my favorite. I was gifted a copy by the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid and am amazed by all it offers. 1000 people where asked, “What questions do you have about this portion of the Bible?” Focus groups decided what questions should be included alongside the biblical text. As an example, the margins beside Proverbs chapter 22 contain the answers to these questions: “Why does God make some rich and others poor?” “What is the explanation for God-fearing people who are poor or unhealthy?” “Will good training guarantee that children will not rebel?” And it designates for us the top 100 most asked questions. This Bible’s study helps include beautiful color maps, a dictionary concordance, subject index and prayers, promises and perspectives from the Bible. Order one here to pump up your study time.
What are your favorite tools for time with the Lord? Comment below. One of yours might become my NEXT favorite!
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These all sound like wonderful resources, Lauren, and I’m glad they are working so well for you. My life isn’t nearly as hectic any more, thank goodness, and I’m a bit spoiled by being able to connect with God in quiet time almost whenever I choose. That day will come for you, too!
Blessings!
I’m not in a hurry for an empty house! Thanks, Martha.
I actually like your concept of breaking it up into pieces during the day. One podcaster I listen to who calls it the Daily Office says that he has his Daily Office three times a day – because the peace and focus he gets from it is worn off by distractions of the day. One of my new favorite things I use is “The Valley of Vision.” It is a book of Puritan prayers. I sometimes feel like my prayer life has become a to do list. So a couple of times a week instead of doing my ask list, I read one of these prayers. It helps me focus on a characteristic of God and my relationship with him and I pray about that – thank Him for that.
I also like the idea of reading others’ prayers. Love you, sister.
Thanks for sharing your favorites, Lauren. I like the Bible app (from YouVersion) to read and listen to the Bible. And I also like the First 5 app and Beloved Women app for short devotions for those extra busy days.
I use the Bible app as well. I have the first 5 but have yet to use it and I will have to look up the Beloved Women app. Thank you, Marva.
Thank you for these helpful hints.
Blessings to you.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Homer.
I was not familiar with the Quest Q & A Study Bible but will have to check it out. I also like the idea of seeing your planner as a Bible study tool. Thanks for sharing, Lauren.
Thank you, Donna.
These all sound like great resources. My favorite is a devotional book called Daily Light on the Daily Path. I first saw it mentioned in missionary biographies. I have a 1906 copy I bought used for just a few dollars, but Crossway also publishes the daily readings online. I love that it’s just Scripture. All the verses relate to each other somehow or progress from one thought to another. Most days I use this to start my devotional time, but on really busy days, this might be all I get to.
Just like we might have to snack through the day instead of sitting down to a big meal, so sometimes our time in the Word has to be broken down into smaller bits, as you’ve described.
I hadn’t heard it called the daily office, but I like that!
That books sounds great, Barbara! And comparing it to snacking is a perfect analogy!
Lauren, hi! And thanks for sharing some new-to-me resources and helps. I always appreciate a sacred nudge in the right direction.
Bless you this afternoon …
Thank you, Linda. Hope they are helpful!
Tech and gadgets are fine but writing it down really gets it in your spirit. You can’t beat the good old planner. I like Bible Hub, where I do research, and I have started reading more from the Message Bible, though I compare translations.
I love my planner and also like to compare translations at times. Thanks for weighing in.
It’s so important to have regular quiet time! How wonderful that we can use our phones for this purpose too! I use my phone to write my prayer lists. Thanks for linking up with Bible and Tea!
I also love the convenience of looking up scripture on my phone!
Lauren, THanks for a great list of apps for the Disciplines. I want to check out Echo. I might be a step better than Prayer Popper that I am using. I like the idea that I can schedule an exact time. Prayer Popper only allows for a day of the week.
I’ve also just learned about the Blue Letter app. I have been using Biblegateway and LOGOS are my favorite. But Need to check this one out more also.
Thanks for dropping by the Legacy Link-up, you post should be helpful for many.
Anytime you would like to guest post about Bible study, you would be welcome.
I hadn’t heard of prayer popper. Thanks so much for weighing in!
So many cool apps. When my kids were smaller, it was really tough for me to sit down with any consolidated “me” time either. It’s better now that their teens.
It is worse for me now that they are teens, but I am working an extra job now.
My friend showed me the Echo app and it has helped me remember to actually pray for the things I say I will. Such a great tool!
I think so too, Rebecca!
Thanks for sharing your list of Bible tools. I like the Bible app and have been hearing about another app called “Prayer on the Go” that I am going to check out. I also love dedicated time to just be still and quiet. God loves when I hang out with Him too.
I have heard of that prayer app too. I’ll have to look into it. I was able to carve out some extended time with my bible and commentaries and prayer journal by myself today and it was heavenly! Thanks for sharing, Mary.