“Eternity Time” Revealed

What are those strange sounds coming from the great room? Was that a grunt? What is that infernal racket? And where’s JD this morning, he’s not in his den? These were the questions running through my wife’s mind as she walked down the darkened hallway leading from the bedrooms into the rest of our home.

My wife’s announcement she was awake before me and ready for her coffee disrupted my Saturday morning. Most of you know I awaken at o-dark-hundred most mornings to get my “God time” in, comprising Bible reading, prayer, and devotionals, before my day starts. What my wife discovered is that on Saturday’s I often have “Eternity time” afterwards. What’s that you ask? Allow me to explain.

Eternity time is the term I use for deep meditation with God. Sometimes it starts with prayer; and other times I listen to the Gideon Bible App on my smartphone. Almost always, it moves into the musical portion of the program; often Jim Hendricks’ “Country Mountain Hymns”, Alan Jackson’s “Precious Memories”, the Gulf State Quartet, or Joey and Rory’s “Inspired”. It almost always ends with a peaceful nap.

Without east coast clients sending emails, telephone calls starting at 8:00 a.m., or schedules to keep, I cherish my quiet Saturday mornings. With few distractions or commitments, I can delay getting the rest of my day started; which allows me time to rest in God and recharge my soul. The donkeys braying, calves bawling, and cows lowing while the rest of my world is silent adds to my rest. The fenceline chorus begins just a few minutes after sunrise whenever the livestock doesn’t hear the UTV starting. I’m usually well into the nap portion of my meditation by then.

I’m sure some of you may question how effective my meditation is when I end up napping, but let me assure you; it works for me. When I shut out everything else in the world around me, and focus on God alone, He transports me into His presence. No; it’s not an out-of-body experience but more, an out of this world one. When I can escape the worries, fears, threats, and challenges of this world, I find the rest and peace my soul often longs for.

It is when I experience God’s deep abiding love; which I feel when I push everything else (but Him) aside, that He refreshes my soul. Click To Tweet

Since discovering my Eternity Time secret, Ms. Diane has found another source of humor in our home. After my afternoon livestock checks or when I’ve finished the day’s chores, I come in the house and wash up. Then she gleefully asks, “You going to meditate for a while now?” I smile, chuckle to myself, and head to my recliner. As she laughs, she adds, “When would you like me to wake you?”

I hope I’ve brought both a bit of laughter and a small amount of wisdom into your home this week. However your Eternity Time looks, please set aside a few minutes of your busy life to rest in God and let Him recharge your soul. Thirty minutes alone with God—as His word, music to His glory, or silent prayers fill my thoughts—leaves me feeling more refreshed than a full night’s rest in this world.

God’s blessings,

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50 thoughts on ““Eternity Time” Revealed”

  1. I absolutely love your Eternity Time J.D. We could all benefit from slowing down, focusing on God and allowing His Presence to calm our souls and spirits. I may have to steal this beautiful secret!

    1. Please do Ms. Ann. I wish I had time to do this more than just on Saturday mornings, but I prioritize my “God time” for each day. Even though I try to meditate on what God shows me each day, if I only have one day for a week’s worth of meditation, it works for me so far. Maybe after calving season, and chores, and consulting work, and health care, and exercise, and reading, and writing. LOL You know how it is my friend. 🙂

    1. I’m so glad you did Ms. Martha. We have to find the humor in our lives so we have someplace for our joy to spill out. I pray you get lots of “Eternity Time” in also my sweet friend.

  2. “…He transports me into His presence.” I love the wording in this sentence. I’ve experienced this ‘transportation’ firsthand, and find this a great description.

    Enjoyed this!

  3. J.D., you’ve learned to “be still and know that He is God.” Thank you for inspiring us to block out demands for the greater work of listening to God. He’s at work in our hearts whether we’re busy or taking time to soak in His Word and enjoy His presence. I’m sure the “fenceline chorus adds to the peace at your ranch. 🙂

  4. Sometimes at night, as I lay awake and say prayers, I find myself drifting off to sleep. I think it is a beautiful time because I fall asleep in the presence of my Heavenly Father. I feel so safe and secure in those moments. Thanks for the smile and the reflection of your eternity time. May the Lord bless it always.

    1. Yes ma’am! I’ve done the same thing so many times. It’s what happens in my “Eternity Time” too. We feel so safe and secure when we under His wings don’t we? Thank you so very much for adding to our conversation ma’am. What a wonderful blessing!

  5. Eternity time is not only useful; it’s necessary. Glad you are enjoying the Word from your Gideon Bible App. Nothing like quiet time with our Maker, and, if that results in forty winks, we are so much profited from it.

    1. You bet we are Mr. Roger. And the Gideon Bible App?! It’s the first version of the audible Bible that I can truly say I enjoy listening to. It somehow seeks deeper into my soul when I listen. Thank you sir.

  6. Those special moments of “kind” teasing between spouses are precious. They see the best and worst of us and love us anyway (maybe that’s why marriage is blessed by God–our spouses love us like He does.) You are right that “eternity time” is not only special, it’s essential for our relationship with God and for our sanity. Hope you get some rest this week, my friend.

    1. Oh, how very precious they are Ms. Katherine. I think they will be the times I cherish most from my life with my family; and especially my “Gracie” (my pet name for Ms. Diane). We love to be able to laugh and share with one another. It’s something we were never able to do previously. Thank you dear friend.

    1. Yes; “be still and know… ” Amen Ms. Barbara. Such an important lesson for us to learn. Just being in His presence helps us in our walk doesn’t it? I’m sure glad God has blessed me to take this journey with friends like you ma’am.

    1. Thank you Ms. Karen. I’m trying hard to learn to live an “Out of this World” life, so that I’m more focused on Him than the world. Perhaps if we do, then this old world will start to see more of Him in it. God’s blessings ma’am.

    1. You betcha Ms. Jeanne. Whether it’s two minutes or twenty; the time we spend in God’s presence refuels us and gives us the true rest our souls need. God’s blessings sweet friend.

  7. I haven’t gotten to the point in early retirement that I need eternity time now. Ask me in ten years and I might have a different answer. But my morning routine is Bible reading and prayer that usually takes an hour.
    I find that my morning time when no one else is stirring is my best time for devotions. The important this is to make sure you actually do it everyday day.

    1. Now how did you know that it’s been 10 years since I retired Mr. Ben? LOL Our morning “God time” (Bible study, prayer, devotionals, etc.) is precious too. And yes, when the only two there are you and God, the time is all that much sweeter isn’t it sir? Thank you so much for adding to our conversation.

  8. A beautiful picture of God taking you to a place so peaceful, that He provides you rest. A rest that allows us to sleep like a baby in their mother’s arms. No worries. No deadlines. No chores. Rest. Thank you for sharing. It’s almost Saturday. Enjoy your rest.

    1. How very kind Ms. Lisa. Thank you so much ma’am. I sure am looking forward to tomorrow morning’s “Eternity Time.” With calving season in full swing, I’ve needed to ask God to refill my cup several times this week with only one or two hour rest periods. God’s blessings ma’am; and thank you so much for joining our conversation.

  9. I love the idea that you can spend Eternity Time with the Lord by taking a good nap. In a society where constant productivity is glorified, taking time to rest glorifies God instead of what ourselves can do. Thanks for the reminder.

  10. Eternity time sounds wonderful, JD. When God surrounds us with His peace as we commune with Him, it recharges our soul as well as our physical batteries. Hope you have a good rest this Saturday!

    1. It surely does Ms. Karen. Oh, how I’ve missed reading your comments of late ma’am. Thank you so much. I have to be honest; I opted for “Eternity Time” last evening (Friday night) after dinner. Almost three hours of it as I laid in bed with instrumental hymns playing in the background, praised God for a wonderful week of blessings, great friends, and then drifted off to a peaceful and rejuvenating rest. Got up, caught PJNET, then slept again through the night. Am feeling like a new man this morning! God’s blessings my gentle friend.

  11. “He transports me into His presence” – a beautiful description. I think I have felt that way when I’ve walked on trails in forests. Or when my husband and I watch our dogs play.

    1. Absolutely Ms. Robin. It isn’t just my recliner that provides the portal into “Eternity Time.” It’s sitting under my pine trees with Bubba as we listen to the wind on a sunny afternoon. It’s sitting atop my hill as the cattle low while they’re grazing around me. It’s wherever I make time to place my entire focus on God and invite Him to come sit on the throne of my heart. Amen young lady. Seek those moments my friend. God’s blessings.

  12. “For so He gives His beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2c

    Blessed is the man who rests in the Lord.

    As always, I enjoyed your post.

    Reminds me of a time when I knelt by my bed to pray. I woke up 1.5 hours later with both arms asleep, having been laid out on top of the bed.

    1. Do you have any idea how good it feels to know I’m not the only person who has fallen asleep while praying my friend? Thank you for all your kindness and always-encouraging words.

  13. I’m enjoying those alone-with-God moments even more now since my recent retirement. A slower pace, a time to breathe and reflect. Often for me it’s taking a walk or hiking on our park trails. One minute you are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of city life, and the next a nature oasis where you can see God’s handiwork at every turn. It’s tranquil environment provides the perfect place to hear from the Lord.

    1. Amen ma’am! Since retiring, I find it easier to spend alone time with God. I think it demonstrates how we so often let our careers and other activities take precedence over our spiritual lives. I also realize it’s easy for me, in hindsight to say that; but when I was working 80-hour workweeks, nights, weekends, and holidays, finding time with God took a back seat. I pray folks reading this will also understand the lament I have for making those wrong choices. The contracts I won, the business I gained will mean nothing on the day of judgment. What I did to honor my faith, grow in it, and bring glory to God will.

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