How Do You Spend time with God?

Have you been following what is happening in the Gulf countries lately?

Many civilians have been stranded at the airport in Dubai. Several countries in the Middle East have been intercepting attacks from Iran. The tension connected to Israel and the United States has caused fear and confusion. News updates keep coming. The world feels restless again.

As a family, we have been praying.

There are moments when I read the headlines and quietly whisper, Lord, not again. It seems the world does not rest from war. One conflict ends and another begins. Nations rage. Leaders respond. Civilians suffer. Families wait in airports. Mothers hold their children not knowing what tomorrow looks like.

But praise God. He is our peace despite the unrest.

In times like this, I am reminded why spiritual discipline is not optional for us as believers. It is not something we do only when life is calm. It is what keeps us steady when life is not.

Our anchor verse has been Psalm 143 verse 8.

“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.”

This verse has been speaking to my heart deeply, especially as a busy wife, mother, lecturer, and someone serving in ministry here in Phnom Penh. Life is already full. Add global unrest and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Read previous post 👉 Cambodia & Thailand Border Disputes

But this verse calls me back every single morning.

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning.

Not once a week. Not when convenient. Each morning.

For I am trusting you.

Not trusting the news. Not trusting governments. Not trusting my own strength.

Show me where to walk.

Not just in big decisions. Even in daily steps.

For I give myself to you.

That is surrender. That is peace.

Today I want to share with you how this simple discipline of meeting God each morning has changed my daily life. I want to speak especially to busy mothers and wives who are juggling work, career, children, and household responsibilities. I know how it feels to wake up already thinking about the long list waiting for you. I know the pressure. I know the tiredness.

But I also know the peace that comes from starting the day with Jesus.

And it does not have to be complicated.

It only needs to be intentional.

My Quiet Morning Routine 👈

I love quiet mornings at home.

I wake up extra early at 4:30 am. I know that sounds very early. Some may say that is impossible. But over time I realized that waking up early makes everything easier. It allows me to focus and get ready without rushing. It sets my mood right. My heart feels settled before the day begins.

The first step is simply getting up. I have to push myself up. There are mornings when my bed feels too comfortable. But I know if I stay, I will miss something important.

In the early morning it is just me and God.

After going to the bathroom and drinking a glass of water, I go straight to my husband’s study area. That small space has become holy ground for me. I spend time soaking in God’s presence. I sing worship songs in English and Tagalog. Softly. Sometimes just whispering the lyrics. Sometimes just humming.

In the stillness of the morning, calling on the name of Jesus feels so personal.

It is a peaceful surrender with my Savior.

I cast everything to Him. I thank Him. I pray for myself and for my immediate family. I bring my worries. I bring the news about the wars in countries. I bring our ministry. I bring my students. I bring my marriage.

Usually this lasts about 30 minutes.

Then I put on my walking shoes. I carry my one kilogram purple dumbbell. I walk about two kilometers around our neighborhood park. It is still dark when I step out of the house. The air is cool. The streets are quiet.

While walking, I listen to the audio Bible. Sometimes I just reflect silently.

There are moments when thoughts come clearly. Sometimes they feel like gentle correction. Sometimes they feel like promise. Sometimes just reassurance.

Those are precious moments for me.

When I return home, my sister in law is usually awake. We brew our coffee together. Mine is hot Americano. Hers is iced Americano. Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we are quiet. And we both respect that. I think mothers understand each other even without many words.

Then I prepare simple breakfast for our teenagers. My husband, my sister in law, and I usually fast in the morning for health and spiritual reasons.

When I ride the Tuktuk to the university, I continue my devotion. I read and recite the verse for the week. I listen to the YouVersion app for the audio Bible. My commute is about 45 minutes. That is extra time with God.

I share reflections with Sheryl, my disciple, through Telegram. I pray through my prayer list. I organize my prayer points by days so I do not forget anyone. I pray for people, ministry, marketplace, and countries.

By the time I arrive at the university at 8 am, I already feel that I have accomplished something important.

It may sound structured. It may sound like a lot.

But honestly, it is not heavy.

It became natural because it was repeated. It became a habit because it was intentional.

When I Fail

There are days when I cannot follow the routine perfectly.

There are days when I interchange the order. There are days when I oversleep. There are days when I feel unworthy to even sit before God.

Sometimes it happens after a disagreement with my husband Vandy. Sometimes selfishness rises in my heart. Sometimes pride.

When my heart is not right, I feel restless. The whole day does not feel okay. And I know Vandy feels it too. We may not say it immediately, but we know.

That is when God speaks to us personally.

As husband and wife, this personal connection with God is very important. This is where we are convicted quietly. This is where our hearts are corrected. If we ignore it, it shows. Our son David feels it. Especially because we pray together as a family every night.

So one of us humbles down. One of us says sorry first.

And that is also part of spiritual discipline.

Not just reading the Bible.

But living it.

Why Spiritual Discipline Is Essential Today

With what is happening in the Gulf countries and other parts of the world, it is easy to feel anxious. News spreads quickly. Social media makes everything louder. Opinions are everywhere.

As Christians, it is important to be firm in our stand. Not in anger. Not in fear. But in faith.

If we do not spend quiet time with God daily, our hearts will be shaped by headlines instead of by His Word.

Psalm 143 verse 8 says, Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning.

If I do not hear His love, I will hear the noise.

If I do not trust Him, I will trust my own understanding.

If I do not ask Him to show me where to walk, I may follow the wrong path.

Surrendering each morning is a choice. It is saying, Lord, this world is not in my control. But my heart belongs to You.

In crisis, the instinct is to rely on ourselves. To worry. To analyze. To predict.

But self sufficiency is fragile.

Surrender is strong.

Every sunrise is an invitation. No matter how dark the night news has been, morning comes. And with it, His mercy.

Five Reflections from Psalm 143 verse 8

1. Let Me Hear Your Unfailing Love Each Morning 👌🙏

Reflection
Before I hear the news, I want to hear God’s love. Before I scroll through updates about war or tension, I want my heart anchored in truth. His love does not change with global events.

Question
What is the first voice I listen to in the morning? Is it God or my phone?

Practical Application
As a family, we can decide that the first ten minutes of our day belong to God. Even if the children are young, we can gather briefly. Read one verse. Pray one simple prayer. Say thank you Lord for Your love today.

Prayer
Lord, let Your love be louder than the noise of the world in our home.

2. For I Am Trusting You 🙏👍

Reflection
Trust is not automatic. It is chosen. Especially when the world feels unstable. Trust grows when we remember His past faithfulness.

Question
What fears am I holding that I have not fully surrendered to God?

Practical Application
Write down one worry each day and place it in a prayer notebook. Pray over it and leave it there. Teach our children to do the same. When they worry about school or friends, guide them to pray first.

Prayer
Father, we choose to trust You today. Teach our family to rely on You more than on our own understanding.

3. Show Me Where to Walk

Reflection
We need direction daily. Not just for big life decisions. But for how to speak to our spouse. How to respond to our teenager. How to serve at work.

Question
Have I asked God to guide my steps today, or am I rushing ahead?

Practical Application
Before leaving the house, pause as a family and say, Lord, guide our steps today. Even a short prayer builds awareness that we need Him.

Prayer
Holy Spirit, guide our conversations, our work, our studies, and our decisions today.

4. For I Give Myself to You

Reflection
Surrender is not weakness. It is strength. When I give myself to God, I release control. I accept that I cannot fix the world.

Question
What area of my life am I still controlling instead of surrendering?

Practical Application
Choose one area as a family this month to surrender intentionally. It could be finances, a conflict, or a future plan. Pray about it together regularly.

Prayer
Lord, we give ourselves to You again today. Our plans, our worries, our dreams belong to You.

5. Each Morning Is a New Start

Reflection
Even when I fail yesterday, this morning is new. God’s mercy is fresh. I do not need to stay in guilt.

Question
When I miss my quiet time, do I give up or do I start again?

Practical Application
If you miss one day, do not quit. Simply return the next morning. Teach your children that consistency matters more than perfection.

Prayer
Thank You Lord that Your mercy is new every morning. Help us to begin again without shame.

For Busy Mothers and Wives 💘👪👫

I know your schedule is full.

You wake up thinking about lunch boxes, meetings, laundry, ministry, deadlines. You care for your husband. You guide your children. You answer messages. You cook. You teach. You serve.

But let me gently remind you.

You cannot pour from an empty heart.

Your family needs more than your productivity. They need your peace. They need your patience. They need your faith.

And those grow in quiet time with Jesus.

It does not have to be long.

It only needs to be real.

Even fifteen minutes can change your day.

Wake up a little earlier if you can. Or use your commute (I use Tuktuk or Ricksaw here in Cambodia). Or sit in your car before entering your workplace. Find your small corner with God.

Repeat it daily.

Eventually it becomes natural. Like brushing your teeth. You do not debate about it anymore. You just do it.

And slowly, your faith deepens.

From Worried Spectators to Steadfast Witnesses

When nations rage and powers clash, our trust cannot be in political alliances or human strength. It must be in the unchanging character of God.

In a world filled with confusion and misleading headlines, we need the Holy Spirit to show us where to walk so we do not stumble.

This quiet discipline transforms us.

We move from being worried spectators to being steady witnesses.

Our children see it.

Our spouse feels it.

Our colleagues notice it.

There is calm in our spirit even when the world is loud.

That calm does not come from ignorance. It comes from intimacy with God.

Our Family Prayer in Times of Global Unrest

Recently as we prayed about the war situation in different countries, our prayer was simple.

Lord protect the innocent.
Lord comfort families stranded in airports.
Lord give wisdom to leaders.
Lord let peace prevail.
Lord guard our hearts from fear.

Then we added this.

Lord keep our family faithful in daily devotion to You.

Because the greatest battle is not only in nations. It is also in our hearts. Fear versus faith. Anxiety versus trust. Control versus surrender.

Spiritual discipline is how we fight that battle.

Each morning we return.

Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning.

Be encouraged..

My sisters in Christ, dear mothers, dear wives..

Start small.

Be intentional.

Repeat daily.

When you fail, begin again.

Let your home be a place where God’s love is heard each morning. Let your children see you open the Bible. Let your husband see you pray. Let them also see you humble yourself and ask forgiveness when needed.

This is how faith grows.

Not in big dramatic moments.

But in daily quiet surrender.

No matter how dark the news becomes. No matter how tense the nations are. The sun will rise tomorrow.

And with it, a fresh chance to draw near to the One who is our ultimate peace and security.

Let us be women who rise early not only to prepare breakfast or to answer emails.

But to hear His unfailing love.

Blessed Soaking time with God,
Tess 😍🙏

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