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Guilt-Free Quiet Times: 7 Myths about Your Devotional Time with God
In a world that shames you for not being enough, God invites you closer.
So many demands compete for your attention at work and at home—and nowadays you’re supposed to find space for self-care and community too. Making time for devotions seems like just another unattainable goal on the to-do list. But with refreshing humor and heartwarming honesty, Emily gives you permission to let go of a Pinterest-perfect quiet time—and the inherent guilt that comes with it!—as she winsomely debunks seven myths about your time with God.
Expand your idea of devotional time in surprising
• Invite your family and friends into your devotional time
• Pray throughout the day (and learn what it means to “pray continually”)
• Integrate music or movement into prayer
• Experience deeper contentment in God’s presence
• Try something new with 101 creative and down-to-earth practices
No matter the season you’re in, experience joy, satisfaction, and peace in God as you draw near to Him! Includes questions for personal reflection or group discussion. Perfect to share with a friend, a book group, or a Bible study group.
So many demands compete for your attention at work and at home—and nowadays you’re supposed to find space for self-care and community too. Making time for devotions seems like just another unattainable goal on the to-do list. But with refreshing humor and heartwarming honesty, Emily gives you permission to let go of a Pinterest-perfect quiet time—and the inherent guilt that comes with it!—as she winsomely debunks seven myths about your time with God.
Expand your idea of devotional time in surprising
• Invite your family and friends into your devotional time
• Pray throughout the day (and learn what it means to “pray continually”)
• Integrate music or movement into prayer
• Experience deeper contentment in God’s presence
• Try something new with 101 creative and down-to-earth practices
No matter the season you’re in, experience joy, satisfaction, and peace in God as you draw near to Him! Includes questions for personal reflection or group discussion. Perfect to share with a friend, a book group, or a Bible study group.
- GenresChristian
144 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2024
4 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 22, 2024
Y’all, sometimes I overcomplicate the spiritual disciplines—especially those associated with “quiet time.”
As a seminary student, I’ve learned hermeneutics and have written 10 page papers on a handful of verses from a passage of Scripture. Sometimes I feel like if I’m not digging deep, I’m not doing it right.
Guilt-Free Quiet Times by Emily Ryan was a much-needed reset. I love how each chapter opens with a bit of humor that makes us see just how silly some of our extremes can be when it comes to devotional time with the Lord.
This book is a breath of fresh air for someone that leans toward rule-following, idealism, and needing things to be just right. Over seven chapters, Emily covers seven myths that can give us false ideas about what spending time with the Lord needs to look like. Some of those have to do with—
😌 quietness of QT
😌 length of QT
😌 time of day of QT
😌 tech usage during QT
😌 regularity of QT
😌 journaling during QT
😌 location of QT
If you or someone you know struggle with legalism, idealism, or scrupulosity when it comes to devotional time with the Lord, this is a great read. It’s freeing while still holding consistent time with the Lord in high regard.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for providing with a gifted copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.
As a seminary student, I’ve learned hermeneutics and have written 10 page papers on a handful of verses from a passage of Scripture. Sometimes I feel like if I’m not digging deep, I’m not doing it right.
Guilt-Free Quiet Times by Emily Ryan was a much-needed reset. I love how each chapter opens with a bit of humor that makes us see just how silly some of our extremes can be when it comes to devotional time with the Lord.
This book is a breath of fresh air for someone that leans toward rule-following, idealism, and needing things to be just right. Over seven chapters, Emily covers seven myths that can give us false ideas about what spending time with the Lord needs to look like. Some of those have to do with—
😌 quietness of QT
😌 length of QT
😌 time of day of QT
😌 tech usage during QT
😌 regularity of QT
😌 journaling during QT
😌 location of QT
If you or someone you know struggle with legalism, idealism, or scrupulosity when it comes to devotional time with the Lord, this is a great read. It’s freeing while still holding consistent time with the Lord in high regard.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for providing with a gifted copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.
August 27, 2025
This was an excellent read! Succinct and applicable. I did not realize how much I believed several of these myths and weighed my worth as a believer against my failure to live up to them.
In short, easy to read chapters, the author presented each myth, dismantled it, shared personal stories from other women about how they applied the truths to their lives, and finished with a list of suggestions/activities for applying the truth to your own life and some questions for consideration. I highly recommend this short book to anyone who feels that the regular time they spend with the Lord is somehow lacking.
In short, easy to read chapters, the author presented each myth, dismantled it, shared personal stories from other women about how they applied the truths to their lives, and finished with a list of suggestions/activities for applying the truth to your own life and some questions for consideration. I highly recommend this short book to anyone who feels that the regular time they spend with the Lord is somehow lacking.
November 30, 2024
✒️ FROM THE BOOK:
Myth 7: Your Quiet time Must Be in the Same Place Every Day
Location, location, location! There are only a handful of proper locations to have your quiet time. They include the biblical classics such as a on a mountainside, in a garden, in a fishing boat, in a prayer closet, or in the wilderness. If you find yourself in a lion’s den or a fiery furnace, that may be acceptable too, but just the one time. Above all, however, the location must be kept a secret because if someone sees you having your quiet time, you’re just showing off. Become like Superman and mysteriously disappear for long periods of time each day. If you must create an alter ego to explain your absence, the journalist thing worked for him, so it might work for you as well.
TRUTH: God will meet with you regardless of where you are.
💛 WHAT I LIKED: Through grace, humor, wit, relatable stories, and biblical truth, Emily warmly invites women to pull back the curtain on seven myths about their devotional time with God and step into the freeing truth of what their time with Him can look like. And with over 100 creative and practical ideas, women are sure to turn the last page feeling equipped and inspired.
🪴WHO IS IT FOR: Any woman who is looking to grow in her relationship with God regardless of the season she is in.
This book would also be great for book clubs or Bible study groups as each chapter ends with a section of questions for a time of reflection and discussion.
💭 OVERALL THOUGHTS: I enjoyed it! This was quick read that was encouraging, humbling, and rich in godly wisdom.
Thank you, Emily, for my copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Myth 7: Your Quiet time Must Be in the Same Place Every Day
Location, location, location! There are only a handful of proper locations to have your quiet time. They include the biblical classics such as a on a mountainside, in a garden, in a fishing boat, in a prayer closet, or in the wilderness. If you find yourself in a lion’s den or a fiery furnace, that may be acceptable too, but just the one time. Above all, however, the location must be kept a secret because if someone sees you having your quiet time, you’re just showing off. Become like Superman and mysteriously disappear for long periods of time each day. If you must create an alter ego to explain your absence, the journalist thing worked for him, so it might work for you as well.
TRUTH: God will meet with you regardless of where you are.
💛 WHAT I LIKED: Through grace, humor, wit, relatable stories, and biblical truth, Emily warmly invites women to pull back the curtain on seven myths about their devotional time with God and step into the freeing truth of what their time with Him can look like. And with over 100 creative and practical ideas, women are sure to turn the last page feeling equipped and inspired.
🪴WHO IS IT FOR: Any woman who is looking to grow in her relationship with God regardless of the season she is in.
This book would also be great for book clubs or Bible study groups as each chapter ends with a section of questions for a time of reflection and discussion.
💭 OVERALL THOUGHTS: I enjoyed it! This was quick read that was encouraging, humbling, and rich in godly wisdom.
Thank you, Emily, for my copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 29, 2024
I have been working on not having as much guilt about my quiet times, so I knew that I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the title. Emily E. Ryan does an amazing job of reducing guilt for her readers by discussing many common myths about quiet time including how it should be quiet and picture perfect. Despite what the modern Church often believes, God does not ask this of His people. Instead, as Emily E. Ryan points out, he asks that they be available and aware of His Word. Realizing this helps alleviate so much of the guilt that comes from not being perfect.
I would especially recommend this book for mothers. I know that I have struggled with having a consistent quiet time since I have become a mother, and this struggle has brought guilt into my relationship with God. Having this book remind me that God does not perfection but availability has been a huge blessing!
*I would like to thank NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing for giving me the chance to read and review this book. My opinion is strictly my own.*
I would especially recommend this book for mothers. I know that I have struggled with having a consistent quiet time since I have become a mother, and this struggle has brought guilt into my relationship with God. Having this book remind me that God does not perfection but availability has been a huge blessing!
*I would like to thank NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing for giving me the chance to read and review this book. My opinion is strictly my own.*
August 23, 2024
A BOOK THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS!!! Emily does a PHENOMENAL job of wading through the traditional Christian do's and dont's to get to the heart of what a 'quiet time' with the Lord is supposed to look like. She is honest about her own struggles, uses Scripture as a guide, and includes stories from other women who have had to make the decision about this as well. I love it so much! I love the practical tips that she shares with each chapter. I love the devotional content she includes and I love that even if you don't agree with her, you'll leave challenged as to why you hold the beliefs you do. If you're a Christian and you've felt guilty or defeated when it comes to your personal devotion time, this book is for you!!!
January 21, 2025
I appreciate how this book gives us practical as well biblical advice on how to re-examine and break many common myths or how our quiet time and study time with God should look. Some church doctrine and some self-imposed thoughts have us believing we must perform our devotion/quiet time in particular ways to "count" or be "meaningful." I enjoyed how this book shed light on these myths and offered ways to find our own style/preferences to create meaningful time with our Lord.
July 20, 2024
Even though I am retired, I still struggle with finding quiet time just to be with God, and miss out on the most glorious time of the day. This incredibly helpful book has given me creative ideas for building in God-times no matter how busy I am. Highly recommended!
August 8, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. The book has some great pointers on having alone time with God. It didn’t have to be a rigid, set standard. God will meet you anywhere.
October 5, 2024
This book was so practical! Emily does such a great job of speaking truth over quiet time myths. I feel like any woman in any stage of life could benefit from it.
September 27, 2024
'Guilt-Free Quiet Times' won't give you a checklist, formula, or guaranteed way to have a perfect time with God. Instead, each chapter exposes a common myth that we hold to in order to weigh if our times with the Lord are "good enough" or "successful". Emily Ryan leads us into freedom from performance, hypocrisy, and loveless religion. Each chapter also shares devotional moments from the Bible, personal testimonies from women, tips, and reflection/discussion questions.
If you want to grow in relationship with God day-to-day, but have felt stuck under the weight of shame, then I recommend this book to you! Ryan's writing is accessible for believers at all experience levels.
Special thanks to the Publisher, Our Daily Bread Publishing, and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
If you want to grow in relationship with God day-to-day, but have felt stuck under the weight of shame, then I recommend this book to you! Ryan's writing is accessible for believers at all experience levels.
Special thanks to the Publisher, Our Daily Bread Publishing, and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews