
Let’s get one thing out of the way: I am not always a morning person. I’ve tried. I’ve read the books. I’ve set the alarms. I’ve poured the coffee and lit the candle at 6:00 a.m., Bible in hand—only to end up scrolling my phone or nodding off before I even opened the Bible. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong. The truth is, quiet time doesn’t have to happen at sunrise to be sacred. There are quiet time routines that actually work, even for those of us who hit snooze more than once.
First: Let’s Redefine “Quiet Time”
Somewhere along the way, we picked up this image of quiet time as a 60-minute, early morning session with perfect lighting and handwritten notes in pastel pens.
But here’s the thing: God doesn’t only meet us in early mornings.
He meets us in the carpool line, the laundry room, the lunch break, the toddler nap window.
Quiet time isn’t about performance. It’s about presence.
And if the best time you can show up is at 3 p.m. with a lukewarm coffee and ten minutes to spare? That counts.
Weave It Into What You’re Already Doing
You don’t have to wake up at 5 a.m. or sit in silence for an hour to meet with God.
Some of the most meaningful moments with Him? They happen in the middle of real life—folding laundry, packing lunches, going on field trips, or cheering your kids on from the sidelines.

That’s exactly why I love the Cover to Cover Companion Planner. It helps me hold space for God right there in the middle of the chaos.
It’s a weekly planner, yes—but it’s also a gentle reminder that even our errands, appointments, and packed schedules can be for His glory. There’s space to track what needs to get done, but also room for Scripture focus, prayer lists, and gratitude.
Because faith doesn’t just live in the quiet moments…it lives in the laundry piles and the soccer fields too.
And when we keep truth in front of us, we remember: every moment—yes, even that one—is a chance to reflect God’s light.
The “Dinner Table Devo”
Let’s be honest, sitting down for a traditional quiet time can feel impossible some days. But you know where we do sit down? Around the table.
Whether it’s a family dinner or a snack break with the kids, that space can become a simple way to bring Scripture into your day.
Try reading one verse out loud before a meal. Talk about it for just a minute or two. Ask, “What does this show us about God?” or “How can we live this out today?”
It doesn’t have to be deep. It doesn’t have to be planned.
It just has to happen.
Even if the kids are wiggly. Even if the food is cold. Even if you’re tired.
That one verse might be the thing that sticks with you for the rest of the evening. And over time, those little seeds? They grow.
Quiet time doesn’t always have to be quiet.
Sometimes, it sounds like clinking forks, toddler chatter, and a truth that sinks in slowly—one meal at a time.
The “Sink-side Soak It In” Routine
You might not have a quiet house, but I bet you wash a lot of dishes.
That moment—hands in warm water, doing something you don’t have to think too hard about—is actually the perfect time to turn your heart toward God.
Try taping a verse or prayer card to the window above your sink.
Play a worship playlist while you clean up the kitchen.
Or simply whisper a prayer for your family as you scrub.
It might not look like a devotional… but it is.
Because sometimes the most sacred moments are the ones that sneak in when your hands are busy and your heart is finally still.
Quiet time doesn’t have to look like sitting down.
Sometimes, it looks like standing in sudsy water, soaking in truth while you soak the pans.
The “Nap Time Reset” Routine
You finally get a moment. The house is quiet(ish). The baby’s asleep. The big kids are occupied. And you have two choices: scroll your phone… or pause for something that actually fills you up.
Enter the nap time reset.

Keep your Cover to Cover Bible Journal nearby—on your nightstand, the kitchen counter, or tucked in the diaper bag. That way, when you do get five minutes, you don’t have to figure out what to read or what to write. It’s already waiting for you.
Each page gives you space to interpret, apply, and pray & praise. The verses are picked out for you, so you can show up just as you are—tired, overwhelmed, and still so deeply loved.
You don’t need an hour. You don’t need the perfect setting.
You just need a soft place to land—and a little truth to carry you through the rest of your day.
Quiet Time Routines That Actually Work
So if you’ve been chasing the perfect 6 a.m. routine—with the coffee, the candle, the quiet—and it just hasn’t worked for you? Same. I’ve tried it all, and I’ve dozed off with my Bible more times than I can count.
But what I’ve come to realize is this: quiet time doesn’t have to happen at sunrise to be sacred. It can happen at the sink, the dinner table, the soccer field, or during nap time with a journal in your lap and a few honest minutes with God.
There really are quiet time routines that work—even for those of us who hit snooze more than once.
And grace says that’s more than enough.
xo,
Amanda
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