Seven times a day I praise You,

Because of Your righteous ordinances.

Those who love Your law have great peace,

And nothing causes them to stumble. (Psalm 119:164-165)

The goal of obeying God’s ordinances and law is not for the sake of obedience in and of itself but for the joy of living an abundant life in God’s presence. We find peace in God’s love, in His law. “Finding” peace assumes action. We find peace because we look for it. There is peace in God, so we will always find peace within His presence, but let’ s not assume it’s something He gives us just because we need it. He gives it because we seek Him.

Today’s psalm refers to praising God seven times a day. Seven is the biblical number of completion. Many have built routines and even regulations around this and other Scriptures indicating certain prayers at specific times. I don’t want to get legalistic about it; I trust God to challenge you in a personal way.

But I want to invite you to experience something I tried through Jen Hatmaker’s study The 7 Experiment. In the final week of study, Jen encouraged us to observe seven sacred pauses throughout each day. I set alarms with reminders of what I was to pray at each time. The suggested prayers aren’t essential. If God guides you in another direction, follow Him, every time. Use these basic suggestions simply to get you started. Remember, the goal is to seek, acknowledge, and find God, including His peace and love. Spreading your prayers out in an intentional way throughout the day will open your heart and renew your commitment.

Night Watch (midnight)

My eyes anticipate the night watches,

That I may meditate on Your word. (Psalm 119:148)

Awakening Hour (dawn)

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;

And His song will be with me in the night,

A prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 90:14)

Blessing Hour (midmorning)

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;

And confirm for us the work of our hands;

Yes, confirm the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17)

Hour of Illumination (noon)

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; (Matthew 5:13-14)

Wisdom Hour (midafternoon)

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

Twilight Hour (early evening)

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul will make its boast in the Lord;

The humble will hear it and rejoice.

O magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces will never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

And saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,

And rescues them. (Psalm 34:1-7)

Great Silence (bedtime)

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;

And His song will be with me in the night,

A prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8)

Accept.

Dear God, I long to spend time with You. My intentions are good. I want to spend time with You. Yet my intentions aren’t pure, because I don’t give You the time I know You deserve and long for and the time I need to be with You in order to foster the relationship You intend for us to have. Please forgive me. I don’t want to get legalistic about our time together, yet I want to sacrificially give You abundant time. After all, it is Yours. You created me and You created time. I will trust You with both.

Seek.

How do you experience God’s peace and love in tandem with one another?

How can a consistent commitment to seeking God’s presence benefit your relationship with Him?

Know.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)