Divine Office
As I transition into a new role on campus, my time will become more structured and limited. In response, I am prayerfully establishing a new daily rhythm rooted in an ancient, life giving practice: intentionally pausing several times throughout the day to reconnect with God.
This practice has been called many things across Christian history, including the Daily Office, Fixed Hour Prayer, Quiet Time, and Devotional Time. The name that resonates most deeply with me is the Divine Office. At its heart, it is simply this: returning to the presence of God again and again, allowing Him to re center my heart, renew my mind, and align my work with His purposes.
Scripture shows us that intentional, set times of prayer have always been part of faithful living:
“Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home… and knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God.” Daniel 6:10
“And Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer.” Acts 3:1
While we are called to “pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17, fixed moments of stopping help train our hearts to live continually aware of God’s presence. These pauses are not interruptions to the work. They are what make the work sacred.
To support this rhythm, I created a simple journal page that helps me quiet my thoughts, focus on Scripture, and listen for the Lord. The document prints four pages per sheet for easy daily use. If this practice speaks to you, I would be honored for you to use it as well.
If you would like to learn more about the spiritual depth behind this practice, I highly recommend chapter six of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero, which beautifully explains the biblical and historical roots of fixed hour prayer.
My prayer is that, in the midst of busy schedules and meaningful responsibilities, we would each experience the profound truth that God is not waiting at the end of the day. He is present in every moment we choose to return to Him.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8
