QUIET TIME.

Definitions:

1. Quiet time is an expression of His truth. It’s a regular appointment that we keep with God that allows us to block out other distractions and focus on our connection with Jesus through practices like prayer and Bible reading.

2. Quiet times are dedicated times each day set aside to connect with God — to adore Him, to behold Him, to hear what He has to say to us through the scripture, and to respond in prayer as God renews and transforms us.

3. A quiet time is an important part of a Christian’s everyday life, for this is when he goes to a comfortable and rather secluded place in (usually) his own home, where he can draw close to God with no distractions. It should be a place where there are no interruptions from TV, telephone, family member interactions or traffic noises, in other words, silence.

4. A quiet time is a set-aside part of each day for a meeting between a believer and God. It consists of reading a part of the Bible of the believer’s own choosing, and praying.

Things to do during quite time:

1. Worship the almighty God. Psalm 95:6 (6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.)

2. Observe Thanksgiving. Psalm 119:63 (63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.)

3. Pray or prayers. Psalm 5:3; Luke 6:12 (3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.)

Luke 6:12 (12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.)

4. Studying and meditating on God’s word. Psalm 119:11; Psalm 1:2 (11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.)

Psalm 1:2 (2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.)

What quiet time does:

1. It builds you gradually in the Word and in prayer. Acts 20:32 (32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.)

2. It helps to teach, to rebuke, to correct, and train you up in righteousness. 2Timothy 3:16 (16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:)

3. It makes you spiritually complete and equipped for Gods work. 2Timothy 3:17 (17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.)

4. It helps to grow you spiritually. 1Peter 2:2 (2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:)

5. It helps you to overcome in the evil days. Ephesians 5:16 (16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.)

Others are:

6. It also reduces any stress you may have in your body.

7. It helps to improve one’s mental clarity.

8. It helps to enhance your creativity.

How do you get prepared for quiet time?

1. Avoid late night.

2. Be fully awake.

3. Always start with a proper attitude.

4. Select your specific time.

5. Choose a special place (it must be a quiet place)

6. In starting a quiet time, follow a simple plan.

7. When observing a quiet time, learn to always concentrate on what you are doing. Sometimes you need to keep silent before God. (Why? – Psalm 46:10a.

Practical examples in the Bible:

1. Abraham. Genesis 19:27 (27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord:)

2. Moses. Exodus 34:4 (4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.)

3. David. Psalm 5:3 (3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.)

4. Job. Job 1:5 (5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.)

5. Hannah & Elkanah. 1Samuel 1:19 (19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.)

6. Jacob. Genesis 28:18 (18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.)

The following points can help anyone who wants to start to observe a quiet time:

1. Wait on God (Relax).

Be still for a minute, don’t come running into God’s presence and start talking immediately.

2. Follow God’s admonition:

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Be quiet for a short while, to put yourself in a reverent mood.

3. Pray briefly (Request):

This is not your prayer time, but a short opening prayer to ask God to cleanse your heart and guide you into the time together. Two good passages of Scripture to memorize are:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart, test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes You sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24

“Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word.” (The Bible) Psalm 119:18

Read a section of the Bible (Read): This is where your conversation with God begins. He speaks to you through His Word, and you speak with Him in prayer. Read your Bible…

Slowly: Don’t be in a hurry; don’t try to read too large an amount; don’t race through it.

*Without stopping*. Don’t stop in the middle of a sentence to go off on a tangent and do a doctrinal study. Just read that section for the pure joy of it, allowing God to speak to you. Remember that your goal here is not to gain information, but to feed on the Word and get to know Christ better.

Aloud but quietly: Reading it aloud will improve your concentration if you have that problem. It will also help you understand what you are reading better because you will be both seeing and hearing what you are reading.

Systematically: Read through one book at a time. Do not use the “random” method – a passage here, a chapter there, what you like here, an interesting portion there. You’ll understand the Bible better if you read it as it was written-a book or letter at a time.

4. Meditate and memorize (Reflect and Remember):

In order to have the Bible speak to you meaningfully, you should think on what you are reading and memorize verses that particularly speak to you. Meditate is “seriously contemplating a thought over and over in your mind.”Out of your meditation you might select and memorize a verse that is particularly meaningful to you.

5. Write down what God has shown you (Record):

When God speaks to you through His Word, record what you have discovered. Writing it down will enable you to both remember what God revealed to you and to check up on your biblical discoveries. Recording what God has shown you is the way of applying what you see in the Scripture that pertains to your life.

6. Have a time of prayer (Request):

After God has spoken to you through His Word, speak to Him in prayer. This is your part of the conversation with the Lord.

Conclusion:

What if you miss a day? Don’t worry about it if it happens occasionally. Don’t go on a guilt trip. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) Don’t get legalistic. Don’t give up! If you miss a meal, it does not mean that you should give up eating because you’re inconsistent. You simply eat a little more at the next meal and go on from there. The same principle is true with your time with God.

Psychologists tell us that it usually takes us three weeks to get familiar with a new task or habit; it takes another three weeks before it becomes a habit. The reason many people are not successful in their times with God is because they have never made it past that six-week barrier.

Note this:

How to develop a habit:

1. Make a strong resolution: You must always start with a strong, decided initiative. If you begin halfheartedly, you’ll never make it. Make a public declaration by telling others about your decision.

2. Never allow an exception to occur till the new habit is securely rooted in your life: A habit is like a ball of twine. Every time you rip it, many strands are unwound. So never allow the “just this once” to occur. The act of yielding weakens the will and strengthens the lack of self-control.

3. Seize every opportunity and inclination to practice you new habit: Whenever you get the slightest urge to practice you new habit, do it right then. Don’t wait, but use every opportunity to reinforce your habit. It does not hurt to overdo a new habit when you are first starting.

4. Rely on the power of God: When all is said and done, you must realize that you are in a spiritual battle, and you can only succeed by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. So pray that God will strengthen you and depend on Him to help you develop this habit for His glory.