How to Make the Most of Your Quiet Time
On Sunday, I wrote a devotional for Music Scribe on the importance of slowing down and spending quality time with the Father. Although time is a large factor as to why many don’t take the time they should to really get to know Him, I expect that a lot of people (Christians included) don’t really know how to do so. Following is a list of some things that I have found to be helpful in having a productive quiet time with Him.
Worship. I find that my best time with the Lord comes when I begin by worshiping Him. When I get out of bed in the morning, right after I get my coffee, I put on a CD and begin to get ready for my day. I sing along. I praise Him while the music plays. Sometimes I sip my coffee and just listen to the words, letting them speak to me.
Pray. After my CD ends or I turn it off, I continue to praise the Lord, thanking Him for His goodness, another day to serve Him, strength to do the work He has called me to do, anything else that comes to mind, answers to prayer, etc. Then I ask Him to open my heart to hear what He desires to speak to me through His Word.
Read. I have done read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plans but, more often than not, I just read one chapter a day. I would rather get something out of what I read than to read through it quickly. After I read a chapter, I will go back over it, prayerfully asking the Lord to show me whatever I need to get out of that day’s reading. Last month, I also began underlining the commands in Scripture that stuck out to me. This would be a good way to find them if you later want to remember how God desires His people to live. If you are reading the Bible in a year, I would recommend going back through and studying at least one of the chapters you just read so that you have something to ponder throughout the day.
Listen. After reading and focusing on the Word of God, take some time to be still and listen in order to hear what God desires to speak. I am easily distracted, so it works best for me to sit on my balance ball and look up into the sky. I keep my Bible open before me so that, if my mind starts to wander, I can bring it back by focusing on another portion of Scripture and then praying over it, continuing to listen all the while.
Pray again. Once I have finished all of that and I’m ready to start my day, I take a few more minutes to pray. I ask for His help with anything He has shown me that I need to change. If He has laid someone on my heart to pray for that morning, I will do it then. I ask for strength and wisdom as I go through my day, that I will know what He desires me to do. If I know I will be editing that day, I ask that He will help me to find the errors in the manuscript and have wisdom to know how to correct them. If we have seminars or conferences coming up, I ask that He will bless those, sending people who need to hear the message we bring, and that He will give us the words to speak to each person we encounter. I could go on but you get the point.
Time with God is not something we should dread. When you were dating your spouse, I suspect you talked for hours about any and everything. God is willing to listen to whatever is on your heart as well. The more time you spend with Him, the more you will look forward to this uninterrupted time together.
My purpose in writing this is not to draw attention to my prayer life, and I’m not saying that everyone needs to use this formula, but I do want to encourage you to create a formula that works for you and do not forsake meeting with Him on a daily basis. If you only have limited time during the day, break it up. Maybe take 15 minutes to study the Bible before you head out the door … then take another 15 minutes to pray during your first break … whatever works for you. Just make sure that you make the most of the time you have.
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