Quiet Time Matters

A friend recently told me how romantic it sounds to wake early, cozy up with a steaming mug of coffee, and take time to read God’s Word in the quiet hours of the morning before anyone else is awake.  She also told me that’s not how it works at her house.  For her, it’s after the baby has gone to bed, after the dinner dishes are done, maybe in the bath because that’s where she can get a moment on her own.  I used to get up at 6:30 and enjoy that quintessential morning with Jesus, and I loved it (“you sound like a grandma,” a coworker once told me).  These days Quiet Time looks a lot more like cold coffee and making-the-most-of-nap-time sort of devotions.  Regardless of how or when it happens, the point is that getting alone with God to sit and savor truth is important.

Why is Quiet Time so important?

Quiet Time (or devotions, if “quiet time” evokes memories of timeout for you) is the best part of my day because I get to sit with the One who knows me fully and loves me deepest.  The Bible is rich with His promises, confessions of sacrificial love, expressions of delight and sorrow, and great encouragement.  Are there portions that I don’t want to make eye contact with?  Yes.  Does that mean I can ignore them?  Not even a little.  And yet, I don’t want to miss a single Word because it is life altering.  As if we needed more reasons to get alone with God, here’s a handful of things Quiet Time does for us:

• Builds relationship– any of you develop deep friendships with people you never spend any quality time with?
• Imparts wisdom– spend 5 minutes in the book of Proverbs and you’ll see what I mean.  Also, I can’t help but think of Proverbs as a Biblical fortune cookie (I mean this in the least irreverent way possible) but each verse practically stands alone and I’m pretty sure it would fit on those little slips of paper.
• Gives perspective– in the moments when I need to see the bigger picture instead of the sand where my head is firmly planted, God’s Word lifts my eyes up to survey beautiful truth.
• Facilitates peace– Trust in the Lord, do not be anxious, be strong and very courageous, do not fear for I am with you, blessed are the peacemakers, I will give you rest (there’s a lot more, it’s a big book)
• Equips us to conquer sin– there’s literally an Armor of God section with weapons and everything
• Glorifies God– this is always the bottom line.  When we see God for who He is, what He’s done, and what He will do, there’s nothing left but to be flabbergasted by His audacious grace.

 Set the mood

Great news- you don’t have to shave your legs to go on a date with Jesus.  You just have to show up and make yourself available.  If you’re anything like me though, building a routine is a key part of truly engaging (or making it happen at all).  I’ve found that these four things are what makes or breaks my Quiet Time:

• Set a time and guard it jealously.  Early morning is up is still my favorite time to spend with Jesus, but it just works better to set aside nap time instead.  Find your time that you can intentionally carve out for this practice.  It’s important.
• Pick a place. I have a favorite spot on the couch.  I’m the only one who sits there so it fits me perfectly, and it’s exactly the right distance from the coffee table.  Others have a prayer chair, a study, a nook, whatever.  Maybe it’s the bathtub or your car if you have to hide from your kids.
• Be alone.  We’re looking for quality one-on-one time here.
• Eliminate distractions.  Read: turn off your phone.

 Basic Steps in the Quiet Time Dance

Once you’ve gotten comfortable in your special spot and turned off your phone (don’t lose it), it’s time to dive in.  The Christian community has won gold medals in creating acronyms, especially when it comes to Bible study and prayer.  I’m not going to use any, but just know they’re out there.  This is my basic rhythm in Quiet Time, but you should find the cadence that works for you.

• Pray.  Beginning here is like stretching before a workout; it’s a warm up that helps me focus my mind and my heart on God’s Word.
• Read.  Not sure where to start?  Proverbs has 31 chapters.  Start with the number of today’s date and just keep going.  Other great starting points: Psalms, Matthew, last Sunday’s sermon passage.  These four popular study methods are also stellar.
• Meditate.  Slow down and absorb what you have read.  Think about what it means, how it applies to your life, and what action you could take (or stop taking) in light of what you’ve learned.
• Commit to memory.  If there’s a verse that sticks out to you, write it on a 3×5 and memorize it.  For some helpful tips, check out these tips for Scripture Memory.
• Pray again.  Thank God for your time together, reiterate to Him what you’ve learned, ask for help to apply the truth to your life.

Okay so here’s what you do now: have a Quiet Time.  Start today.  Grab your Bible and actually do this.  If it’s not what you imagined, or you get interrupted, tweak your strategy and try again tomorrow.  Persevere in this practice.  God promises that His Word will never return to Him void- it will accomplish His purposes.  Your time is not wasted, and it won’t be better spent.

Share below what you’re studying in God’s Word, there’s so much encouragement in hearing from other believers!  I’d also love to hear your favorite tips on setting aside time or eliminating distractions.

P.S.  I started writing this post on Saturday night, and Sunday morning Pastor Adrian Boykin’s sermon was about getting Tuned In with God.  It was stellar, and you should absolutely check it out here.