 |
Why Have a Quiet Time With God? |
The Apostle Paul lists some very specific reasons for why we need to have a quiet time in 2 Tim. 3:16-7. He says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” You will find all four of these reasons in what follows.
- We need nourishment from God’s word to grow.
Just as we need food for our body, we all need God’s word for our soul. It feeds us spiritually. No one eats just one meal a week. Take in God’s word on a daily basis.
"Man cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks." Matt. 4:4 (GN)
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:1-3 NIV
- We need to hear from God daily.
Relationships grow through good communication. God wants to speak to us daily from His word. He wants to reveal to us His direction and give us His insight for our lives. God often wants to correct us in our ways. We will need to come with an obedient heart and be willing to repent and learn what God wants us to change in our lives.
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35 (NIV)
“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Ps 5:3 (NIV)
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Ps 143:10 (NIV)
- We need to draw close to God.
There’s a great worship song that goes, “Jesus draw me close, closer Lord to you, Let the world around me fade away…For I desire to worship and obey.” Drawing close to God shuts the world out around us. It allows us to focus on Him and sense His presence in our lives. We live often by brail in our relationship with God when Jesus wants us to see Him clearly. We say we love God but our hearts are far from Him because we aren’t drawing close.
"Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8 NIV
"Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples!" Isa 34:1 NIV
The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Isa 29:13NIV
- We need the Word which is our best defense against sin.
If you were in a battle, you couldn’t defend yourself without a weapon. God’s word is a sword that defends you from the enemy’s attacks. When we have the word of God in our hearts, it acts as a shield and a sword against temptations to sin.
"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm…in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:13-17 (NASB)
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You." Psalm 119:9-11 (NASB)
- We need to be corrected when we sin.
Even though it is not easy to hear correction, we know it is always to benefit. How can we change and grow without it? God wants to bring correction in our lives when we sin. Are we willing to hear it and confess it before Him?
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Ps 139:23-24 NIV
"Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong." Job 6:24 NIV
"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ´I will confess my transgressions to the LORD´--and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Ps 32:5 NIV
- We need encouragement and comfort.
No one can make it through the hard times without some encouragement and comfort. We need to know that God cares for us in the midst of trials. We go to His word to hear from Him and learn how He cares for us.
"My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, ´When will you comfort me?´" Ps 119:82 NIV
"You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed" Ps 10:17-18 NIV