What is Involved in a Quiet Time With God?

There are three elements of an effective quiet time: bible reading, prayer and journaling.

BIBLE READING

Spend at least 10-15 minutes each day reading your Bible. Choose a Bible that you find easy and enjoyable to read (we suggest the New Living Translation or The New International Version). Come up with a system of reading that works for you. Below are some different ideas:

Choose a book of the Bible and read one chapter every day.

Start at the beginning of the bible and read one chapter in the Old Testament and one chapter in the New Testament every day; you could optionally include one Psalm and one Proverb.

Pick favorite passages or select from the “Suggested Quiet Time Passages” and read one a day.

Purchase a Bible that is designed for daily quiet times (i.e. The One-Year Bible, Women’s Devotional Bible, the NIV Application Study Bible, and many more).

You might want to include a biblically based devotional during this time – such as “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers, “Until He Comes“ by Calvin Miller, “Morning and Evening” by Charles Spurgeon, “Grace for the Moment” by Mac Lucado, “Moments with the Savior” by Ken Gire, “Boundless Love” by Woman of Faith Ministries, and many more.

Choose a topic of the bible and read various passages that relate to that topic. You might choose Christlikeness, love, joy, patience, compassion, obedience, prayer, God’s word, or any other topic. You can find the verses in a Naves Topical Bible. Also look up a word like growth (spiritual) in a Bible Dictionary and read all the verses they list.

Go to one of the websites listed and use the online resources to find subjects and topics to study.

Whatever you choose, make sure to always be reading God’s word. There is no substitute for the Bible. You can’t the newspaper and come away blessed by God. While you are reading, be open to how the Lord would speak to you. Be careful not to turn your daily quiet time into only Bible study. Remember, this is an appointment with the Savior. He wants to meet with you and relate with you. This is a personal time of relationship building with Jesus. Let the word speak to you as your read and reflect.

• Things you saw in the passages you read
• How you are feeling
• The events of the day
• Praising God for who He is (This is very important – Psalms offers many examples of prayer about who God is. See Ps. 145.)
• Thanking Him for things you’ve seen Him do
• Confessing things that are amiss in your life (Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart”)
• Needs and desires for yourself and others, including your Bible study group
  Silent time to just listen to God

Prayer is vital to deepening our intimacy with God. Don’t overlook this important part of your daily time! Read the How to Pray pages for more suggestions.

JOURNALING AND BIBLE NOTE-TAKING

Journaling is simply writing your thoughts and reflections about your life and relationship with the Lord in a notebook. Spend some time writing your thoughts as you spend time with God in His word and prayer. It can be as simple as writing what’s on your heart. You can write about what God is teaching you in your Bible reading time. You can also write about how you are feeling and struggling with. Develop the habit of writing. This habit reinforces what God is trying to tell you in your mind and heart. I believe it is part of a good quiet time because it is a way for you to remember what God is revealing to you during that time. Look back and see what God is telling you. Have you forgotten and need to be reminded? Do you see any patterns or consistent themes?

As you develop and build this time each day, consider writing down notes and thoughts from your time in a journal. What did you learn? How are you feeling about what you are learning? What is God saying to you?

Here are some suggestions of things you can write about:

• What you have just read in the Bible. Write down your insights and impressions from the Word. Write down a verse or verses that were especially meaningful to you as you read.
• Any thoughts or impressions that God gave you as you were spending time with Him.
• Frustrations, fears, experiences, and events that have happened in your life that are especially significant to you.
• Prayer requests and desires of your heart.

Sample Journal Page

Tips for a Meaningful Quiet Time

Set a consistent time each day to spend with Jesus. Early morning or evening, children’s nap times, and lunch hours are typical times. If your quiet time is scheduled, you are much more likely to keep it.

Get free from distractions (such as, other family members, telephone, TV, email, etc.). Try to eliminate all sounds such as music that might keep you from hearing from God.

Recognize that you were created to be in relationship with God and He desires to spend time with you.

If you miss a quiet time, don’t beat yourself up over it. Realize that you got distracted or chose not to have that time that day. Just start again. The longer you wait to start again, the harder it becomes to make it a regular habit.

If your quiet time is dry or difficult, try something new. You might change the Bible version, change your location, listen to the Bible on tape, or change your routine of reading and praying. Don’t fall into the trap of a routine that becomes rote. God wants to spend time with. Take a walk or find a new spot to sit.

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