A few days ago, Heather wrote to me asking an important and relevant question:
I was wondering if you have done a post in the past about how you do your quiet time? I am a new Christian- just over a year since my spiritual birthday and I am at a loss for how to go about having a quiet time. I get up early (before my little ones) and use this time to read my Bible and sometimes journal but I seem to have a hard time focussing. Any tips? I would love to see what a day in your quiet time looks like! Thanks so much!
Ah yes, the quiet time. Actually I have had a few people ask me if I had ever written a post on my "perfect" quiet time, and the honest fact is, I don't have a perfect quiet time. I find, personally, that remaining true to a strict, unbending schedule for devotions prevents - and at worst, snuffs - the true joy of seeking God. Every day for me is a little different. Sometimes I read the Bible first, other times I read a devotional to begin. I try to change it up for my own enjoyment and remain flexible to what I think my soul needs today.
Bible reading varies a lot with me. Like this morning, I was really grieving for some dear friends of mine, so I naturally turned to Psalms for comfort. (I find the Psalms to be most helpful when I am having complex feelings or emotional instability.) So that is all I read today; two verses in Psalms and then engaged in a lot of praying. But other days I will read through an entire book in the New Testament for deeper study. So you can see, I don't follow a rigorous quiet time formula.
I think many people are discouraged by their "roaming thoughts" while attempting to have their quiet time. I know this happens with me a lot as well. You sit down to pray and find yourself ten minutes later making a shopping list. Very discouraging! Most of the battle in having a quiet time is holding your thoughts in place. I have found a couple of helpful ideas for taming the mind's rabbit trails by either journalling my prayers or reading the Scriptures or devotional out loud. Or on occasion I will turn on some relaxing worshipful music and sing or pray with the music in the background. Prayer is a great weapon in this battle as well. Tell God what you're feeling - unfocused, sleepy, jittery - and ask for help. He is able and ready to help you stay focused on what matters. (Heb. 4:15-16)
The thing most people don't realize is that maintaining an effective quiet time takes consistent work. It doesn't just happen or come easy for the "elite Christians". Knowing God, just like knowing any other person, takes thought, effort and heart. But it is a campaign worth every minute you put into it. Paul describes knowing Jesus as a "surpassing value". I have found the same to be true. God offers the ultimate promise to us who diligently seek Christ - we shall find Him. (Matt. 7:7)
No matter how you go about seeking God - it doesn't matter the formula - the real treasure is seeking Christ. For every person it will look a little different, because Christ is intimate with uniquely created people.
I have written a post describing a few ideas on how to change up your devotions: Renovating Your Quiet Time and Bored With The Bible. You might find some of the ideas to be helpful in your lifelong journey of knowing Jesus.
Anyone else have some suggestions or insights into having productive quiet times?
I ditto every single thing you said, Kaysie! I feel much the same way. I too do not follow a strict devotional schedule...I agree it can be very stifling!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this!
Excellent post Kaysie! Ditto Noelle who dittoed everything you said. :-P
ReplyDeleteMy mind tends to wander quite a bit when I have my quiet time. That's something I think every Christian goes through! One thing that helps me is to pray about it. If I'm not concentrating well, it's usually because something is weighing so heavily on mind, I can't think about anything else! So I bring it to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to take care of it and to give my soul peace. I often have to stop my reading and pray about something that's brought to my attention. Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Just on a really practical level, I've found what can help if you're bothered by things distracting you during quiet times is grabing a piece of paper, placing it near you (but not close to you) and whenever something intrusive - shopping lists, people to call, solutions to problems, whatever - pops into your head, then jot a couple of words about down (enough to help you remember what it was). Then you're not going to forget about it and can follow it up afterward, but you can put it from your mind for the rest of your quiet time and focus on God instead!
ReplyDeleteKaysie~Great post. My dad and I were just discussing this very thing! I have had a very difficult time staying on a schedule, and have decided to stop it. I used to have my quiet time with God every morning at 7:00, but it just seemed to strict and almost confining. Our relationship with God is something that is constant, not just held to certain times of the day. I have found that praying/studying the Bible at different times of the day, (sometimes even two or three times now!) is much more refreshing and personal.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas, everyone! :) Thanks for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteThat was really great and very encouraging. I am excited to be coming upon the end of the year when I will finish my current Bible reading plan (reading the entire Bible) and be able to do some other things. Though even with a very structured reading plan God has still taken certain days and made them fit right to what I was needing. It is so cool to think that God is in control of even our devotions!
ReplyDeleteI just want to add to all that has been said . Remember when Jesus went in to the Wilderness( to be tempted) thats in brackets because he new the devil would come at his weakest moment. Thats not there by chance mind you .. the Devil knows when we sit to look into Gods word he knows when we want to have quiet time with Jesus . He knows also that it is in this moment. this moment when we would put total focus on God. he knows that this is the time we get the most power to live sinless,overcoming lives for Jesus.
ReplyDeleteHe knows that if he can distract or cut this umbilical chord of spiritual food then we cannot stand to his temptations , we cannot stand tot he gloom of the discouragements moods he brings.
So what might help is this ask God to send his Angels to beat back all powers of darkness, distractions.
I like the bible to speak. It address every concern every issue.Hope am not sounding too militant .this is what it says
(Eph 6:12) "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
(1 Pet 5:8) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour .
hey,
ReplyDeleteInteresting article, I look forward to further development. I think it's worth it.
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