How To Establish A Quiet Time
DAY 1
How to Establish a Quiet Time
Read 1 John 4:13-16.
Would you expect to be healthy if the only time you ate a meal were on Sunday? Of course not! You wouldn’t survive long. Do you think you’ll be spiritually healthy if Sunday were the only time you nourished yourself spiritually?
A daily quiet time provides the regular, continuing spiritual nourishment you must have. Each day you must find a time to be alone with Christ. You’ll be pleased with the results. You’ll feel the joy and excitement of a healthy relationship between you and your Lord.
Look again at the hand drawing. Remember that the central part of the hand represents “The Indwelling Christ, Controlling All.” A daily quiet time is all-important because it provides regular contact with Jesus Christ, the source of your spiritual life.
Do an honest evaluation now. Select the statement that best describes your quiet time.
My quiet time is a daily practice in my life, and I feel good about it just as it is.
My quiet time is a daily practice in my life, but it doesn’t seem to be as meaningful as I think it should be.
My quiet times are irregular and not as meaningful as I think they should be.
I don’t practice a quiet time, but I feel the need to do so.
If you selected any of the last three statements, the following guidelines will help you establish or strengthen your own quiet time.
GUIDELINES FOR A QUIET TIME
HAVE A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE FOR YOUR QUIET TIME.
Consider your quiet time an appointment with Christ. You need to be at a specific place at a specific time for that appointment, just as you would for an appointment with your doctor. Remember, you have an appointment with Christ. He will be waiting there for you. That reality puts your quiet time in a different light, doesn’t it? Giving first priority to your quiet time is easier when you remember that Jesus is waiting for you at the appointed place and time. If possible, that time should be at the beginning of your day. Your entire day will be different if you begin it with Christ.
BE CONSISTENT. If you meet with Jesus only on a hit-or-miss basis, ask yourself whether you’re really being serious about spending time alone with Him. People who work with computers use the expression “Garbage in, garbage out.” Giving your computer wrong information to work with keeps it from doing what it’s supposed to do. The same is true of your life in the world. A quiet time at the beginning of your day is the way you program yourself to let Christ be Lord of your life that day.
HAVE A BIBLE HANDY. Five days each week you’ll use your Bible to do your work in Survival Kit. The other two days you should use your Bible and any other materials you use on Sunday, such as Bible-study books, to participate in opportunities your church provides to help you learn and grow spiritually. As you mature in your quiet-time practice, you’ll probably want to add a journal for making notes about what you learn and experience.
BEGIN YOUR QUIET TIME WITH PRAYER. Open your heart to Christ. Affirm His right to teach, discipline, and direct you as you study and meditate. Tell Christ how much you love Him. Share your concerns with Him.
TAKE TIME TO LET CHRIST SPEAK TO YOU. Bible reading will always be the central part of your quiet time. But praying and quickly reading the Bible aren’t enough. You must pause and allow Christ to speak to you as you meditate on His words.
END YOUR QUIET TIME WITH A DEFINITE COMMITMENT FOR THE DAY. Decide how you can live out what Christ has revealed to you during your quiet time. This is a practical way to extend your faith into the way you live your life.
Have today’s quiet time right now.
1. First pray. Express your love for God. Thank Him for giving you His life through Christ. Share with God the special ways you need His power in your life today. Ask Him to live through you as you walk in the world today.
2. Next read 1 John 4:13-16. It’s quoted here from the Christian Standard Bible:
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.
1 JOHN 4:13-16
3. Now allow God to nourish you as you meditate on what you’ve read. One way to digest the thoughts in a Scripture passage is to rewrite that passage in your own words. Doing this quickly lets you know whether you understand what you read. Take time now to rewrite 1 John 4:13-16 in your own words.
Another way to meditate on a passage of Scripture is to ask yourself questions about the passage. Let’s do that now. Don’t worry if the answers to some of the questions aren’t readily apparent. These are general questions to guide your meditation. Different passages have different truths to teach you, so there may not always be an answer to every question. Also remember that God may not reveal the answers to all of your questions at this time. He may reveal only the part He wants you to know right now. Simply open your heart and trust the Holy Spirit to teach you as you look for answers.
Review 1 John 4:13-16 and answer the following questions.
Is there a truth that should influence what I believe, how I feel, or the way I behave?
Is there an example to follow or avoid?
Is there a command to obey?
Is there a promise to claim?
As a Christian, you’ve personally experienced the truth that God the Father sent Jesus Christ to be your Lord as well as your Savior. In what ways can you obey His lordship by living out the truths He has taught you from 1 John 4:13-16? End today’s quiet time by recording at least one specific way you’ll put to work what you’ve learned in your life today.
How to Establish a Quiet Time
Read 1 John 4:13-16.
Would you expect to be healthy if the only time you ate a meal were on Sunday? Of course not! You wouldn’t survive long. Do you think you’ll be spiritually healthy if Sunday were the only time you nourished yourself spiritually?
A daily quiet time provides the regular, continuing spiritual nourishment you must have. Each day you must find a time to be alone with Christ. You’ll be pleased with the results. You’ll feel the joy and excitement of a healthy relationship between you and your Lord.
Look again at the hand drawing. Remember that the central part of the hand represents “The Indwelling Christ, Controlling All.” A daily quiet time is all-important because it provides regular contact with Jesus Christ, the source of your spiritual life.
Do an honest evaluation now. Select the statement that best describes your quiet time.
My quiet time is a daily practice in my life, and I feel good about it just as it is.
My quiet time is a daily practice in my life, but it doesn’t seem to be as meaningful as I think it should be.
My quiet times are irregular and not as meaningful as I think they should be.
I don’t practice a quiet time, but I feel the need to do so.
If you selected any of the last three statements, the following guidelines will help you establish or strengthen your own quiet time.
GUIDELINES FOR A QUIET TIME
HAVE A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE FOR YOUR QUIET TIME.
Consider your quiet time an appointment with Christ. You need to be at a specific place at a specific time for that appointment, just as you would for an appointment with your doctor. Remember, you have an appointment with Christ. He will be waiting there for you. That reality puts your quiet time in a different light, doesn’t it? Giving first priority to your quiet time is easier when you remember that Jesus is waiting for you at the appointed place and time. If possible, that time should be at the beginning of your day. Your entire day will be different if you begin it with Christ.
BE CONSISTENT. If you meet with Jesus only on a hit-or-miss basis, ask yourself whether you’re really being serious about spending time alone with Him. People who work with computers use the expression “Garbage in, garbage out.” Giving your computer wrong information to work with keeps it from doing what it’s supposed to do. The same is true of your life in the world. A quiet time at the beginning of your day is the way you program yourself to let Christ be Lord of your life that day.
HAVE A BIBLE HANDY. Five days each week you’ll use your Bible to do your work in Survival Kit. The other two days you should use your Bible and any other materials you use on Sunday, such as Bible-study books, to participate in opportunities your church provides to help you learn and grow spiritually. As you mature in your quiet-time practice, you’ll probably want to add a journal for making notes about what you learn and experience.
BEGIN YOUR QUIET TIME WITH PRAYER. Open your heart to Christ. Affirm His right to teach, discipline, and direct you as you study and meditate. Tell Christ how much you love Him. Share your concerns with Him.
TAKE TIME TO LET CHRIST SPEAK TO YOU. Bible reading will always be the central part of your quiet time. But praying and quickly reading the Bible aren’t enough. You must pause and allow Christ to speak to you as you meditate on His words.
END YOUR QUIET TIME WITH A DEFINITE COMMITMENT FOR THE DAY. Decide how you can live out what Christ has revealed to you during your quiet time. This is a practical way to extend your faith into the way you live your life.
Have today’s quiet time right now.
1. First pray. Express your love for God. Thank Him for giving you His life through Christ. Share with God the special ways you need His power in your life today. Ask Him to live through you as you walk in the world today.
2. Next read 1 John 4:13-16. It’s quoted here from the Christian Standard Bible:
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.
1 JOHN 4:13-16
3. Now allow God to nourish you as you meditate on what you’ve read. One way to digest the thoughts in a Scripture passage is to rewrite that passage in your own words. Doing this quickly lets you know whether you understand what you read. Take time now to rewrite 1 John 4:13-16 in your own words.
Another way to meditate on a passage of Scripture is to ask yourself questions about the passage. Let’s do that now. Don’t worry if the answers to some of the questions aren’t readily apparent. These are general questions to guide your meditation. Different passages have different truths to teach you, so there may not always be an answer to every question. Also remember that God may not reveal the answers to all of your questions at this time. He may reveal only the part He wants you to know right now. Simply open your heart and trust the Holy Spirit to teach you as you look for answers.
Review 1 John 4:13-16 and answer the following questions.
Is there a truth that should influence what I believe, how I feel, or the way I behave?
Is there an example to follow or avoid?
Is there a command to obey?
Is there a promise to claim?
As a Christian, you’ve personally experienced the truth that God the Father sent Jesus Christ to be your Lord as well as your Savior. In what ways can you obey His lordship by living out the truths He has taught you from 1 John 4:13-16? End today’s quiet time by recording at least one specific way you’ll put to work what you’ve learned in your life today.