How to Develop a Quiet Time

How to Develop a Quiet Time


1. Begin w/ prayer. As you open God’s Word, pause and ask Him to “ open your spiritual eyes to see wonderful things and open your ears to hear His voice “.
2. Always remember,” There is therefore now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Although I want to encourage you to protect your personal time in the Word every day—we all have our low times—we all fall off the path.
3. Hop back on. When you do miss, whether it is just a few days, or a few weeks—don’t try to catch up. Just start reading for your current day(this is written with the assumption that you’re following some kind of a read the bible in a year or some kind of devotional plan) and keep going from there. You might have time to backtrack later on, do not stress over it. Remember—“This is not a notch on your belt”. Our goal is FELLOWSHIP—not accomplishment.
4. Personalize the pace-Be realistic about your journey. For those new to Bible reading, mothers of young children, and students w/ a lot of homework, you may decide to read just through the New Testament portion this year. This reading segment can take just 5-7 minutes. It is much better to be consistent w/ a smaller portion, than to be overwhelmed w/ too much.
5. Paper and pen-If you pick up a pen and write the date in your notebook, you have put yourself in the mode to “ pay attention “. What you are saying to God and yourself is that you expect God to show you something or say something in His Word that is worth writing down and remembering. When you write something down you more than double your retention. As you write one thought, often you will see other facets of it expand and grow to sweet, deep understanding.
6. Find a time-Everyone has personal rhythm. Some are morning people, some are night owls. Both types can buy an inexpensive alarm clock and set it for a certain time each day. This small action can help you protect your “ personal appointment w/ Jesus”.
7. Prepare a place-Keeping your Bible, notebook and pen in a certain place, all the time is a tremendous help. You can right there and just jump in. You will find that you start viewing that place as special and hly.
8. The Search for answers-A quick review of the following question before you read every day will help you anticipate and be excited about your reading.

#1 What did I learn about God today in my reading?
#2 What did I learn as lessons about life?
#3 What did I learn about myself, my attitudes, my priorities, fears, failures, desires, mission, destiny?
#4 Is there a lesson that I can apply today?
#5 What can I take from my reading and pray back to God for understanding, instruction or help?

Building Your Life on the Rock Matthew 7;22-25

22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.