Fulfilling Quiet Times

Everyone's quiet time is different but one thing remains the same no matter who you are. Quiet times are all about God. There you have it the first key to quiet time is also the very purpose behind quiet time, which is to focus on God. Matthew 22:37 NKJV tells us "Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'"

Whether you focus on God by taking a nature walk, singing praises, or sitting quietly in your living room in a moment of reflection doesn't really matter. It's not how you focus, but rather that you do focus. Are you willing to allocate time to God, even when you think you don't have the time? The Bible teaches us "Be still and know I AM God." If we can't be still, how will we know He's God?

Taking time to make room for God is one of the best things you can do not only for yourself but for those around you. Think about it. If you are more secure in your relationship with God, your earthly relationships will be dramatically improved as well. That leads us to the second key to a successful quiet time: Make Time for God. God should have priority in our life.

Now that you've gotten the first two keys down, let's talk about the third key - Make a Plan - to help you organize your time with our Lord. Remember, this is not a formula because with relationships there is no magical formula to make your relationship right. You are in a relationship with God. Relationships are ever growing, expanding and deepening. However, these guidelines can certainly help you get started in your quiet time.

First, start your time together with prayer. It's a good way to clean the palette of your soul, so to speak. Try a prayer like the following:
Lord, thank you for hearing me and being with me this day. Help me to focus on You and lay aside anything that would distract me from knowing you in a new way this day. Speak to me and show me what you would like me to learn from our time together. In Jesus' name Amen.

Next, open your Bible and read. Where you read in the Bible is not what's important. Simply open your Bible and where ever the pages fall open, start reading a few verses or a chapter. You may want to read that section one more time. Meanwhile, open your mind and ears to hear what the Lord may be trying to say to you through scripture. You might ask yourself some questions like the following:

Is this pointing to any hidden sin I need to confess?

Is this a godly example to follow?

Is this a behavior I should avoid?

How can this be applied in my life today?

Now, move into listening mode. What do you hear the Lord saying to you? Just relax, take a deep breathe in and exhale. You may want to close your eyes, as long as you are not so comfortable you fall asleep! Think about the scripture you just read. Think about the questions about the scripture. Do you hear the Lord instructing you? Listen.

Lastly, you probably will want to have a pen and paper handy to write down the prompts you feel in your spirit. Remember, God gave us His Spirit in us to confirm with our own spirit when He's talking to us. Don't hesitate to implement what you hear the Lord leading you to do (or to stop doing).

Keeping the 3 keys in mind during your quiet can help you stay focused on God and improve your time with the Lord.

Key 1 Focus on God

Key 2 Make Time for God

Key 3 Make a Plan - Prayer, Bible Reading, Listening and Journaling

Your quiet times can be as long or as short as you need them to be. If you're just starting out, you might want to start with just 10 or 15 minutes. As you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, you'll find it easier to spend more time with Him.