Your time alone with God should be the top priority in your schedule for these reasons:

• We were created to have fellowship with God. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
  Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20
  
• Jesus died to make a relationship with God possible. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9
  
• Personal time alone with God was Jesus’ source of strength. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16
  
• Every person who has been effective in service for God developed the habit of spending time with God. (Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, Paul, etc.)
  
• You cannot be a healthy Christian without it! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
  I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:12
  How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9

How to Begin a Daily Quiet Time

Select a specific time that you can keep consistently.
The best time for me to have a quiet time is: ____________.

Reasons for considering an early morning quiet time:

• The example of the Bible characters (Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Hannah, Job, Hezekiah, David, Daniel, Jesus, etc.)
  
• It seems logical to begin the day with a quiet time. “The best time to tune your instruments is before you play the concert, not after!”
  
• It demonstrates that meeting with God is your first priority when you give him the first part of the day.
  
• You are likely to be more rested, your mind less cluttered, and it’s often the quietest time!

A Great Question... HOW LONG SHOULD QUIET TIME BE?
Start with a few minutes and allow your time to grow. Don’t keep track of your time - don’t watch the clock! Emphasize quality, not quantity! Remember, any time with God is better than no time.

Choose a special place
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. Luke 22:39 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

Gather the resources you’ll need:

A Bible with an understandable translation and readable print.

A Notebook/Journal - to write down what the Lord speaks to you about, and to keep a prayer list.

A Songbook or CD player - if you want to sing or listen to praise music

Begin with the right attitude

Reverence Key Word: Awe
Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Expectancy Key Word: Hope
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18

Obedience Key Word: Trust
If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. John 7:17

Follow a simple plan you can keep

Fifteen Minutes with God (a plan to get you started)

Relax (1 Minute)
Be still and be quiet! Slow down! Prepare your heart. Take a few deep breaths and wait on God.

Read (4 Minutes)
See the section on How to Read God’s Word.
Begin reading where you left off the day before. Read until you feel God has told you something. Then stop and think about it.

Reflect (4 Minutes)
See the section How to Meditate on God’s Word.
Try using the 6 methods of meditation. Think about what the passage means to your life. Write down your thoughts.
Part of reflecting is memorizing verses that speak to you in a special way. See section on How to Memorize God’s Word.

Record (2 Minutes)
Write out a personal application statement that is practical, possible, and measurable. “Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through the lips and fingertips.

Request (4 Minutes)
See the section on Suggestions for Your Prayer Time
Conclude your Quiet Time by talking to God about what He has shown you and making your requests from your prayer list.

 

• Keep quiet-time resources in a basket (Seeing the basket is an invitation and reminder to spend time with God.)
  
• Take God out for coffee or dessert
  
• Have your quiet time outside
  
• Take a walk alone with the Lord
  
• Listen to Christian CDs or radio as you are working or exercising
  
• Prayer-walk with a friend
  
• Write love notes to the Lord
  
• Hide the Word – memorize the Scripture
  
• List A-to-Z characteristics of God
  
• Pray through the Names of God
  
• Write a poem or a song
  
• Generate a list of questions for God (Example: Why do bad things happen to good people?)
  
• Question other Christians about God
  
• Read Scripture until it zaps you!
  
• Ask “Who are you, God? and “What would you have me do?”
  
• Always include the Word of God and prayer!
  
• List the ways God has blessed you and the things for which you are thankful
  
• Place God’s Word before you – put up Scripture everywhere so you can meditate on it while going about your daily tasks
  
• Pray before your feet hit the ground – ask God to order your day
  
• Get devotions on CD to listen to in the car

HOW TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR QUIET TIME

1. Discipline - Your first problem in establishing a quiet time will face you the moment you wake up each morning: Am I going to get out of bed? (The Battle of the Blankets) Suggestions:

• Go to bed on time.
• Get up immediately.
• Be aware of quiet time robbers.
• Fall asleep thinking spiritual thoughts.

2. Distractions - Satan will try to use anything to get your mind to wander during a quiet time. Suggestions:

• Get thoroughly awake.
• Get out of bed.
• Read and pray aloud.
• Walk during your prayer time.
• Keep a notepad nearby.

3. Dryness - Sometimes you feel like you’re not getting anything out of your quiet time. (The Battle of the Blahs) Never judge your quiet time by your feelings. Try one of the Creative Quiet Times Ideas!

Possible Causes of Spiritual Dryness
Your physical condition
Disobedience to God
Rushing your quiet time
Getting in a rut
Not sharing insights with others

4. Diligence - Your greatest problem will be your struggle to stay consistent. Satan fights nothing harder than your personal quiet time.
Suggestions:

• Make a covenant or vow to God.
• Schedule it on your daily calendar.
• Be prepared for Satan’s excuses.
• Leave your Bible open at night to the passage for the next day!

What if I miss a day?

• Don’t feel guilty.
• Don’t become legalistic.
• Don’t give up.

It takes 3 weeks for you to become familiar with a new task.

Then it takes another 3 weeks before it becomes a comfortable habit.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9

Six Ways to Meditate on a Verse

• Picture it! Visualize the scene in your mind.
  
• Pronounce it! Say the verse aloud, each time emphasizing a different word.
  
• Paraphrase it! Rewrite the verse in your own words.
  
• Personalize it! Replace the pronouns or people in the verse with your own name.
  
• Pray it! Turn the verse into a prayer and say it back to God.
  
• Probe it! Ask questions like these:
  • Do I have …
    … Sins to confess?
    … Promises to claim?
    … Attitudes to change?
    … Commands to obey?
    … Examples to follow?
    … Prayers to pray?
    … Errors to avoid?
    … Truths to believe?
    … Something to thank God for?

HOW TO MEMORIZE A VERSE

• Pick a verse that speaks to you.
  
• Say the reference before and after the verse.
  
• Read the verse aloud many times. (You might even record it!)
  
• Break the verse into natural phrases.
  
• Emphasize key words when quoting the verse.
  
• Write out the verse on a flash card.
  
• Carry some cards with you at all times for review.
  
• Display your verses in prominent places.
  
• Put the verse to music – write a song!

WHEN TO MEMORIZE A VERSE

• During your quiet time
  
• While exercising
  
• While waiting (spare moments)
  
• At bedtime (Psalm 63:6)
  

This is a great method to use in your own personal quiet time.

What is this passage about?

Who? (Who is speaking?
To whom are they speaking?)
What? (Briefly summarize the passage)
When? (How does this relate in the context of Scripture)
Where?
Why is this passage in Scripture?

What do I learn from this passage?

Is there a:
-- Warning?
-- Command?
-- Promise?
-- Example to follow?
Why is it in Scripture?
Are there specific things to pray from this passage?

How can I apply this passage to my life personally?

Is there a current situation in my life that I can apply this passage to?
Is there a specific truth that I can apply to my life today?.