A. Why have a quiet time?
1. To develop a relationship with God.
1 John 1:3 – “our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
Relationships take time and communication (prayer).
2. To begin to know the character of God.
Exodus 33:13 – “Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found favor in Thy sight, let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee, so that I may find favor in Thy sight.”
Jeremiah 9:24 – “but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord…”
3. To know and follow God’s will.
Psalm 119:105 – “Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”
John 10:3,4,14 – “I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me.” The sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice. We can get to know God’s voice by spending time in His Word.
4. To gain strength and nourishment.
I Peter 2:2 – “like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”
“And yet now, since God has taught me this point, it is as plain to me as anything, that the first thing the child of God has to do morning by morning is, to obtain food for his. inner man…Now what is the food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God; and here again, not the simple reading of the Word of God…but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.” – George Muller
5. To follow the example and teaching of Jesus.
I John 2:6 – “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
Mark 1:35 – “And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there.”
Matthew 6:6 – “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”
B. When should I have a quiet time?
1. Morning
Psalm 5:3 – “In the morning, O Lord, Thou wilt hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch.”
Also Mark 1:35, Psalm 88:13, Psalm 92:2
2. Evening
Psalm 63:6 – “When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on ‘Thee in the night watches”
Also Psalm 92:2, Psalm 141:2
3. All day
I Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing”
Psalm 55:16,17 – “As for me I shall call upon God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will hear my voice.”
4. Give God the best part of your day.
C. What should I do?
- Pray that the Holy Spirit will teach you. I John 2:27;John 14:26
Psalm 119:18 – “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law.”
2. Bible reading
II Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness”
“So one sure way of not asking amiss is to know God’s Word, the Bible. If God calls it sin, don’t insult Him by asking about it.” – Evelyn Christenson
Read a small section at a time
Meditate and pray as you go
Write down any insights you receive
Act – James 1:22-25 – “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves…”
3. Prayer – our response to God
a. Praise – response to the person, presence, position, power, greatness, majesty and love of God
b. Thanksgiving – response to the goodness and graciousness of God
c. Confession – response to the holiness of God
d. Intercession – response to the love of God for all people
e. Petition – response to the power and wisdom of God – pray specifically
Pray in the Spirit – under the guidance, wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:18; Rom. 8:26; I Cor. 14:14,15; Jude 20)