One of the most often-asked questions I get this time each year is, "Can you help me get started having a quiet time?" Simply put, you must have a daily time where you are meeting with God. If you lack such a time, you better get accustomed to struggle. Of all the spiritual decisions and disciplines that I have made...committing a portion of my morning to God has been one of the greatest. Some of my most meaningful times have come in the quiet of my office as I have read, wrestled, listened, and yielded to God and His word for me on that day. If you have an established quiet time, great! Keep it up and keep it fresh! If this is a struggle for you, here are a few helpful things to keep in mind as you get started in 2010.
1. You must see a QT as a PRIORITY. I hear people say that they just don't have time to read the Bible or pray in the morning. Yet many, find time to read the paper or watch a morning news show. Spending this time is a discipline that has to be developed. Commit this task to the Lord...ask Him for help and strength to get started and keep going. Physically, we take and make time to feed ourselves. How tragic that many are spiritually starving themselves because they have not made spending time with God a priority. Your walk will suffer if you continue to neglect this priority.
2. You must have a QT PLAN. Trying to have a devotional time without a plan is a sure-way to have a "flame out" after a few days. You need some structure and direction. There are several good Bible reading plans that can be found on the web. The best tool that I have found is the One-Year Bible. It breaks the Bible into daily readings of the OT, NT, Psalm, and Proverbs. If you want to see more, check out the link on the blog to the right. I've used the One-Year 2 of the last 3 years. Last year I worked through the One-Year Chronological Bible (readings lined out in the order they happened vs. the order the Bible is written) and loved it for a change. For 2010, I'm trying something new out as I'm reading "The Message" Bible through daily readings and working through a One-Year Devotional Prayer Book. The point of all that information is...you need to have a plan or your passion will fall off!
3. You must have a QT PLACE. The depth of this next statement is sure to move you. To have an effective quiet time, you need to find and secure a quiet place. This is a task you can't do at the breakfast table with the family or in front of the morning news. To have a quiet moment you may have to wake up 30 minutes earlier to have the house to yourself. For several years, I have spent my time with God at the office. As soon as I walk in and turn on the lights, I get my books and read before touching or looking at any work. Finding that spot free of interruption and disturbance is key to the necessary reflection, listening, and talking of a healthy quiet time.
If you are not doing this...you can...and you must! Get started today and see the difference spending your mornings with God will make in your 2010!
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