John 15:5 “I Am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.”
When I first became a Christian, this verse really ministered to me. I thought, wow, there is not a closer relationship than a vine and a branch. The vine feeds the branch. If the branch is not being fed than it will die.
This is when I realized how important Quiet Time was. I had heard of it, yet I was unsure of what that truly meant. But, I did know that I needed to be fed from the Vine, so that I would not die spiritually. Quiet Time is a daily appointment with me and my God. It is fellowship with my Creator, a close and intimate time with the God who loves me. A time when I seek the face of God, so that I can be in His presence. It is a time when my heart is connected to His heart. It is a time that I get to come to give Him my gratitude for all that He has done for me. A time when I get to confess my sins to Him and be forgiven. It is a time that I get to lift up others in prayer for their needs. It is a time that I get to ask Him to reveal things He wants to change in me. It is a time when I get to renew my mind and focus my mind on Jesus.
Matthew 6:33 “But, seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and these things shall be added on to you.”
This verse became one of my life verses to hold on to. If I would seek God, then I would not spend so much time worrying about things in my life, instead He would give to me what He thought I needed.
What does Quiet Time consist of first?
DESIRE: Psalm 119:40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness. There must be a sincere longing to want to get closer to God and the desire to want to know Him more. The desire to want to be in His will and to know what it is He wants from you. The desire to want to be alone with Him to fully hear from Him. Know this…that your heavenly Father has a desire to spend time with you.
DISCIPLINE: You must purpose in your heart to do it despite all the distractions you have in your daily lives. You must purpose in your heart to turn off the world. If you are not discipline than you will miss out on the blessedness of spending time with your Creator and the One who loves you. You will miss out on His mercies that are new every morning and getting a fresh new start for the day. You will miss out on getting your mind renewed and turning your eyes to the One who will guide you throughout the day. You will miss out on receiving strength for the day by the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. And you will miss out on hearing from God! Ask God to help you have self control in this area.
Once you have the desire and the discipline Quiet Time will be a time of prayer, reading God’s Word, reflection and hearing from God. A very special and intimate time with Him.
Worship and Praise – Some women like to incorporate a worship song into their Quiet Time…I love to. This is a great way to prepare yourself for your special time as it clears your mind of things of the world and sets your mind on things from above. You are coming before a Holy, Righteous and Just God…be prepared.
Pray – Ask God to forgive you of your sins so that you can come into His presence and approach His Holy Word with a pure mind. Ask Him to prepare your heart to receive what it is He is speaking to you. Ask Him to help you get a better understanding of who He is and a greater love for Him.
Read – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. God’s Word will prepare you and equip you to do what God has called you to do. Take notes. Write Scripture down, memorize it, read it aloud. Ask God to show you the Scripture He wants you to mediate upon.
Pray – Thank God for the time you had with Him. Thank Him for all that He has done in your life. This is also a good time to pray for others. Lift up those who are hurting and in need. Pray that God will show you His will in your life. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit for the day. Ask Him to help you apply all that you have read to your life that you may bear much fruit.
Note: This is how I try to do my Quiet Time. Everyone does it different. But, what matters is that you do it. Getting to know God, through His Son Jesus Christ is beneficial and is life sustaining.
Psalm 1 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law he meditates day and night. 3) He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. 4) The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5) Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6) For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the ungodly shall perish.
Now that you have found the time to spend with God. It will be by far the best time of your day.
God will always bring His glory into your gloom…His light into your darkness…Because He loves you!
