What is a Daily Quiet Time?

Come near to God and he will come near to you... James 4:8a (NIV)

A daily quiet time is a daily scheduled time where you spend time alone with God. The specific time will be determined by each individual. It can be as short as a few minutes or as long as several hours. The daily quiet time will also vary according to each person's individual preference. But two elements are vital.

Vital Elements for a Daily Quiet Time:

  • Bible: God communicates with us.

God has revealed Himself to mankind through His written word—the Bible. It is still a vital way that God communicates to us today. If you want to get to know God better, then you will need to read the words that God inspired to be written.

 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

  • Prayer: We communicate with God.

Prayer is a vital element for all believers. It is mentioned over 103 times in the New Testament. It was taught and practiced by Jesus and His apostles. When Luke did a thorough investigation of Jesus and the beginning of the church, he discovered that prayer was a vital element in Jesus' life as recorded in Luke (mentioned 25 times) and the life of the early church as recorded in Acts (mentioned 33 times).

Jesus taught that this would be something that His followers would do. He did not say if you pray, but when you pray.

     5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10     your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11     Give us today our daily bread.
12     Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13     And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
                                                                                                                      Matthew 6:5-13 (NIV)

Beneficial Elements for a Daily Quiet Time:

  • Specific Place: Having a specific place for your quiet time will help. It should be as free of distractions as possible so you can fully concentrate.
  • Specific Time: Putting this into your daily schedule will help with developing consistency. Whether you are a morning, evening or night persons, select a time when you are most alert and able to gain the most from your quiet time.
  • Notepad & pen or pencil: Things will come into your thoughts during your quiet time. A notepad will allow you to make a quick note about it and then return to your reading or prayer. You can also record any insights that are revealed during this time. You can also record things you specifically prayed for and record when God answered that prayer.
  • Worship or Praise Music: Spending time listening to worship and praise music can help prepare you to spend this time alone with God.

A Simple 10 Minute Schedule:

  • 1 Minute: PRAISE: Start your quiet time by expressing your gratitude and praise to God for the relationship you have with Him. Tell God how thankful you are for His grace, mercy and love. Express your admiration for Him by sharing one of His characteristics that you are thankful for or that has really impacted your life.
  • 1 Minute: INSIGHT: Ask God to direct your reading of His word. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and make clear what He wants you to see as you read His word.
  • 5 Minutes: READ: Read a portion of His Word. Select a passage that will help you get to know God better. You may want to begin with the gospel of John which reveals how God became flesh and walked among us. The books of Acts will help you see how Christ worked in establishing His church and how He can work in your life today.
  • 3 Minutes: PRAY: Talk to God about what you read. Thank Him for revealing Himself to you. Confess any sin that the passage revealed that may be in your life. Ask God to change an area of your life that was mentioned in your reading. Ask God to supply what you need for the day. Ask God to supply the needs of others.

This is a good place to begin your daily quiet time. We hope that soon you will want to spend more time with God.

 

If you want more help with what to read select one of the reading guides we have available.

If you want more help with how you can pray, select one of the prayer guides we have available.

 

If you would like more information about having a daily quiet time or other resources that can be used, please contact Butch Ringwald at 815-673-1581 or send an e-mail to butch(at)christiscentral.com (change (at) to the at sign above the 2 on your keyboard.)