If you really want to know God and to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus, it’s important to have a daily time set aside to spend with Jesus in prayer, meditation and the study of God’s Word.
During this time, you will learn to understand what God means in scripture, determine how it applies to you and decide what you’re going to do about it. You’ll also have the stillness needed to thank Him for all of the blessings and trials he’s given you.
A quiet time is simply quieting your heart to have a one-on-one conversation with God. It’s a simple daily spiritual routine that will – more than anything else – help you grow closer to Him. It’s a daily time alone with God when you can be still before Him and let Him speak His truth into your heart through His Word. A time when you can breathe deep of God’s promises for you and to share your burdens, concerns and anxieties with Him.
Guys ask me all the time, Bill what does a quiet time with God look like? What do we study? And how in the world can we make a daily quiet time with Jesus happen when we already have overcrowded schedules? How can we find the true path to spiritual growth?
First, I would encourage you to set your alarm for early in the morning such that you will be able to spend 30 to 60 minutes of uninterrupted time with Jesus.
Second, find a location in your home where you will not be interrupted by other family members, get your cup of coffee, close the door, sit down and place a chair in front of you but facing you so Jesus can have a seat in front of you.
Third, begin talking with Jesus, by confessing your sins, repenting, and asking His forgiveness. Praise Jesus for who He is and all He has done for you. Thank Him for taking His time to be with you this morning and ask Him to guide your time with Him and reveal the things He wants you learn this morning.
Next, I would suggest you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what He wants you to learn from the Proverb for the day. Then read it slowly, meditate on the Proverb for the day, e.g. if it’s the April 9 read/meditate on Proverb 9. As you read/meditate you may sense a portion of the scriptures jumping off the page, which illustrates that He is speaking to you. Seek to understand this portion of the scriptures, ask yourself how this applies to you and then be determined to obey it. To assist with your meditation, I encourage you to memorize these two scriptures ….
Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”.
James 1:25 “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does”.
Then read a small portion of a Psalm (e.g. 1, 7, 18, 19, 23, 32, 34, 37, 51, 78, 103, 106, 139) and if it’s a long one read/mediate on a small portion for a few days until you finish it. As you read/meditate you may sense a portion of the scriptures jump off the page and sense God is speaking to you. Seek to understand this portion of the scriptures, ask yourself how this applies to you and then determine to obey it.
Next, I would suggest you begin reading small portions of the book of John and ask Jesus to reveal to you what He wants you to glean from John. As you read/meditate you may sense a portion of the scriptures jump off the page and sense God is speaking to you.
Seek to understand His scriptures, ask how this applies to you and then determine to obey it …. This is on you!
Wrap Up, your time with Jesus with slowing praying through the Lord’s Prayer … Matthew 6:9-13 “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, on earth as it is in heaven*, may your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven*, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven*. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Thine are the kingdom, and the power and glory for ever and ever. Amen”
*This major scripture can be personalized by adding in “in my life and in the lives of all my brothers and sisters around this world” after each “on earth as it is in heaven” above.
May our Lord bless you richly with His favor throughout this week and every week to come,
In Christ,
Bill