Quiet Time Tips
The following are some suggestions for spending quality quiet time with God. Please keep in mind that He has created each of us uniquely and one method may be more helpful than another. These are what I have found to be most beneficial during my quiet times with Him. God desires a relationship with us and relationships need time and attention to flourish. During our quiet time He will speak to us through His word and we will communicate with Him through prayer. Come with expectancy and a willingness to hear from Him! The result will be a deepening relationship with our Father as we come to know Him in a deeper and more meaningful way.
Make a Daily Date with The Lord! Establish a regular time and place to meet with Him. The morning works well for many because the house is quiet and there are fewer distractions. An additional benefit to starting our day focused on God is that it sets the tone for the entire day. During that time He will prepare us for the hours to come. “In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3). Jesus Himself would come before the Father in the morning, and His example is a great one to emulate! “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). If you are new to a daily quiet time, you could start with 10 or 15 minutes. You will find that as the days progress, so will your time spent with Him. Let the Lord be your guide as to how long you are to spend during this time. The place you set to meet should be comfortable and free from distractions. Prepare in advance by having your Bible, notebook, and pen ready and in place for when you begin.
Quiet Preparation & Prayer - Prepare your heart to come into His presence by taking a few moments to be quiet before Him. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 26:10). Clear your thoughts of your upcoming daily tasks and focus on God and His presence. Then, pray with thanks asking Him to speak to you and make clear what He wants to say to you through His word. “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions” (Psalm 119:18).
Open His Word & Read – Whether you are following a reading plan or simply going through the Bible chapter by chapter, remember that God will speak to you from within its pages. Take your time and don’t rush. Often reading a key verse and the passage surrounding it several times will help you grasp the meaning God has for you. Meditate on the passage you are reading to absorb its spiritual truths. Linger and enjoy this time. “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119:15-16).
Devotionals – Devotionals and inspirational readings are often helpful in developing our relationship with the Lord. I have found that opening my quiet time with a short reading helps me to focus on certain verses of scripture and important lessons. Devotionals shouldn’t take the place of reading the Bible directly, however, they often enhance our understanding of the Word.
Journal - Feel free to take notes or highlight phrases and verses that stand out to you as you read. Recording discoveries from His word or thoughts that come to your mind enables you to remember what God reveals to you. Often I simply write out my prayers in my journal. When I come back to them at a later date, it is always encouraging to see how God has answered those written prayers!
Bible Art Journaling – Over the past year I have really enjoyed expressing my “artistic” side through Bible Art Journaling. I am not an artist, however, I use a special Bible that is specifically made for this purpose. It has a wide sidebar and coloring pages included. The pages highlight verses and as I color them in with pencils or gelato markers, I am able to meditate on God’s Word. I have found that using this method has helped me to memorize scripture, be calm and relaxed as well as strengthen my faith. (You’ll find examples of this periodically on my Instagram feed.)
Pray – Close your time with prayer. Thank God for sharing new insights with you during your quiet time and take the opportunity to share what is on your heart. Many people like to use their journal to write down prayers as well. This option has been encouraging to me as I flip back through the pages and am reminded of God’s faithfulness in His answers. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
Remember – The purpose of a quiet time with God is to get to know Christ. Don’t think of it as a duty, but instead as a joy! Our Savior longs to have a meaningful relationship with us, and we will be blessed by spending this time with Him.
Make a Daily Date with The Lord! Establish a regular time and place to meet with Him. The morning works well for many because the house is quiet and there are fewer distractions. An additional benefit to starting our day focused on God is that it sets the tone for the entire day. During that time He will prepare us for the hours to come. “In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3). Jesus Himself would come before the Father in the morning, and His example is a great one to emulate! “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). If you are new to a daily quiet time, you could start with 10 or 15 minutes. You will find that as the days progress, so will your time spent with Him. Let the Lord be your guide as to how long you are to spend during this time. The place you set to meet should be comfortable and free from distractions. Prepare in advance by having your Bible, notebook, and pen ready and in place for when you begin.
Quiet Preparation & Prayer - Prepare your heart to come into His presence by taking a few moments to be quiet before Him. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 26:10). Clear your thoughts of your upcoming daily tasks and focus on God and His presence. Then, pray with thanks asking Him to speak to you and make clear what He wants to say to you through His word. “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions” (Psalm 119:18).
Open His Word & Read – Whether you are following a reading plan or simply going through the Bible chapter by chapter, remember that God will speak to you from within its pages. Take your time and don’t rush. Often reading a key verse and the passage surrounding it several times will help you grasp the meaning God has for you. Meditate on the passage you are reading to absorb its spiritual truths. Linger and enjoy this time. “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119:15-16).
Devotionals – Devotionals and inspirational readings are often helpful in developing our relationship with the Lord. I have found that opening my quiet time with a short reading helps me to focus on certain verses of scripture and important lessons. Devotionals shouldn’t take the place of reading the Bible directly, however, they often enhance our understanding of the Word.
Journal - Feel free to take notes or highlight phrases and verses that stand out to you as you read. Recording discoveries from His word or thoughts that come to your mind enables you to remember what God reveals to you. Often I simply write out my prayers in my journal. When I come back to them at a later date, it is always encouraging to see how God has answered those written prayers!
Bible Art Journaling – Over the past year I have really enjoyed expressing my “artistic” side through Bible Art Journaling. I am not an artist, however, I use a special Bible that is specifically made for this purpose. It has a wide sidebar and coloring pages included. The pages highlight verses and as I color them in with pencils or gelato markers, I am able to meditate on God’s Word. I have found that using this method has helped me to memorize scripture, be calm and relaxed as well as strengthen my faith. (You’ll find examples of this periodically on my Instagram feed.)
Pray – Close your time with prayer. Thank God for sharing new insights with you during your quiet time and take the opportunity to share what is on your heart. Many people like to use their journal to write down prayers as well. This option has been encouraging to me as I flip back through the pages and am reminded of God’s faithfulness in His answers. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
Remember – The purpose of a quiet time with God is to get to know Christ. Don’t think of it as a duty, but instead as a joy! Our Savior longs to have a meaningful relationship with us, and we will be blessed by spending this time with Him.
