How to Have a Quiet Time

How to Have a Quiet Time HOW TO HAVE A QUIET TIME  DEFINITION: "A quiet time is a daily time I set aside to be alone with God to get to know Him through the Bible and prayer."  In Getting To Know God – We Spend Time With Him So That We Can Get To Know Him. The Time That We Set Aside To Do This We Call “Quiet Time” I. THE IMPORTANCE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME  1. We were CREATED to have fellowship with God.  2. Jesus DIED to make a relationship to God possible.  3. Personal time alone with God was Jesus’ SOURCE OF STRENGTH  4. Every person who has been effective in SERVICE for God developed this habit.  5. You cannot be a HEALTHY Christian without it! Why is quiet time important?  (Psalm 145:18) The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth  Ultimately, it’s about relationship. God wants intimacy with us; he wants us to live the life he created us for, to walk in faith and obedience to his will. And spending time with him — reading His Word and in prayer — enables us to draw close.  https://trishasheffield.com/developing-your-quiet-time-and-learning-to-be-still/ THE PURPOSE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME  1. TO GIVE DEVOTION TO GOD.  2. TO GET DIRECTION FROM GOD. Things To Do In A Quiet Time  Consider Your Way:  Commit Your Day:  3. TO GAIN DELIGHT IN GOD.  4. TO GROW MORE LIKE GOD. HOW TO BEGIN A DAILY QUIET TIME 1. SELECT A SPECIFIC TIME. (When You Are At Your Best) (Be Consistent) 2. CHOOSE A SPECIAL PLACE. (A Solitary Place) 3. GATHER THE RESOURCES YOU'LL NEED.  Quiet times should have two main things in them—time in the Word of God and time in prayer. 4. BEGIN WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDES  Reverence Expectancy Obedience FOLLOW A SIMPLE PLAN "FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH GOD" (A Plan To Get You Started) 1. RELAX. (1 Minute) 2. READ A VERSE. (4 Minutes) 3. REFLECT ON THE VERSE. (4 Minutes) 4. RECORD WHAT GOD DID. (2 Minutes) 5. REQUEST. (4 Minutes) HOW TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR QUIET TIME 4 REASONS WE STRUGGLE  Lack Of A Plan The Day Before  Lack Of A Bible Reading Plan  Lack Of Accountability  Distractions (Phone/Tablet) Keep You From Focus HOW TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR QUIET TIME 1. THE PROBLEM OF DISCIPLINE Your first problem in establishing a quiet time will face you the moment you wake each morning: Am I going to get out of bed? ("The Battle of the Blankets")  Suggestions     Go to bed ON TIME. Get up IMMEDIATELY. Be aware of quiet time ROBBERS. Fall asleep thinking SPIRTUAL THOUGHTS. HOW TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR QUIET TIME 2. THE PROBLEM OF DISTRACTIONS Satan will use anything to get your mind to wander.  Suggestions      Get out of BED. Get thoroughly AWAKE. Read and pray ALOUD. WALK during your prayer time. Keep a JOURNAL. HOW TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR QUIET TIME 3. THE PROBLEM OF DRYNESS Sometimes you will feel like you're not getting anything out of your quiet time. (“The Battle of the Blahs") Never judge your quiet time by your FEELINGS. Possible Causes of Spiritual Dryness  Your physical condition.  Disobedience to God.  Rushing your quiet time.  Getting in a rut.  Not sharing insights with others.   HOW TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR QUIET TIME 4. THE PROBLEM OF DILIGENCE  Your greatest problem will be your struggle to stay consistent. I find Satan fights nothing harder than my quiet time. Suggestions     Make a covenant or vow to God. Schedule it on your daily calendar. Be prepared for Satan's excuses. Leave your Bible open at night to the passage for the next day! What If I Miss A Day?  Don't BECOME GUILTY. Don't BECOME LEGALISTIC. Don't GIVE UP. It takes THREE weeks for you to become familiar with a new task. Then it takes another THREE weeks before it becomes a comfortable habit.  "Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up." Galatians 6:9 (LB) https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/1863385/PDF/824079_HowtoHaveaDailyQuietTimewithGod.pdf?t=1456261448158