How to Have a Quiet Time With God (& Why It’s Important)
Full transparency: I didn’t know what a “quiet time” was until I was a freshman in college. A friend I had just met, casually mentioned the phrase in a sentence and I remember wondering why I hadn’t heard of that before. The thing is, I grew up going to church most Sundays, I believed in God, and I was raised as a Christian. In retrospect, it makes sense to me now, that college was the beginning of me developing a personal relationship with Jesus. Maybe you’re in a similar boat that I was in just a few years ago. Perhaps this is your first time hearing the phrase, or you’ve been familiar with it for a little bit now, but still don’t really know what it is, why it’s important, and how to do it. Let me help!
WHAT IT IS:
Simply put, a “quiet time” is a way to intentionally seek God and connect with Him on a personal level.
“After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23
Ideally, it requires getting into a setting where distractions can be eliminated, and you can just get quiet with God for a dedicated amount of time. There are no real ‘rules’ and it can be done in a variety of ways, but for most it usually involves things like prayer, Bible study, worship, and even journaling.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT:
Just like it’s important to spend quality time with those you love, it’s also necessary to do the same with Jesus if you choose to follow Him. Simply believing in God isn’t enough to truly get the benefits of our salvation in Him. It’s one thing to be saved, it’s another to submit and surrender to the transformative work God wants to do in and through us. By getting still and sitting with Him, we have the honor of hearing from Him, getting revelation through the Holy Spirit, pouring out our hearts to Him, and receiving comfort, joy, and peace that surpasses our understanding. In essence, it’s necessary for our spiritual maturity.
It’s difficult to recognize these gifts when we’re competing against the noise and chaos of this world.
Have you ever felt spiritually dry? God seems far, far away, you’re ridden with anxiety and fear, your soul aches for something more, and you feel like you’re just going through the motions of life? Maybe you lack motivation, you’re short-tempered, and you’re just not the best version of yourself? I definitely have! What I’ve found, is that my soul is really craving Jesus. A consistent quiet time with God allows us to be filled with the Spirit, to feel refreshed, and renewed, so we can pour that back out onto others and reflect Christ out into the world.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalms 23:1-3
“For I satisfy the thirsty person and feed all those who are weak.” Jeremiah 31:25
HOW TO DO IT:
Like I said, there’s no right or wrong way… but here are some ideas to get you started:
Start by reading a chapter in the Bible. If you’re a beginner, John is a great book to start with. Begin with chapter 1 and work your way through at a pace that’s best for you. As you read, underline words or phrases you don’t understand to reference later. You can also highlight words/phrases that stand out to you. Once you’re finished, write down any obervations you find. Then ask God to tell you how this applies to your life. End in prayer. This is called the S.O.A.P. method. It stands for scripture, observation, application, and prayer. When things get confusing, use Enduring Word commentary to gain further understanding.
Listen to worship music. If you need a playlist, this is my go-to. Try moving freely around the room, and/or close your eyes. Try kneeling and praying, and/or meditate on the lyrics by having a journal out to write/draw anything that comes to mind. Music can be a conduit to creating an atmosphere where God’s presence is felt and you can just soak in it.
Pray. All prayer is, is talking to God. Find a space where you can be alone, and submit anything on your mind to the Lord. You may have specific prayer requests, but if you need guidance, take a look at how Jesus models how we should pray. You can find the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Once you learn it, try making it your own by following the general structure, but using your own words.
Journaling is another great tool for connecting with God. I like to start out by writing how I’m feeling, and sort of brain dumping on a page. Oftentimes I even list anything that’s on my mind and causing it to wander. Taking those thoughts from my brain to paper, helps to clear my mind and make space to hear from God. I then ask Him to guide me with a scripture to read. If you’re having trouble hearing from Him, just look at what you wrote and google relevant scriptures. Include any insights or observations in your journal.
MAKING IT INTO A ROUTINE:
Ideally carving out intentional time to spend with God should be a regular occurrence. Many would argue a daily one. The most important thing is to give God what you can. Start with the time you have. If that looks like once a week, until you build it up to a few times, and eventually daily, I’m sure He will more than happy to meet with you! What we don’t want to do, is turn precious alone time with God into a legalisitic thing or a to-do list item. Remember, we get to have relationship with Him! We get to have access to our Heavenly Father anytime we want. That still blows my mind! It’s a privilge and gift not to be taken for granted.
I’ve seen it in my own life, what consistency in sitting with God can bring. Just to name some of the benefits, you can expect to show up more Christlike (this is huge!), God will speak to you as you learn how to hear His voice (amazing!), you will develop widsom and understanding from the Word of God (brilliant!), and your light will have a positive effect on others, drawing them to near, wanting to know what makes you set apart (sweet!).
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” John 15:5
Ready to get started with your quiet time with God? Make it easier on yourself with these FREE, guided journal prompts and activities. These are great to incorporate into your quiet time routine no matter where you are in your faith walk.
