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What is quiet time? The first person whose definition I wanted to see was Billy Graham, but was rewarded not only with what Billy Graham thinks of it, but also with a very good and concise historical literature on it by Wikipedia. The full research can be found here.

Quiet time, also called heart-to-heart time, or one-on-one time with the Creator, is a regular individual session of Christian spiritual activities, such as prayer, private meditation, contemplation, worship of God or study of the Bible.

“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed”

It is believed that the first mention of the term “quiet time” was in the late nineteenth century. And by the 1940s, the quiet time had supplanted the Keswick concept of the morning watch as the most widely promoted pattern for private prayer among evangelical Protestants in England and North America.

The concept of the morning watch had originally viewed prayer primarily as petitionary prayer or prayer requests. The quiet time, in contrast, brought Bible study and meditation into the practice and placed the emphasis on listening to God. There was still time for requests, but they now were accompanied by Bible reading, prayers of praise, confession of sin, prayers of thanksgiving and listening to God. The quiet time was therefore quieter, hence the name.

On the essence of Quiet Time, Wikipedia quoted Jerry and Becky Evans saying:

The quiet time is a time of encouragement, strengthening, and insight to the Christian, and “spiritual food” for a person’s soul. 

They suggest that it is a “time of complete focus on God” that “continues throughout a person’s entire life.

There are many devotional books, or “devotionals”, available in shops today for quiet time. These books contain directed Bible studies, often incorporating stories or anecdotes that convey Biblical principles, similar to the parables used by Jesus in his ministry. A notable example is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.

Many Christian stores dedicate an entire section to these types of books, but in some countries they are available at secular stores as well, often shelved in the “inspirational” section.

Some Christian communities also have Bible reading schedules as Bible study help tools, like the one suggested in the Bible Companion. Such schedules take people systematically through the entire Bible, reading approximately four chapters per day (in the case of the Bible Companion), which allows the reader to keep context in their studies through the different books of the Bible, and ensures some areas are not neglected.

Just like any other thing, Quiet Time has its critics; but what they criticized was not the concept, but the attempt by some to equate, or replace the grace of God with Quite Time.

The prophet Daniel regularly met with God three times a day to talk to God and listen to Him (Daniel 6:10). King David also mentioned his times alone with God (morning and evening) often, throughout the Psalms. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) record that Jesus Himself withdrew to meet with His Father in a quiet, isolated places on regular basis (Matthew 14:13; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; John 6:15). The Apostle Paul also alludes to several occasions where he spent time speaking to God.

The time these great men spent in quiet meditation with God can be credited with the successes they enjoyed in their walk with God and their personal lives. We therefore suffer needlessly when we fail to tap into the immense power God puts at our disposal daily, through our quiet communion with Him. However, the grace and love God has for us does not diminish because we fail to have our quiet time. God’s grace cannot be bought by any human practice (including “quiet time”). However, our awareness of the presence and abundant availability of this grace and love diminishes as we continually fail to have our daily quiet communion with God, and affects our faith in Him. This pleases the adversary greatly because it is easier to deceive and lure a child who is not in touch with the Father, and whose faith is diminishing.

God is omnipotent, and needs nothing. Having time with Him is therefore for our benefit, and not His; and God’s love for us does not diminish because we missed our Quiet Times; but our faith does.

Not having our quiet time is like starting on a journey of exploration without a map. We get lost, frustrated, endangered and often destroyed; when we have abundant help available.

God is the one who provides the map to navigate this confusing maze called “Life”. He built it, knows it, and owns it. He is available and willing to help. The help is however ours to take; and whether we take it, or not, does not affect its availability and His willingness to help. We are, however, ultimately responsible when our refusal to tap into the love, grace, communion, fellowship and empowerment that God has made available to us leads to lethargy, and ultimate destruction. It is a choice.

My plea is that you will choose right, and chose to have your quiet time with God often.

There are so many devotionals around: Our Daily Bread, Every Day with Jesus, Daily Manna, Daily Guide, and many more; including Testimony Devotional. Most of them are free and online, and many are also in print for a token. Choose the one that makes you encounter God in a unique and invigorating way.

By all means, Have your Quiet Time.

MEMORY VERSE

“Three times a day he knelt there in prayer, thanking and praising his God.” (Daniel 6:10)

QUESTIONS

• Do you feel lost, frustrated, endangered and feel you are gradually getting destroyed?
• Why don’t you start having your Quiet Time with God, and see the transformation it brings into your life?

PRAYER TIP

Father, forgive us for thinking we can do it all on our own, and help us to know the importance of regularly tapping into Your limitless resources, through our Quiet Time.

CREDITS

Wikipedia, “Quiet Time,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_Time

URGENT CALL

By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!

But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.

The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved. 

Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.

It is a very personal decision. No one can make for you.

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” 
for guidance if you want to 
make that decision.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.

God richly bless you.

*EXCITING NEWS!*
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You can read this and other uplifting articles on the *Testimony Devotional Website* at:

www.testimonydevotional.org

or 

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*GRATITUDE*
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God bless you richly, and continue to pray without ceasing, and please say one for us too.