5 THINGS YOU NEED TO HAVE A QUIET TIME WITH GOD

Have you heard other people talking about having a quiet time with God? What does it mean to have a daily quiet time with God, and why is it important for spiritual growth? Discover the five simple but essential things you need to get started with connecting with God daily.

WHAT IS A QUIET TIME WITH GOD?

I hesitate to use the term “quiet time” because it has both positive and negative connotations. It has been misunderstood, overused, and complicated.

If you grew up in the church, having a “quiet time” is probably familiar. It is sometimes used interchangeably with doing “devotions.” As a young Christian, I knew that having a quiet time was important, but I lacked the guidance and motivation to put it into daily practice. Feelings of obligation and guilt trapped me in a vicious cycle of believing I was a failure. Quite honestly, I gave up having a quiet time for years because I thought that God was so disappointed with me.

However, as I let go of seeing a quiet time as a set of religious behaviors and practices required of me, I was free to experience how this time alone with God could deepen my relationship with him. I spent less time focusing on the “right way” to do quiet time and leaned into connecting with God.

For those of you who are just beginning your faith journey or are reconnecting with God after an absence, having a quiet time might evoke images of preschoolers lying quietly on mats in the afternoon! In fact, I regularly encouraged my children to take a “quiet time” when mama needed a break!

A peaceful and inviting “time out” from the daily demands of life, expectations of our culture, and lies we believe is probably a much better way to view a quiet time with God. As with any relationship, spending quality time together is crucial to growing closer. We can find freedom, grace, and rest for our souls in learning how to seek and spend time alone with God.

So, let’s not get too attached to the term “quiet time,” okay? 😉 We can use it as a simple and easy way to describe making time to meet and talk with God.

WHY IS A QUIET TIME WITH GOD IMPORTANT FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH?

I often tell people that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship. What I mean by that is that the Bible tells us that God loves us not because of what we DO for him but because of what Jesus has DONE for us.

God does not accept or reject me based on how much I read the Bible, pray, attend church, or give to others. He is not keeping score.

So why do I these things? Why should I seek to spend time alone with God?

I do them because I want to know God better and have a deeper relationship with him. I do not make time to call, text, and get together with my family or friends due to some contractual obligation or guilt-ridden duty; I do it because connecting with them regularly develops good communication and helps maintain a healthy connection. The same is true for our relationship with God.

A quiet time (or devotions) is a tangible way to do this. Although it may seem strange or uncomfortable at first because we cannot see, touch, or audibly hear God, viewing it as a regular appointment that we keep as we would with any other relationship will develop consistency and connection…which is the goal.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HAVING A QUIET TIME?

There are many examples of people in the Bible who spent quiet time alone with God. There are countless Old Testament stories of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, and Elijah meeting with God and hearing his voice. David speaks directly in many of the Psalms of taking time to meet alone with God in solitude, pouring out the anguish and gratitude of his heart. And Jesus himself often went to a solitary place to spend time with his Father in prayer.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT SPENDING QUIET TIME WITH GOD

There are many Bible verses about the necessity and the benefits of waiting on God in solitude and meditating on his Word.

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

Psalms 1:1-3 (NLT)

How can a young man [woman] keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments.

I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:9-11 (ESV)

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It is a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God.

It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: wait for hope to appear.

Lamentations 3: 28-30a (The Message)

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who seeings everything, will reward you.

Matthew 6:6 (NLT)

Remain in me, as I remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15: 4-5 (NIV)

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.

Romans 8: 26-27 (The Message)

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO HAVE A QUIET TIME WITH GOD

Q – QUIET SPACE

Choose a designated area where you can go that is quiet, calm, and inviting. This could be a special chair in your house or simply a corner in a room. Just make sure this space is separate and set apart for the purpose of meeting with God.

U – UNINTERRUPTED TIME

Whether it is early in the morning before everyone wakes up or late in the evening before you go to bed, the goal is to set aside a portion of your day where you can have a focused and uninterrupted time alone with God without distractions. Putting your phone or tablet in another room or setting a timer can help keep disruptions to a minimum.

I – INTIMATE PRAYER

We develop intimacy in our relationship with God when we talk to him. Whether you do that out loud, with your eyes closed, or through journaling your thoughts, conversing with God is key to an effective quiet time. Being still also allows us to listen and hear God’s voice.

E – ENGAGING TOOLS

Your Bible, a journal, and colored pens/pencils/highlighters are some of the basic tools that will help you connect with God during your quiet time. You may also incorporate devotionals, commentaries, music, and meditative apps–anything that encourages you to engage actively. Keeping these tools in a bin/basket to be ready and available is a great idea.

T – TRUSTING & OPEN HEART

If you want to have a consistently meaningful quiet time, you need to come expecting to encounter God. When we trust that God is there and open our hearts to his truth and grace, our faith will be strengthened, and our relationship will be deepened. If you struggle to do this, beginning your quiet time with The Welcoming Prayer is an effective way to start.

FREE PRINTABLE ON HOW TO HAVE A QUIET TIME WITH GOD

To help you remember these 5 key ingredients to having a quiet time with God, I created an acrostic for Q-U-I-E-T. Feel free to download this free printable and use it as one of your tools.

MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU DEVELOP A DAILY QUIET TIME WITH GOD

If you struggle with the concept of a quiet time and how to practice silence and solitude, I highly recommend Ruth Haley Barton’s book*: Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming PresenceFREE FAITH PRINTABLES page to find other guides on prayer, soul care, and spiritual breakthroughs.

And lastly, if you are looking for a book to use during your quiet time that combines Bible reading, journaling, and devotions, you may want to check out my new release, The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul.

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