Years ago, when faith became really important to me, I was totally freaked out by two things:
What is a "quiet time"?
Why should I have one?
Okay, okay...question 2 was really, "Awww, do I have to?"
Having a quiet time sounded like another boring rule I'd just break and feel guilty about later, another reason I wasn't a good enough Christian. But I was wrong.
A "quiet time" is simply time spent quietly with God. Psalm 46:10 tells us to "Be still, and know that I am God!" The reason to have a quiet time is to connect on a deeper level with God, or grow spiritually, to help accomplish your God-given purpose while on earth.
We don't have to rely on our own strength to grow spiritually. For example: a grape growing on a vine doesn't have to pressure itself to get bigger, it just gets bigger when it clings to the life-giving vine.
"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"
- Galatians 5:22-23
Love, joy, peace, patience, etc. are side effects of clinging to the vine. There's no pressure or reason to scream at yourself "HAVE MORE PATIENCE! LOVE MORE PEOPLE!" No, just connect to the vine, and the fruit will come. Having a quiet time is one way to do that.
Quiet Time Key Tips:
Place
Finding a place you can think allows for your time with God to go deeper. For example, if I really want to spend time with a friend, I meet somewhere like a coffee shop or my house so I can really listen. I can spend time with them at a concert, but I might not be able to listen as well.
Time
Trying to have a quiet time at the same time is helpful, but don't beat yourself up if you get off rhythm (like I do sometimes!). And don't sweat it if you're not a morning person. It doesn't matter the exact time, but spending time with God daily helps keep your relationship strong. The more time I spend connected to the vine, the more fruit naturally grows from my relationship with God.
Materials
God speaks to us through prayer, reading the Bible, and other believers. It helps to have resources to teach us more about how this flow of communication works and jumpstart our conversation with God.
It can be tough to know where to start when it comes to finding materials for your quiet time. Lane of Roses has created resources just for you to help guide and supplement your time with God. Check out our collection of devotionals at https://www.laneofroses.com/shop!
Remember, a relationship with God is personal. Your quiet time will look a little different than mine. But for your relationship with God to grow, you must spend time with Him to get to know Him better.
Spending time with God through the Bible and praying is transformational, but only if you are willing to do it. So don't sweat it! Be present, be still, and don't worry if you don't have the perfect place, time, or materials.
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