What is a quiet time and why do I need one?

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So you have a new relationship with the savior of the universe, sounds intimidating doesn't it? But God came down in flesh (incarnate) so we could know him as a regular person. 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jn 1:14 NIV

So my question is how do you get to know a new friend ? The answer is easy spend time with them. Jesus wants to be invited in to your day. We talk to Him, by praying and he tells us to do this unceasingly. Paul told the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing” and God told Joshua to meditate on his word day and night (1 Thes 5:17; Joshua 1:8) So where does the idea of a quiet time come in? Why do I need it?

Having a quiet time will not earn you God points. It is not something for a spiritual checklist. It is simply an opportunity to spend uninterrupted and undistracted time with Jesus. 1 on 1 time with a friend. SO what is a quiet time? According ti good old Wikipedia a quiet time is...

Quiet time, also stated as 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. The term "quiet time" or "sacred time" is used by 20th-century Protestants, mostly evangelical Christians. It is also called "personal Bible study" or "personal devotions". Rick Warren points out that it has also been called "morning watch" and "appointment with God".

Practices vary according to denominational tradition: Anglican devotions, for example, will occasionally include the use of prayer beads,  Billy Graham suggested that quiet time consists of three main elements: prayer, Bible reading, and meditation. He also mentioned that many Christians accompany these three elements with journaling.
 
But to me the most important idea behind a quiet time is that Jesus modeled it. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 As you read through the gospels notice how many times Jesus withdraws to pray and meditate and talk to God. Jesus taught his disciples to withdraw so maybe we should too?
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 "I want to know God's thoughts, the rest are details." Einstein

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