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Time with God - What Quiet Time Is All About
By Andy Toh
QT Is Not About Studying The Bible
Do not take Quiet Time as a time for studying the Bible, but rather as a time of drinking from the river of God. This involves coming to Him, meeting Him, speaking with Him, waiting on Him, resting in Him, and listening to Him (this is not exhaustive).
In The Morning
Call it your special "Happy Hour" with God or "Hanging Out" time with God if you want, even though it takes place in the wee hours of the morning. Some have found that time helpful, it is a time before family and work responsibilities set in, which may distract the uninterrupted time with God you intended to have. And because there isn’t much to clutter the mind at the start of the day, you can focus on the Lord and His voice more sensitively too.
Taking a walk in the refreshing cool of the day, listening to the wonderful sounds around you, and observing the delicate design of God’s creation will truly stir your heart in amazement. This can only lead you to praise and worship.
Praise And Thanksgiving
The discipline and experience of starting with praise and worship, slowly leading to asking God to open your heart to Him, have proved helpful for many. You can do this by:
1. Beginning with the reading of a psalm, a Scripture passage, or a time of praise in songs (all with the focus of declaring who He is and what He has done).
2. Praying for an open mind and heart to His voice. This means not letting our agenda rule the time we have with God.
3. Inviting the Holy Spirit, asking Him to lead you and being conscious of Him during your QT.
Waiting And Keeping Watch
Besides taking time to refl ect and examine your life before God (according to His standard), and confessing any shortcomings, waiting and keeping watch is another great challenge.
This is because we are so used to the fast-paced, busy and on-the- move lifestyle that we fi nd it so diffi cult to keep still at times. Yet we must if we are to benefit from our time with God (Psalm 46). Pray for protection against distraction by fixing your mind on Him. Know that you are meeting the King of kings. Give Him your undivided attention.
Do Not Rush
Take time to ponder over and upon the Word of God. Do not rush. Note again that Quiet Time is not a contest of how much you know about the Word; but drinking from the Word of life.
Meditate on the Scriptures in bite sizes, not in big chunks, so that you can digest it better, remember it better, and apply it better.
Journal Your Impressions
As you discover new insights through the revelation of God, reflect them in the light of what God seeks to say to you and through you. What are your thoughts? What are His thoughts? What are you going to do about it?
Write them all down in a journal. These are impressions the Lord has given you during this moment. You can also write down what you are feeling at this point. Penning them down reinforces what we have learnt and discovered, helping us to remember and apply what He wants us to do so that we can grow into the fullness of His image and purpose.
Be sure to go over them from time to time so that you will appropriately respond to them as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Source: The Beacon - March/April 2005, Vol 32, No 2
By Andy Toh
QT Is Not About Studying The Bible
Do not take Quiet Time as a time for studying the Bible, but rather as a time of drinking from the river of God. This involves coming to Him, meeting Him, speaking with Him, waiting on Him, resting in Him, and listening to Him (this is not exhaustive).
In The Morning
Call it your special "Happy Hour" with God or "Hanging Out" time with God if you want, even though it takes place in the wee hours of the morning. Some have found that time helpful, it is a time before family and work responsibilities set in, which may distract the uninterrupted time with God you intended to have. And because there isn’t much to clutter the mind at the start of the day, you can focus on the Lord and His voice more sensitively too.
Taking a walk in the refreshing cool of the day, listening to the wonderful sounds around you, and observing the delicate design of God’s creation will truly stir your heart in amazement. This can only lead you to praise and worship.
Praise And Thanksgiving
The discipline and experience of starting with praise and worship, slowly leading to asking God to open your heart to Him, have proved helpful for many. You can do this by:
1. Beginning with the reading of a psalm, a Scripture passage, or a time of praise in songs (all with the focus of declaring who He is and what He has done).
2. Praying for an open mind and heart to His voice. This means not letting our agenda rule the time we have with God.
3. Inviting the Holy Spirit, asking Him to lead you and being conscious of Him during your QT.
Waiting And Keeping Watch
Besides taking time to refl ect and examine your life before God (according to His standard), and confessing any shortcomings, waiting and keeping watch is another great challenge.
This is because we are so used to the fast-paced, busy and on-the- move lifestyle that we fi nd it so diffi cult to keep still at times. Yet we must if we are to benefit from our time with God (Psalm 46). Pray for protection against distraction by fixing your mind on Him. Know that you are meeting the King of kings. Give Him your undivided attention.
Do Not Rush
Take time to ponder over and upon the Word of God. Do not rush. Note again that Quiet Time is not a contest of how much you know about the Word; but drinking from the Word of life.
Meditate on the Scriptures in bite sizes, not in big chunks, so that you can digest it better, remember it better, and apply it better.
Journal Your Impressions
As you discover new insights through the revelation of God, reflect them in the light of what God seeks to say to you and through you. What are your thoughts? What are His thoughts? What are you going to do about it?
Write them all down in a journal. These are impressions the Lord has given you during this moment. You can also write down what you are feeling at this point. Penning them down reinforces what we have learnt and discovered, helping us to remember and apply what He wants us to do so that we can grow into the fullness of His image and purpose.
Be sure to go over them from time to time so that you will appropriately respond to them as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Source: The Beacon - March/April 2005, Vol 32, No 2
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