The Importance of Quiet Time

In today's society, quiet time is an essential part of the human relationship with God - specifically in the United States. We live in a culture centered around speed and convenience. We have to-do lists, appointments, and even apps on our "smart"phones that help us keep track of our lives. We live in a blender. We let life chaotically swirl around ourselves and grasp tightly onto whatever we feel is important to us. I'm not writing to argue against this - though I'm slightly tempted to. The truth is, no matter how much we all agree that a hectic lifestyle isn't ideal, we all continue to live it. Instead, I'd like to write about the importance of quiet time.

Quiet time can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. To a young mom it means that tiny gap of peace in the day when the youngster is down for a nap. For that youngster it means a forced nap when they'd rather run screaming and throwing toys. For a Christian, it means deliberate time with God. This is the quiet time I'm talking about.

The thing about quiet time is that a lot of people have absolutely no idea what to do with it when they sit down with their Bible. In the past couple of weeks I've been asked several questions about quiet time. "What should I read in my Bible?" "Where do I start?" "What do I journal?" "How do I have a meaningful prayer?" "How do I stay focused?"

Quiet time can sometimes feel so deliberate that we forget its purpose. We desperately want connection with God so badly that we try to force it. We want to please Him by journaling a beautiful prayer. We want to impress Him with our insight about His word. We worry that our prayers aren't long enough or meaningful enough. We worry when we don't "feel" God's presence.

The truth about quiet time is that it's different for everybody. For some people it's an hour of studying God's word and praying to Him. For other's it's a 5 minute plea for strength and energy. I've heard of some people intentionally driving in the car in silence (AKA no radio). Sometimes it's a hike through the mountains celebrating God's creation.

The beautiful thing about quiet time is that we don't have to have it all together. We don't have to say something beautiful to God. We don't have to read 10 chapters of the Bible. Quiet time is about your personal relationship with God. It cannot be replicated.

If you're floundering with the concept of quiet time, give yourself a break. God knows your heart. The fact that you want to spend time with Him is enough. You are enough. You can bring your brokenness, your hurt, your exhaustion. You can come to Him having no idea how to create a connection. You are only one-half of the relationship! He can create a connection too. He can work on your heart and allow you to know Him in ways you could never do alone. It's not up to you. God can change your life without beautiful prayers and eloquent words. God is not limited to your intelligence. All He needs is a willing heart.

I plan on making my next couple of blogs about different elements of the heart that God requires for a successful quiet time. If you're struggling to connect with Him, stay posted!