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Be Still and Listen
Quiet time could refer
to those precious moments after the kids are in bed, but for
Christians, a quiet time is more than that. Quiet time, or devotion
time, refers to our daily appointment with God, when we shut out as
much outside interference as possible. During our quiet time, we may
sing praise songs, pray, read the Scripture or daily devotions,
meditate on God’s Word, or to simply ‘be still and listen’. Making
that appointment is one thing; keeping it is something else entirely!
The Outer Challenge
In
urban living, we live in a world of noise. Everywhere we go, even in
our own homes, there is some kind of noise to distract us, from
telephones to TV to traffic. But making time for daily devotion is
critical to hearing God! If we stop to think about it for a moment, we
recognize that we live in enemy-occupied territory, so constructing an
ideal spiritual surrounding is nearly impossible. Satan, our chief
opponent, does not want us to spend quiet times with God. In fact, it
is his goal to prevent that in any way possible. He knows that the
more time we spend with God, the more like God we will become and the
more we will be accomplishing God’s goals on this earth. Satan does
not want us to succeed.
The Inner Challenge
Quiet time involves an inner state of being, as well as an outward
condition. Have you ever noticed that when you sit down to read your
Bible or pray, your mind begins to wander or you suddenly remember
what you need at the grocery store? Inner “noise” can be just as
troublesome as outer noise when it comes to having quiet time with
God. Our own human weaknesses combined with the enemy’s efforts keep
us from God.
Why Is It Important?
Quiet time can be so difficult to prioritize. Preparing our hearts to
hear from God requires a focused effort. Noise, whether outside or
inside, distracts us. If we fail to understand the importance of
having a regular, committed quiet time with God, we are not likely to
hear His voice...the one that whispers, “This is the way; walk in it”
(Isaiah 30:21). God longs to spend time
with us. Consider what He was willing to do for us, in order to
reunite us with Him. Is it asking too much that we devote daily time
to Him? Jesus set the example for us concerning quiet time. He took
time to connect with the Father regularly.
When Should I Meet with
God?
Quiet time is such an easy habit to forget, especially if we
haven’t yet made it a priority. It’s all too tempting to slip our
lives into cruise control and forget that we need to gas up the engine
before we can go anywhere. We may already have a grip on the Bible,
the owner’s manual of life, but without a daily filling we’re in
danger of burning out, running dry and stalling by the side of the
road. King David sought God daily before he went into battle.
Psalm 5 reads, “Give ear to my words, O
Lord. Consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my
King and my God. For unto Thee will I pray. My voice You shall hear in
the morning. O Lord in the morning, will I direct my prayer unto Thee
and will look up.” What a great pattern for us to follow! Setting
aside quiet time to seek Him everyday reminds us that we rely on Him
everyday! Seeking Him every morning, putting the day in His control
before it gets out of control, is the best way to be sure we’re ready
for whatever comes our way.
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