7 Quiet Time Essentials

There is one thing I deeply desire that every Christ follower I pastor would do. One simple yet powerful discipline that, when placed in the life of a believer, unlocks an ocean of spiritual potential. What is it?

Spending time with Jesus.

I realize this may sound simplistic to some, but the seed of the Christian life from which all other fruits are grown is being with Him through His Word, meditation, and prayer. 

Unfortunately, while most Christians know they should spend one-on-one time with their Savior, many don’t know what that time should look like. Part of the problem is that the nature of a personal quiet time is just that, personal. It’s private worship, private prayer, private journaling, and private Bible study. See, there are many parts of our faith where we can learn by example. You don’t have to be around a church very long to see how people worship, serve others, or share the Gospel. But we don’t often get to peek into someone else’s quiet time. 

Every day people struggle with the consistency of quiet time so, today, I want to share with you seven things that are essential to spending quiet time with the Lord in hopes you’ll gain more confidence and consistency.  

1. Get some accountability.

   Before you begin to renew your personal time with the Lord, tell someone you trust what you’re about to do. Don’t post it on social media. Don’t brag. Just tell a person you trust and ask them to follow up with you.

2. Find a place.
   

   This can be anywhere that is comfortable and quiet enough so you’re not interrupted. When choosing a location, keep in mind the words of Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” For mothers with small children who rise early, it may be a corner chair in a quiet room just after the little ones go to bed. For the factory worker on an assembly line, it might be in the cab of a pickup truck twenty minutes before their shift begins. For the busy executive, it might be in her office before she takes calls or turns on the computer. Kitchen tables, front porches, corner booths, library corners, and living room couches can all be fine places to meet with the Lord, as long as efforts are made to remove any and all distractions.

3. Choose a time.

   I like to start my day with time with the Lord, but you choose a time that best fits your schedule and personality. If it’s first thing in the morning, make sure you go to sleep early enough that you awake refreshed and ready to meet Christ. As Greg Ogden wrote in his book Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, “The battle for the daily quiet time is often lost the night before.” 

4. Have a plan.
   

   I find the best way to experience Scripture is not to open your Bible to a random page. Instead, find a Bible-reading plan or devotional book to guide your time with God. If you use a book from another author, just make sure the book is based in Scripture. I strongly discourage any devotional that is short on Scripture and long on the author’s comments. Weight your reading time heavily in God’s Word for good reason. It is His Word!  

5. Journal.
   

   This may be a new concept for you (especially if you are a guy), but I highly recommend it. Keep a notebook handy, and after your daily reading, write down your thoughts, reactions, questions, and lessons learned. 

7. Share what the Lord is revealing to you with people in your life.

   Again, don’t brag about it, but use your time with the Lord as a resource to encourage other people. It’s a God-led phenomenon that you will encounter things throughout your day that the Lord has directly spoken to you about in your devotional time.

8. Repeat.

   Put one foot in front of the other. When you stumble or life throws you a curveball—and it often will—don’t allow one missed quiet time to discourage you and drive you away. Keep going.

When you spend intentional time with Jesus daily, you’ll be on your way to living a life worthy of Him.