DAILY QUIET TIME Pastor A. W. Weckeman (Revised 4/15/21)
“The Source of Spiritual Strength”
In lesson number one, we learned when we were “born again,” we exited Adam’s family and entered God’s family. Upon salvation, we did not merely come to a new understanding of God; we became His children! “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor. 6:17-18). Not only redeemed by God – but supernaturally RELATED to God.
However, it is quite possible to be related to someone without having a RELATIONSHIP. Herein lies one of the most significant pitfalls of the Christian life. Due to our sinful nature’s continuance after salvation, there remains a constant tugging in the wrong direction. As a result of the world’s continuous pull, our natural tendency is to drift away from God.
In this lesson, we will learn how to resist this opposing force by maintaining a close relationship with our Heavenly Father through the means of intimate daily fellowship. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8)
What do we mean by quiet time?
Quiet time is a daily time spent alone with the Lord in a peaceful setting, learning to retreat from the physical world’s noise and enter into the Lord’s presence; to withdraw to a place of solitude and commune with the Lord as instructed in (John 15:4-5) “Abide in me, and I in you…” The counterbalance to sin is sensitivity to God’s presence within.
Abiding in daily fellowship with the Lord has all to do with the Word of God (John 14:23, Proverbs 4:20-21). “Let them not depart from thine eyes…” we are to make the Word of God our daily focus. Compare (Proverbs 4:21 with Proverbs 8:34). Prayer is another essential element of quiet time (Mark 1:35, Matthew 6:6).
What is the purpose of quiet time?
The purpose of quiet time is to renew and strengthen our RELATIONSHIP with God daily. Quiet time involves two essential elements of relationship:
Association or fellowship: Time spent alone together enhances a relationship. When we love someone, we never tire of spending time with them. Our Heavenly Father’s highest desire is not that we might achieve some great work for Him, but that we would daily seek His presence in our lives. One of the main things that God desires of us is our attention. Consider David’s attitude toward the Scriptures in (Psalm 63:1, Psalm 27:8).
Communication: This is how we express and exchange thoughts and feelings. A relationship is both sustained and strengthened by mutual communication. God speaks to our hearts through His Word, and we speak to Him in prayer. Just as we need our daily food for physical strength and health, we require daily time alone with God for spiritual strength and growth. (1 Peter 2:2, Job 23:12, Matthew 4:4).
Daily Renewal: As aforementioned, we are constantly affected by the pull of our “old nature” and tempted by the negative influence of this “present evil world.” Therefore, we need to be cleansed, strengthened, and renewed every day (2 Corinthians 4:16, Ephesians 3:16)
For real spiritual growth to take place, old thoughts and habits must be replaced with God’s truth so that over time our thinking is restructured and renewed according to God’s principles, Psalm 119:11 & Romans 12:2). Quiet time also helps establish the fundamental principle of self-discipline (1 Corinthians 9:27, Proverbs 25:28).
A word of caution, don’t allow discipline to become a duty. Quiet time should not be a daily obligation to fulfill but a daily opportunity to be filled. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Colossians 3:16). The idea is to get to know the Person of Christ.
What are the essentials of quiet time?
A place of solitude: The modern world is noisy, and the silence necessary for spiritual receptivity is rare. Seek out a location that is conducive to meet with the Lord. It should be a quiet place free of distractions. Of necessity, it may have to be a humble “closet,” but find that “secret place” where you can indeed be alone with your Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:6, Psalm 46:10)
Ongoing spiritual growth is not the result of many religious activities but the fruit of times of solitude, abiding alone with God and His Word.
“One of the blessings of the old-time Sabbath was its calm, its restfulness, its holy peace. There is a strange strength conceived in solitude. Crows go in flocks and wolves in packs, but the lion and the eagle are solitaires.
“Strength is not in bluster and noise. Strength is in quietness. The lake must be calm if the heavens are to be reflected on its surface. Our Lord loved the people, but how often we read of His going away for a brief season. He tried every little while to withdraw from the crowd. He was always stealing away at evening to the hills. Most of His ministry was carried on in the towns and cities by the seashore, but He loved the hills the best, and oftentimes when night fell He would plunge into their peaceful depths. The one thing needed above all others today is that we shall go apart with our Lord, and sit at His feet in the sacred privacy of His blessed presence. Oh for the lost art of mediation! Oh, for the culture of the secret place! Oh, for the tonic of waiting upon God!” Unknown
Proper attitude: Our attitude should be one of concentration and expectancy; he who expects nothing will receive nothing. We must enter into God’s Word seeking to hear from Him (Psalm 119:18, 27, 33, and 34).
Commitment: It is vitally important that we make a definite commitment to spend time alone with the Lord daily. Make a decision and stick by it, don’t allow the flesh or the world to dictate and control your time. Our priorities reveal the things that are most important to us. Inconsistency is the enemy of spiritual growth.
We are as close to the Lord as we choose to be, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways, I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” (Psalm 119:15-16).
Regular appointment: Establish a regular time to meet with your Heavenly Father, preferably in the early morning before you hit the pressures of the day (Psalm 5:3, Psalm 143:8, Lamentations 3:22-23).
The most important time of the day is the time we spend alone with God!
Suggested Steps for Quiet Time
Start with prayer. Thank God for His Word and for what He has shown you; ask the Lord for illumination, guidance, and understanding (Ephesians 1:17-18, Psalm 119:73). If you are aware of any sin that may hinder your fellowship with the Lord, confess and forsake it beforehand (1 John 1:9 & Acts 24:16).
As you read and meditate on God’s Word, make a note of any verse that seems to speak to your heart. Ask the Lord to grant you the understanding and grace to apply the underlying principle in your life. When a verse has been a special blessing to you, make every effort to hide it in your heart through memorization. Remember that your goal in this is not to gather or store information but to gain strength, guidance, and wisdom by applying what the Lord has revealed to you (Proverbs 2:1-6, James 1:22-25).
Highlight your Bible as you read. Make a habit of cross-referencing verses that parallel one another in thought or principle (1 Corinthians 2:13) Example: (Romans 7:23 with Galatians 5:17).
Expect opposition “Quiet Time” is at the very heart of your spiritual life and contains the potential for unlimited growth, and thereby, usefulness for the cause of Christ. Therefore, expect daily, unrelenting opposition from the enemy of your soul.
Summary
Even though Jesus Christ lives in us (“Christ in you, the hope of glory…” Colossians 1:27), we cannot, at this time, be in His physical presence. Yet, we can do much to experience Him in our daily lives; to be in fellowship with Him through communication and closeness. To enjoy an ongoing day-to-day relationship with Him is the heartbeat of genuine Christianity.
Life is empty and meaningless without Christ (unsaved), yet this is also true in the life of the saved that live outside daily fellowship with God (believers who “abide” in the world and themselves). The strength, joy, and consistency of our spiritual lives will be directly proportional to the amount and quality of quiet time we spend alone with our Heavenly Father.
“See then that ye walk circumspectly [cautiously], not as fools, but wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16) [emphasis mine].