Dear churches,
As I have stated in the past I have a goal of submitting an article each month just to do my part in helping Bro. Jim fill out this paper and he has regularly encouraged any of us to do just that, submit an article. So here we go! I would like to share with you my journey to a quiet time and what God orchestrated to what I still do today after about 30 years.
Now I know that quiet times can be about as different and personalized as finger prints and as long as they are God honoring they are not wrong. Let’s first answer the question, “What is a quiet time?” Simply put, it is spending time with God, having a personal daily worship time with God. It also envelopes the term discipline, and putting God First, etc.
So let’s make some assumptions: These are not deal breakers but preferences for sure.
The place you have your quiet time needs to be quiet. It needs to be a place and time that you can enter into solitude. Being alone with God.
Now let’s answer some questions: “Why a quiet time?”
God has clearly delineated in His word that this is His desire! He wants all of you all the time but work, family, and life’s demands have to be experienced, so He desires at least “some” daily moments.
David said, “Early will I seek thee…. in a dry and thirsty land where no water is.” (Psalm 63:1) “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…. and all these thing will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
And, we seek God because “man doth not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
When? I think we have already answered that! The morning, if possible. But, if the morning is a no go a quiet time at night is better than no quiet time at all.
Where? Again probably already answered that, somewhere where you can focus. I know a lot of people who have their quiet time in the car on their way to work.
That’s alright!
So lastly, How? Because you know The Who?
So here’s my story: I went to college never hearing the term “quiet time,” but it seemed that in the internal fraternity of Christian colleges, this was a sacred rite and practice in which only rank heathen did not participate..
Therefore I quickly adopted the language and gave tepid practice to the discipline of spending a daily quiet time with God; but if the true story is to be told it wasn’t until a year or so into my youth director job at Bethel that Keith Ragsdale approached me to participate in a study on how to have a structured quiet time.
Needless to say it changed my life for good and for God.
So I am going to end this article with the actual verbiage that I pray each day and, no it is not a ritualistic prayer as much as my daily discipline in approaching God in a time of solitude.
The basic approach is that you have two types of prayer. You first respond to God’s holiness with confession, God’s attributes with Praise, To God’s Glory with worship, To God’s blessings with thanksgiving, Then you ask God, as your Father, what you need for that day, and then you ask God, as your Master, for the kingdom needs.
Here is my rough outline that I use each day:
I respond to His Holiness with confession. Dear Father if there is any unclean way in me please forgive me and cleanse me….
I respond to His attributes with praise. I praise you for being all knowing, all powerful, ever present, sinless, immortal, unchanging, wrathful, just, merciful, kind, compassionate,…
I respond to His Glory with worship.
I worship you…. Worship is the response of an adoring heart to the magnificence of God in the highest sense of the word. It is the occupation of the created with the creator. It is the pure joy of knowing that you’re worshipping the One who’s name is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
I respond to His blessings with thanksgiving. I thank you Lord for Jesus your son, our Savior; your Spirit; and You! Your heaven – your Word – your armor – your people – purposes – your ways – (the church) – Your wife, Dawn – your daughter, Molly – your son, Benjamin – your son, Tony – your salvation health and personality – Your future salvation – health and personality – your clothes – food – cars – trucks – vans – riches – houses – and lands…
Now I ask Him for what I need since He is my Father. I ask you to fill me with your Spirit, conform me to your image, please put on the armor – Your helmet of salvation, it is your salvation – The breastplate of righteousness, it is your righteousness – The girdle of truth, it is your truth – The shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace, it’s your gospel and your peace, and peace with you – The shield of faith It’s your faith (Ephesians 2:8,9) – The sword of the Spirit, it’s your Word – And with all praying for all saints
Then I ask Him as my Master for what I need to accomplish His kingdom work. Dear Father, help us to know you – Let us in on your kingdom work – help us to bear your fruit in Jesus name, I pray amen.
May the Lord bless you as you seek His face each day.If you do not already, please find what works for you and seek Him daily.
by Ben Kingston, Pastor • Bethel Baptist Church, Lonedell, MO
