Quiet Time
Praise & Psalmody - Week 1: Tuesday
Psalms 8:3
From the mouths of babies and nursing infants, You prepared praise…
Cassiodorus of Calabria, Explanation Of The Psalms 8.3
The meaning is this: you are worthy of praise not only from those who are perfect who know you fully, but you are proclaimed with the mouths of beginners in the faith and little children.… The psalmist professes that even infants proclaim God. By this he means those who have begun to come to the Lord in newness of faith, so that this wisdom might appear to have been conferred through God’s intervention rather than to have been gleaned through human effort.
Praise & Psalmody - Week 1: Monday
Psalms 9:2-3
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your wondrous things; I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
St. John Chrysostom, Commentary on the Psalms 9.2
This is a particular habit of a lover. Those in love, you know, sing songs to their beloved; even if they are not in sight, they comfort themselves with the song. That is just what the inspired author does. Since it is not possible to see God, he composes songs to him, holding converse with him in song, stirring up desire and gaining the impression of seeing him—or, rather, stirring up the desire of many people through the singing of hymns and songs. In other words, just as lovers recite the praises of their beloved and bandy their names about, exactly so does he.
Getting Started with Quiet Time
Select a Specific Time
The best time to have a quiet time is when you are at your best. Morning is recommended, because that is the example that Christ Himself set for us. It shows that God is your top priority and my mind is not yet cluttered with the day's events. Whatever time you select, be consistent.
Choose a Special Place
"Now in the morning, having risen a long while before
daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed."
Mark 1:35
Gather the Resources You Will Need
You will need your Bible or Quiet Time Guide, and you may also want a journal. Your journal should be used to write down what the Lord speaks to you about, and to keep your prayer list.
Begin with the Right Mindset
Reverence: "Be still, and know that I am God." -Psalm 46:10
Faith: "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law." -Psalm 119:18
Obedience: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." -Matthew 6:33
Structure your Quiet Time
Structure your time to get the most out of it, even when you don’t feel like it.
Relax (1 Minute)
Slow down your thoughts, and be still and quiet. Prepare your heart. Take deep breaths and ask God to:Meet with you
Help you stay focused
Reveal to you His Word for today
Bring comfort and clarification to your life.
Read a Passage (4 Minutes)
Read and re-read the passage slowly, perhaps repeating a verse several times, expecting God to make it come alive with relevance for your situation. Read until you feel God has told you something.Reflect on the Verse (4 Minutes)
Here are 6 ways to help you meditate on a verse:
Picture it! Visualize the scene in your mind.
Pronounce it! Say the verse aloud, each time emphasizing a different word.
Paraphrase it! Rewrite the verse in your own words.
Personalize it! Replace pronouns or people in the verse with your own name
Pray it! Turn the verse into a prayer and say it back to God.
Probe it! Ask the following 9 questions. Is there any:
Sin to confess?
Promise to claim?
Attitude to change?
Command to keep?
Example to follow?
Prayer to pray?
Error to avoid?
Truth to believe?
Something to thank God for?
4. Record What God Did (2 Minutes)
In your journal, write out the verse that spoke to you most personally. Then write out a personal application statement that is practical and measurable:
What does the passage say generally (What is it teaching me?)
What does the passage say to me personally (What should I do specifically?)
Refer back to your verse and application several times throughout the day. Try to memorize the verse and meditate upon the application all throughout your day.
5. Request (4 Minutes)
Conclude your Quiet Time by talking to God about what He has shown you and making requests from your prayer list.
Overcoming Problems with your Quiet Time
The Problem of DisciplineYour first problem in establishing a quiet time will face you the moment you wake each morning: Am I going to get out of bed? Suggestions:
Go to bed on time
Beware of things that can rob you of your Quiet Time (social media, texting / phone calls, etc.)
The Problem of Distraction
Satan will try to use anything to get your mind to wander during a quiet time. Don't worry about your mind getting distracted, but gently bring it back to focus on God, and the area you were praying about.The Problem of Dryness
Sometimes you will feel like you're not getting anything out of your Quiet Time. Never judge your Quiet Time by your feelings. Possible causes of spiritual dryness include:Your physical condition
Disobedience to God
Rushing your quiet time
Not sharing insights with others
The Problem of Diligence
Your greatest problem will be your struggle to stay consistent. Satan fights nothing harder than your Quiet Time.
Suggestions:Agree on a plan with your Father of Confession.
Schedule it on your calendar.
Be prepared for Satan's excuses (too tired, too busy, etc)
Leave your Bible or Quiet Time guide open at night to the passage for the next day!
If you miss a day, don't become guilty, legalistic, or give up.
It takes at least three weeks for you to become familiar with a new task. Then it takes another three weeks before it becomes a comfortable habit.