A Quiet Time - Beginning A Quiet Time

• Beginning a Quiet Time - The most important step in starting a quiet time is to BEGIN – Don’t put it off! Start with the following suggested guidelines and enjoy your time with the Lord. The barometer of the Christian life is the quiet time. Do it not because other people are doing it, not as a spiritless duty every day, and not merely as an end in itself, but do it because God has granted you the priceless privilege of fellowship with Him. Take time to be holy — speak often with the Lord – abide in Him only and feed on His Word. Don not become devoted to a habit, but be devoted to the Savior. God grant you the blessings of a quiet time!

Psa 119:16 "I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word."

• Read the Bible - Read verse after verse, chapter after chapter, consecutively. Don’t race, but avoid stopping to do a Bible study on some word, thought or theological problem that may present itself. Jot it down it you’d like, and come back to it later to do the study. Read for the pure joy of reading and allow God to guide you into all truth. Read 20 verses or maybe a complete chapter. For example, you might choose to read a chapter from the Book of Proverbs every day to start your devotional.

Psa 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”

John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

• Pray

After God has spoken to you through His Word, then speak to Him in prayer. Four areas of prayer are easily remembered by the acronym, ACTS:

• A - Adoration: This is the purest kind of prayer because it’s all for God- there’s nothing in it for you. You don’t barge into the presence of royalty. You begin with the proper salutation. Worship Him. Tell the Lord that you love Him. Thank Him for salvation in Christ our Lord. Reflect on His greatness, His power, His majesty, and His sovereignty!

Rom 16:27 “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”

• C - Confession: Confession means “to agree together with.” Apply this to prayer and it means to agree with God. Something you said yesterday that you call a slight exaggeration - God calls a lie! You call it strong language - God calls it swearing. You call it telling the truth about somebody - God calls it gossip.

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Psa 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”

• T - Thanksgiving: Express your gratitude to God. Thank Him for specific things: starting with your Salvation, your family, your job, and ministry responsibilities - thank Him for your hardships, too.

Psa 136:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

I Thess 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”

• S - Supplication: Supplication means to ask for, earnestly and humbly. During this part of your prayer life, you make your petitions known to God. Ask for others, then for yourself. You could include people around the world. Pray for God’s guidance that you will be a faithful servant today, walking with the King and being a blessing to those around you. Pray that loved ones, friends, neighbors, coworkers and people, will hear the true Gospel message and be fed by God’s Word, the Bible.

Php 4:6 “Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Rev 7:17 “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

• Obey - Ask the Lord to give you grace to obey Him unconditionally. Set your mind to obey. Memorize and learn God’s truths and promises.

Rom 6:16 “know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteous-ness?”

Psa 1119:11“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”